what physically hurts more, racing shorter or longer distances? say, mile vs marathon?

Really? Are you really asking this?

Would you rather have a hammer to the testes or open heart surgery without anesthetic?

I've done 14 marathons and 1 mile race. That mile was horrible, I have never felt pain like that in my throat or lungs. I will never, ever do a race that short again. But I cant wait for my next marathon!!

pace races never hurt like the 400 all out! that hurts!

If you go out too fast and totally bonk, then the marathon. But if you pace it right, it's not necessarily an excruciating experience. It\\\'s a completely different kind of pain. The marathon gradually wears you out over time until your legs start to feel dead and your energy is sapped, but you\\\'re never gonna come close to the shear pain of a mile or 5k.

you choice. electrocution or slow torture?

I am going with the marathon. My first marathon might of been the most painful experience of life. The mile really only starts hurting with 600 to go.

A mile. That bitch hurts.

personally, i feel that short and fast hurts more physically. but without a doubt, the longer the race, the tougher it is mentally for me. this is why i prefer the mile and 5k distances, because i know i can conquer physical pain easier than mentally.

I say they're equal. I think it was last year that Tyson Gay was talking about the NYC marathon and he said that the day after running a fast 100m (under 10) you'd be just as sore as the day after a marathon

All of the bad runners will say the mile because they jog marathons, but if you run say, an all out 10k? That is way worse than running a mile. It's so easy to compartmentalize a mile race, and the first and last laps aren't bad all. Their is really one tough lap, as opposed to the 10k having about 5 or 6 grueling laps.

I've done more marathons than 5ks. I hate the pain of shorter races.

800 is the most painful

I have thought about this a lot, and it really does depend on the runner (level of training matters, but i assume we are talking about well-trained athletes).

Some people are just better at grinding out long distance races than putting it all on the line in a 2-lap effort and vice versa.

The only thing for sure is that 100, 200, 400 are not as painful to race (though the training is probably a different story).

They both hurt, I can handle the pain of a marathon much better. I think that's what it comes down to honestly, individual preference. I love doing long grinding 18 milers or 20 milers at a quicker pace but I hate doing 400 and 600 repeats. This then shows in what I like racing and what I do better at comparatively.

There was a similar thread a week or two ago about what is more difficult a sub17 5k or sub 3 hr marathon.

Obviously the marathon is very very hard just due to the time you're out there and the utter exhaustion. That being said the 1 mile and 5ks hurt very badly, but again, the pain only last a few minutes AND consider this... You could run a very hard fast 5k and do another the next weekend, you are doing that with a marathon.

No brainer: marathon

RuKiddingMe!! wrote:

pace races never hurt like the 400 all out! that hurts!

Agree. I'm old and slow and run lots of races from 5K to marathon and only within the last couple of years raced 200/400/800/1500 and without a doubt the 400 is the most painful race I've ever experienced. I dread walking onto the track knowing what's coming. That's a race I will leave to others.

I've never run a marathon and my track times are very average (4:00 for the 1500, 15:30 for the 5k). I'm guessing the marathon would be much, much worse. 800-5k all hurt, but the fact that you are on the track and directly competing with other guys makes it easier to stay focused.

26.2 miles is too long for anyone to stay intensely focused, particularly if you get stuck in no mans land. I'm guessing your mind has to wander, and when that happens the pain becomes much more palpable.