Which one of the 2 is more exhausting for you... a long run of 12 miles or an interval sesh of 5 x 1 mile repeats with 1 min rest between each mile?
Personally I'd say the interval sesh but a lot of ppl would say long runs since it turns the legs to jelly...I'd like to hear the letsrunners' opinions :D on this question
Between these two, I would say the intervals. That isn't too long a run, however.
Make it interesting, 20 miles or the intervals.
5x1 mile and what's the total mileage for the run?
and what pace? I would imagine something like 1 hour race pace?
Unless that long run is in a half marathon race, 5x1 mile repeats are far more exhausting. 12 miles is hardly a long run.
I'd take 12 (or 20) miles over mile repeats (or any other interval workout) any day.
1 minute rest between each interval is way too short for such a workout. If it were 3-4 mins, then it would be more manageable. Unless the 12M LR were at MP on heavy legs, it's otherwise a rather quick and easy LR.
So in your scenario, the intervals are tougher.
It's all relative hard-ass.
No question wrote:
Unless that long run is in a half marathon race, 5x1 mile repeats are far more exhausting. 12 miles is hardly a long run.
It's all relative you hard-ass.
t94bell wrote:
It's all relative you hard-ass.
Relative to what? Someone running 35 miles per week? I don't see how 12 miles is more difficult than 5x1 w/ 1-minute rest unless the 12 miles is run at something approaching race pace. But the question was posed without any specifics applied to the 12-mile run.
"Long" run
I'd imagine almost all distance runners would say a lung scorching set of intervals is a much harder day than the long run.
I could never really handle runs much further than 8 miles or so. My body would break down and I would be in a world of hurt near the end even if it wasnt a very fast pace.
Intervals were obviously tough, but long runs were overall more physically taxing.
Long workouts have always drained my energy much moreso than hard workouts.
While I was never a track runner, I probably would've been an 800m runner. And I've always preferred to go faster rather than longer.
My .02
The long run, if done at a steady pace at or approaching marathon pace, takes more out of me. Twelve miles isn't too bad, though. The miles would be at around half marathon effort if there's only one minute rest, so they're pretty controlled. I'd rather do the miles than the long run. It takes me up to 4-5 days to recover enough from a long steady run of 15+ miles that I can do another hard session and feel like I'm ready for it, but only 2-3 days for the miles.
Registeredletsrunner wrote:
"Long" run
I cringed harder at Inteval "sesh"
I'm definitely on the side of intervals harder than long run. I will say, however, that the long runs I've done dehydrated were as taxing as any interval workout I've ever done.
Paces for each, please (including a reference point like marathon or half marathon pace). Also, any warm-up/cool down info on the intervals would be helpful. But the interval workout you describe - due mostly to only 1 min jog recovery - would be challenging for a hobby jogger like myself even at HM goal pace. At 10K goal pace, it would be a brutal workout.
frustratedmofo wrote:
Which one of the 2 is more exhausting for you... a long run of 12 miles or an interval sesh of 5 x 1 mile repeats with 1 min rest between each mile?
Personally I'd say the interval sesh but a lot of ppl would say long runs since it turns the legs to jelly...I'd like to hear the letsrunners' opinions :D on this question