Is there any training benefit from short runs? Such as a half mile to work, a half mile home, or a mile and a half to and from the store--all at easy, or recovery, pace. I know it could add up to an additional 10-15 miles a week, but would it do any good? I know aerobic runs should be much longer timewise, and that recovery runs are usually in the neighborhood of 30+ minutes. But it's gotta do some good, right, and if I have to get somewhere anyways, why not run if possible?
You might as well run there, I guess. Still, I wouldn't count that as mileage in a log
sure -- it's all basic aerobic work. I don't know what duration is necessary in order to start to make gains, but it's all money in the bank.
Well... really short runs couldn't hurt...
Yes kind of,
Depends on how fast you run them, if you really push it out the door, it can help with some basic speed, or efficiancy,
Slow and easy just helps burn calories if you are possibly trying to lose a few pounds.
you'll have some level of capilarization and enymatic growth
What's the alternative, getting in your 8mpg SUV for a 10 minute drive, with most of the time spent starting, stopping, and waiting at a light or stop sign, and cruising around the parking lot looking for that spot that is 10' closer to the store entrance.
I definitely think it is helpful because it contributes to an overall lifestyle of getting off your butt and onto your feet. A 49 yo friend of mine recently PB'd in the marathon, running sub 3. In addition to increasing his mileage, he also had a lot of junk miles from bicycling back and forth to work and to the track. The bike rides were only about 15 mins., but it kept the legs going when they would have otherwise been at rest.
I wish more people would learn to walk or ride bikes places instead of always getting in the damn car. Kids especially need to learn to use their own locomotive powers to get places, rather than being shuttled around by the soccer mom in the minivan or worse yet, Chevy Suburban.
Fortunately, I drive a Honda Civic. 35-42 mpg throughout the year. I wish there was a shower at the office. Then I would bike the 6 miles to work most of the time.
Personally, I'd like to see the prices get skyrocketed on all non fuel-efficient (i.e. less than 25 mpg highway) vehicles. Perhaps that would force more people to consider public transportation, carpooling, or getting a more efficient car.
As for the runs, I think they are beneficial at the right time. Very short runs (3-5 miles) are excellent the day before a marathon or long run. It's also good to keep the runs easy and very short when one has a head cold.
Everything you do everyday goes into the "training stress" recorder.
A good example of the results from generalized "training stress" are people like, waiters, waitresses, groundskeepers, firemen, or people in the armed forces that successfully run sub-4-hour marathons on little or no "formal run training".
Just remember, only "real running" will train the body to tolerate higher and higher intensities and distances.