Hi, as the title suggests I have the choice between a very hilly 8 mile route and a very flat but longer 10 mile route for my daily runs. Which is better training for marathons?
Hi, as the title suggests I have the choice between a very hilly 8 mile route and a very flat but longer 10 mile route for my daily runs. Which is better training for marathons?
Be more specific.
We would need more details.
Your body doesn't understand milage, only time and intensity. If it takes you 70 minutes to run the 8 mile hilly loop and 70 minutes to run the 10 mile flat loop at a similar intensity then it won't make much difference. The hilly loop has benefits for leg strength so I'd swing more towards that, but why not alternate?
By body above I mean cardiovascular system. The different loops will affect your muscular/skeletal system slightly differently.
Neither is "better". Do both and alternate. When in doubt train your weakness(es).
On an easy day use the flatter route to recover more
When you’re running at a good clip do it over the hills, it’s a strength builder, and my coach would’ve said it was a character builder
Alternate them
You should be doing doubles anyway so do the "hilly" 8 in the morning and the "flat" 10 in the afternoons.