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| See all that sweat soaked through the upper portion of my top?! |
And yes, I was on my work phone and taking a pic with my personal phone. I’m baller like that.
Last Saturday I set a new PDR for myself at a whopping 14 miles! WAHOO! Was it awesome and amazing? Yes, it sure was. Did it hurt and did I think I might die? Yup, it sure did that too.
I started off early in the morning but because of these ridiculous, 100-degree temps, I quickly ended up back on the treadmill. Absolutely no bueno. I did the last 6 miles on the hamster wheel, and miraculously, I didn’t hate it. After all, there was air conditioning!
However, this splitting of my long run had me thinking about something: does a long run still “count” if you split it into two parts?
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| Another pre-run face. Classic. |
For example, I am hoping to get my 15-miler in on Wednesday. Why Wednesday? I don’t have work due to the 4th of July holiday! However, if I was working, there is no freaking way that I would have enough time to get the miles in before I leave for work at 6:45am. Likewise, it is so hot at the end of the day that I’m not sure I could start before 6-7pm, and that would put me pounding the pavement long after my bedtime.
So, I ask you: on days like I described above, is it acceptable to split up the long run? Or am I just butchering the workout and denying myself the benefits and suffering that come along with it?
35 Comments
I’m no expert, so take what I say with a grain of salt. But from what I’ve read there is nothing wrong with splitting your run like that. Matter of fact, I came across a training plan (if I find the link I’ll come back and post it) that actually had the long run split across Sat & Sun. So instead of doing a 20 miler on one day, you did 10 Sat & 10 Sun. Only thing is I can’t remember if you got one day of rest (Mon) or two (Mon & Tue) afterwards.
Whether this is better or worst I can’t say, but I’d think as long as your body can tolerate it, it’s all good. Think of it this way, plenty of athletes do “Two a days”, so wouldn’t what you are doing be the same? I’d think so.
I say do what you can do and fit in fitness wherever you can – even if that means splitting up your long run!
I totally agree with that, it is all about what you can do.
I wonder the same thing! Part of me says, well in a race like a full or half marathon, you can’t come back and finish it later. But the other part of me (the smart part?) says I am building endurance no matter what! I mean they have training plans that they call 2-a-days – why not split this in two parts?!? We do what we can when we can and all of it makes us STRONGER! 🙂
I don’t think there is anything wrong with it! I very often split my runs in half – on occasion, even thirds haha! I will say, if you are training for a marathon (are you?) you would want to make sure to have a few non-stop long runs thrown in there, so that your body is used to that too.
Ps, way to dominate!
I am training for my first marathon! I’ve done a handful of half marathons, so this whole “training past 13.1” is new to me 🙂
When I was studying Exercise Science, we spent a lot of time looking at studies about consecutive exercise, and aggregate exercise. It turns out that both are equally good! So I would say that if it “counts” in your minds as a 14 mile run, and not 2 runs very close together, than that should count with everyone else too.
We had to split up our long run this weekend, not by choice but out of necessity because my husband was really struggling on our 12 miler and we had to stop at 7.5. We had to flag down a car to drive us back to our own car! Typically we don’t split up our long runs, and we won’t from now on, but it had to be done. We went out later to finish up the last 4.5 miles. I think that if the runs are close together that is better than what we had to do since our runs were about 7 hours apart!
Oh, I hope he is doing okay! Although (and this may just be me!) I think it is good to “bonk” like that once in a great while–kinda lets you know where your limits are 🙂
I’d say it counts! Obviously, it isn’t ideal to do all the time, but every once in awhile when you have limited time (or it’s just too darn hot), I think it’s completely acceptable. The whole point is to push your body through the fatigue of being on your feet for X number of minutes (or hours!), and while it may not be all at once, I can tell you from experience (both running and swimming) that doing a double is equally, if not more draining.
I just mentioned this below, but I was sent a neat article that basically says it is all about how long you are on your feet, so for slow runners, you will cover less mileage but still be at your marathon effort. Kinda interesting, will share later this week!
I definitely think it counts if they are back to back!! It would be different if half was in the morning and half in the evening, but back to back you are still pushing your body at one time! And that totally makes you awesome 🙂
I think you can count them although i don’t know that it is as ideal. I have done it a couple of times. Cute pictures! Good luck with your runs tomorrow.
I don’t know for sure, but it would make sense that you could split them. Probably not every time. Good luck!
I remember reading somewhere that splitting is okay because your legs just need to feel and get in the mileage. I’ve only split up my long run once with more than a few hours in between. As for the outside/indoor thing, I usually run outdoors as long as I can and then run to the gym to immediately hop on a treadmill, so I don’t personally count it as splitting it up. Way to own that 14er like a boss!
Ideally, I’ll stay outside the entire time, but the smoke from these damn fires has been awful lately so my lungs just can’t hang 🙁
Hmm I think it counts but I’d feel better stringing them together towards the end of marathon training just to make sure you’re used to 16, 17, or 20 consecutive miles and how that feels for your body.
I’ve read a few training plans that advocate splitting the long run, even between 2 days. It’s a neat concept!
A twitter follower sent me an interesting article on this exact topic– I’ll share it later this week. Definitely a neat concept!
It definitely counts and it’s a good way to get more miles in a week but there is added bonus of doing some long runs all at once, at least mentally! Physically, it’s all pretty similar tho
I’m listening to you; you’re like a running guru or something 🙂
Personally — and I’m NO expert by any means — I think that it totally still counts, your body is still getting used to the higher mileage even if you give it a quick break while you hop inside to finish the run or whatever. PS way to go on the PDR!! I’m a couple weeks off from my first marathon training run PDR but I’m excited about it. I think I need that confidence booster!
Congrats on your impending PDR! Assuming I get my 15- miler out of the way tomorrow, I’ll have a new one under my belt. That’s the fun part about training fo my first marathon– there will be a lot of PDR’s set between now and September!
I’z don’t know because I’m still trying to get there! but am so glad i took it off the hamster wheel to find my love for running. 😉
i have been torn on this too but i have heard if you split the miles…you are still running on tired legs which still provides the mental and physical strength you need!
I’ve wondered the same thing. I know some people who have trained by splitting up their runs and have done just fine. I think you need to do whatever works for your schedule.
I’ve wondered that before, but I’ve also realized I like the run in one chunk so it feels more like a practice for the long race. It helps my body get used to the consistent movement without a break, and then I feel better for race day.
Since I’m training for an ultra, back-to-back runs are making their way into my schedule.. but it’s usually a 20 mile run one day followed by a 10 mile run the next (I’m not always so diligent about day 2…). The idea is that you’re training yourself to run when your legs and muscles are already tired without overtaxing your body by running, say, the full 50k or 50-miler in one day. You build your legs up to be ABLE to run that distance. I can see a benefit of running back-to-back for shorter distances to build up for a marathon, for sure! However for any race length, mental preparedness is just as important. Very little else can prepare you for three, four, six or twelve hours of running if you’ve never done it before!
Keep in mind, I am a newbie to running and learning from as many sources as I can. But, in my opinion, I think you gotta do what ya gotta do! And if that means splitting it up – GO FOR IT. I would MUCH rather run outside, but these 100 degree temps are killer. I also have a major adversion to getting up early before work to run. Plus, I have a young daughter so if I run outside in the morning, I have to get up EVEN earlier to get it in before my hubby leaves for work. So, that is the long way to say I use the hamster wheel far more often than I would like. But, when you get the miles and training in and it makes you happy, that is what really counts!! Congrats on your PDR!
I think it is fine as long as the break isn’t to long. I often take walk breaks or even short sit downs on my long trail runs. What is funny is when hiking or mtn biking taking breaks seams natural, and I am often wiped at the end of a long day. However when running any stop I the action seems like cheating. So no I dont think pausing to move inside harmed your workout. Infact I you logged more miles than normal it probably helped
I can’t give you a definitive answer, but I will say that per my half ironman training as I got into longer runs I had two-a-days where they were split up in the day. I say, if it feels right, do it, and then move the runs closer and closer together, until they make one…..but maybe I’m just making this all up. 😉
I think there is benefits to both practices…..although splitting them up wouldn’t require the same type of endurance as running the miles all at one time, doing two a days still take a lot of energy and work for your body to be able to accomplish and definitely isn’t a bad thing. I just wouldn’t do it every week for your loooooong runs and consider it adequate preparation for race day. But what do I know??? HAHAHAHA…
congrats on your pdr!! i’m undecided about splitting ’em up. on one hand, it feels like it defeats the purpose because you wouldn’t be taking a snack (or work or life or weather) break during your race but on the other hand, you’re still working your body for the same number of miles. if anything, maybe splitting ’em up could be beneficial? because you’ll be more tired for the second part? Either way, you know you can run 14 miles at once so if you have to split up for 15, it’s not like you don’t know you can’t do it. you know you CAN! you almost already did!
Congrats on the 14 miles, girl!! Awesome 🙂 Hope your 15 miler went well, too.
Heck yes it counts! I even read an article about it, but I can’t remember where now. Obviously it’s only to be used in extreme situations, such as this, and not as a normal training method, but splitting up the run is a hell of a lot better than no run!