What's the point of the mid-long run? (Read 1479 times)

PoQ, I put all my "speed" work into my two longest runs; my long run and mid-long run. That way I only have 2 hard days a week. It also helps ensure, by default really, that my "workouts" are geared toward helping me improve most at the longer distances--it's hard to do your "speed work" too fast when it's in the middle of a 13 mile run and you still have to get home in one piece. If I'm banged up and not feeling it, I just turn the mid-long run into a steady run or progression run without any real speed but I still get the miles. I don't get too hung up on labels--you'll see a lot of runs just called "mid-long" in my log but if you drill in you see tempo runs, long intervals, hills, strides etc. The biggest breakthrough I've ever had in running was when I stopped going to my club's weekly track workouts and started committing to a mid-week mid-long run. To answer the original question the point is to build endurance (particularly high-end endurance) and stamina (what is currently often referred to as "improved Lactate Threshold" or some other scientific-sounding words or acronyms here in the GSP.)

Thanks for the input Mike, and please don't be offended, but I think you're INSANE! Your training is anyway! I KEED, I keed. If I'm being perfectly honest, I've been following your (and Jeff's) philosophy of "just run" and it really has been working for me. I've secretly (in a totally non-stalkerish way!) been keeping tabs on how you train for a while. That's why I was so interested in how to do strides a month or two ago, 'cause I know you're a big proponent of them. I have done them a couple of times now, but I'm skeered to do them on my long runs b/c of what you mentioned (getting home in one piece). I'm just so new to the sport yet that I'm not confident enough to know that I'm doing them hard, but not TOO hard while out on a 10 - 13 miler. But it sounds like I'm gonna need to learn! I think that mixing them into to the two longer runs makes the most sense for me, as it gives me two quality workouts per week (this is another concept I've stolen from you ). It also leaves the track-type workouts out of my schedule, which Nobby recommends. I also like Nobby's suggestion of possibly alternating between a mid-long and a speed workout every other week. AK, thanks for all of the feedback! And I am absolutely STUNNED at your ability to go on a "5-6 hour training run". FWIW, I am really trying to work on getting more disciplined in my running, and I think once I get into my "Q's Ultimate Training Plan for the Beginners Named Q" that it'll help keep me on task for what I "should" be doing on any given day. THANKS EVERYONE!

AK, thanks for all of the feedback! And I am absolutely STUNNED at your ability to go on a "5-6 hour training run".

Keep in mind that's on trails. We stop for scenery and walk while eating. (same as I do in longer races) I'm not sure I could do 2 hr continuous running on road.

I don't read books, I just follow mileage plans...like the pfitz 18-55. he's got the mid-long runs. I never thought to wonder why, but I can say I think they really help. After 6 weeks of two 10 to12mile mid week long runs, I was able to chop 6 minutes off my half marathon time. I just ran them however I felt that day and logged them as mid-long runs.

Hey Lifesabeach! Congratulations on your fantastic 3:36:49 finishing time at the SURF CITY USA Marathon. I wanted to run that marathon but tried to sign up too late and it was full Emailed the RD and begged for an exception but to no awail The medal looks really beautiful. Congratulations!