Runners Long Distance?

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Char231023
Char231023 Posts: 702 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
What do you consider long distance running?
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  • SLHysell
    SLHysell Posts: 247 Member
    edited November 2014
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    Anything higher than a half-marathon is a long distance run to me. Up to that seems fairly doable. Anything higher requires tons of commitment in terms of time and education. I'm currently training for my first half.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
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    Over 10 miles
  • jasonp_ritzert
    jasonp_ritzert Posts: 357 Member
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    Anything over 5 miles. My "normal" runs are 3-4.5 miles, so anything 5 or more is 'long'.
  • skippygirlsmom
    skippygirlsmom Posts: 4,433 Member
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    10+ miles.
  • Char231023
    Char231023 Posts: 702 Member
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    I high school I thought of the runners that ran the mile as long distance runners (we didn't have cross country). Now that thought is just comical to me.
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
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    As a training run or a race?

    I think of anything past about 16 as a long run.
  • Char231023
    Char231023 Posts: 702 Member
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    Trail or race, treadmill or outdoors. I was just thinking in general.
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
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    I think a long run is anything that needs to be partly undertaken below lactate threshold.

    But subjectively, it's all relative isn't it. Anything above my capability seems "long" to me. When I couldn't go 5kms, that seemed like long distance running. Now I've run a marathon, ultra-runners seem like the long distance people.....there's always someone raising the bar :D
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
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    Seems subjective but I think 5K or less is short, upto a half is middle distance and after that you get into long then ultra.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
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    Long distance running is defined as anything from 5000 meters (5K or 3.1 miles) on up. That length is the difference between "track and field" (shorter than 5K) and "cross-country" (5K and over) in high school and college athletics.

    I've personally gotten to the point where I consider 5K to be a "short run" as in "I'm going out for a short run, be back in about a half hour".
  • cierrashadows
    cierrashadows Posts: 21
    edited November 2014
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    You guys really think you have to go far! I was a "distance" runner in high school and our typical practices were 3-4 miles so I've always thought that was distance running. I ran 10.25 miles yesterday, something which I think is a pretty big feat, but apparently that isn't distance running to most of you!
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
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    cierrashadows wrote: »
    You guys really think you have to go far! I was a "distance" runner in high school and our typical practices were 3-4 miles so I've always thought that was distance running. I ran 10.25 miles yesterday, something which I think is a pretty big feat, but apparently that isn't distance running to most of you!

    I don't go over 10K right now so 10.25 miles is pretty long for me! :)
  • jstrun
    jstrun Posts: 70 Member
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    anything over 10 miles is long run for me, where I need to plan a bit more for...under that i just get up and go and sometimes end up running further than anticipated!
  • DavidMartinez2
    DavidMartinez2 Posts: 840 Member
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    I generally think of 15 miles as my threshold for "long" run but as has been made clear that is a subjective term.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
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    Ten miles for me at the moment
  • veganbettie
    veganbettie Posts: 701 Member
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    for me it's anything over a 5k.

    Because I still can't believe I can actually run a 5k. Hell I can't even believe I can run a freaking mile.

    Oh my gosh. I can run a 5k.

    As always you guys are so freaking inspiring.
  • Carrieendar
    Carrieendar Posts: 493 Member
    edited November 2014
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    800 -1500meters are middle distance and all above are long in terms of the "official sport", as they require majority aerobic work. For me personally...5k-26.2miles :)
  • czmmom
    czmmom Posts: 236 Member
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    I consider a long run to be anything over 6 miles. I am working on always being ready to run a half marathon.
  • LoneWolfRunner
    LoneWolfRunner Posts: 1,160 Member
    edited November 2014
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    Anything over 18 miles...

    eta "miles" to avoid the km confusion,,,
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
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    Yes i believe technically long distance is 5k and beyond. But personally i feel long distance is any distance I'd prefer not to push my jogging stroller for. 13.2 miles and beyond would be a long distance. I do think i would enjoy the challenge of pushing the stroller for a marathon, but finding a race to comply and a willing child (my daughter is only tolerant up to 2:30) would be difficult.

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