Time Vs Distance?

anthocyanina

I go by distance, but I choose the distance based on how much time I have available. If I run faster than I estimated, I usually tack on an extra mile or half-mile to fill the extra time.

Duck_Puddle

pondee629 wrote: »

heybales wrote: »

pondee629 wrote: »

If you run by time only, how do you get yourself back home? I mean if the time is over and you're still a mile, or so, from your home, car or other convenient place to stop?

Since I commented on doing it by time, we have option besides the out & back method.

Mid-west here - main mile and half mile streets that usually cut through.

So by time does require a rough estimate of distance expected to go, but it does allow an out and back to be almost totally different route, and yes the desired time may float by 5 min.

So, outside you run by distance estimating the time you want to run in choosing your course. The distance you cover is exact, you go from here to there and back or you run a loop of an exact distance. The time it takes you varies.

i.e. You want to run an hour at a 10 minute mile pace. You plan a course of about 6 miles. That course is actually 6.5 miles. You don't stop running at one hour you do the extra 5 minutes. Are you running by time or distance?

I do a little of both. And for your question-whether you’re running for time or distance, both play into planning a route. So using your example, whether I’m running for time or for distance, I’m planning to run for about an hour that will cover about 6 miles.

Let’s say I run closer to a 9:00 pace (instead of 10) that day. If I’m aiming for a 6 mile run, my run is 54 minutes. If I’m aiming for 60 minutes, then I’m running more than 6 miles.

I don’t think anyone is that granular. There are certain benefits to running 60 minutes (vs less) and certain adaptations that occur in runs over 90 minutes. When not training for a particular distance, running by time maximizes those benefits. When training for a particular distance, distance is more important.

I don’t think anyone is so granular with a time based plan that they are going to stop moving 1/2 mile from the start point because they hit the required time. Perhaps there are some who do so-maybe similar to people who run back and forth in front of their house until their Garmin clicks off those last .02 miles.

I

heybales

pondee629 wrote: »

heybales wrote: »

pondee629 wrote: »

If you run by time only, how do you get yourself back home? I mean if the time is over and you're still a mile, or so, from your home, car or other convenient place to stop?

Since I commented on doing it by time, we have option besides the out & back method.

Mid-west here - main mile and half mile streets that usually cut through.

So by time does require a rough estimate of distance expected to go, but it does allow an out and back to be almost totally different route, and yes the desired time may float by 5 min.

So, outside you run by distance estimating the time you want to run in choosing your course. The distance you cover is exact, you go from here to there and back or you run a loop of an exact distance. The time it takes you varies.

i.e. You want to run an hour at a 10 minute mile pace. You plan a course of about 6 miles. That course is actually 6.5 miles. You don't stop running at one hour you do the extra 5 minutes. Are you running by time or distance?

I'll plan the course to hit the rough miles (this is many times done during warmup if I didn't think about it much), and plan to add on a tail of extra minutes off the planned route if things are going well.
I'll look at watch at rough turn-around or the max distance out, and if I see I'm at 25 min, I'll go out an extra 5 min and back.
If by the end I'm not doing as well and will be going over the time, I float over anyway until I get to end of street off the main-mile street. The walk back home is my 5 min cool-down.

It is basically a rectangle, or polygon, with a tail for extra time.

If I'm really doing well or I made route to follow the main mile roads and knew I'd need more for some amount of time, I'll make another little jut off closer to the end.

While all the straight streets can be boring in some ways - it makes this whole routine very easy. And that way if I have 75 min of available time, I can plan on 60 min plus 5 min warmup/cooldown time, and 5 min stretching.
If only 60 min - plan on 45 run time. If I'm late, stretching suffers right then.

I know not all have that ease, I recall many describing bike rides that started with 3-5 miles in only 2 possible directions before they got options, and then those options were basically very big loops or out-and-back.

My reason for such timeliness is I may be off work tad early and have so much time before getting kiddo from day care, and this is run day. Or I did lifting workout, and want to squeeze in time for run before shower and a work conference call.

pondee629

Time Vs Distance? Two ways of saying the same thing. If you run at a consistent pace you will cover x distance in x time. Whether you want to count it as x time or x distance, what real difference does it make?

mbaker566

pondee629 wrote: »

Time Vs Distance? Two ways of saying the same thing. If you run at a consistent pace you will cover x distance in x time. Whether you want to count it as x time or x distance, what real difference does it make?

during the week i run for time. ex:i have an hour
during the weekend i run for distance more. ex: i want to run 18 miles

bpotts44

You can manage your volume and intensity either way. I've always liked using distance. For instance, I'm going to run 4 miles in zone 2 today or I'm going to run 4 miles in zone 2 and do 4 hill repeats in zone 4.

Djproulx

pondee629 wrote: »

Time Vs Distance? Two ways of saying the same thing. If you run at a consistent pace you will cover x distance in x time. Whether you want to count it as x time or x distance, what real difference does it make?

For me, it depends on what the training focus is for the workout. For example, when building volume for an open half marathon race, my long runs are often done based on distance, increasing weekly. On the other hand, if the run is part of a build for a half marathon run split during a 70.3 triathlon, then I run for time. The reason is that I'm getting plenty of aerobic training and volume built as part of my overall weekly plan, so the "long run" is often just aimed at getting time on my feet that day, such as after a swim.

In general, just running for a prescribed time is an easy way for me to maintain fitness. If race training, then I am more focused on distance.

Squish815

Machka9 wrote: »

Machka9 wrote: »

Distance

Actually, to expand on this a bit ...

Time ... if I'm on my trainer or a treadmill or rowing machine.

Distance ... if I'm outside.

Pretty much this. Only exception is running a 5k outside as I'm trying to improve on my time. Anything above that while running outside though and I focus on distance.

MPDean

I bet any runner on here that did a time run that ended up around 12.5 miles wouldn't be able to stop until they'd turned it into a half marathon.

TavistockToad

MPDean wrote: »

I bet any runner on here that did a time run that ended up around 12.5 miles wouldn't be able to stop until they'd turned it into a half marathon.

Nope, I am quite happy to go to 0.1 of a mile so 12.5 is absolutely fine.

Plus I only do half marathon distance in a half marathon :laugh:

lemonwater1

Distance if outside.
Time on treadmill.
😆

heybales

MPDean wrote: »

I bet any runner on here that did a time run that ended up around 12.5 miles wouldn't be able to stop until they'd turned it into a half marathon.

If my available time appears it'll allow for a little extra distance to hit 13.1 - I'll make sure my time increases to hit it, or what I'm ending for can be pushed a tad late.

Yeah, I've gone for it.

pondee629

MPDean wrote: »

I bet any runner on here that did a time run that ended up around 12.5 miles wouldn't be able to stop until they'd turned it into a half marathon.

Not for me, any distance over 10K is run, exactly, only in a race. I want to keep any possible PB's in a race environment.

spiriteagle99

I don't feel the need to do a HM if I'm running in the vicinity. I will run to get an even 10th (i.e 12.5 rather than 12.45), but othewise I don't usually tack on distance unnecessarily. I live on a cul de sac which I traverse numerous times a day, between walking the dog and running. I have no desire to do it more often than I have to.

Vladimirnapkin

I have historically gone by distance (and yes, have kept runningto hit a round number), but I know some very accomplished runners who have always gone by time.