Need advice about the long run

pobalita

I like going to Saturday morning runs with my running Club or participating in half marathons on a regular basis; however, I'm getting to the point in my marathon training where my long runs need to be longer than what my running club typically does (around 8 miles per Saturday run) and longer than a half marathon. I really don't want to give up my running with my friends or doing halfs while I'm training for the marathon.

Now that I need to put in more miles, I'm wondering if it's ok break the long run up. What I mean is, if I need to run 14 miles, can I go to my run club and run 8 miles, socialize for 20 or 30 minutes, and then do the other 6 miles on my own?

I'm lost on this one. Is the long run about running (and/or walking) continuously, or is it about just getting in the total distance? For my first marathon, I did all the long runs with no breaks and feel like this is what I should be doing, but this year I've been having so much fun that I don't want to give up the social aspect of running.

If it helps to know my marathon plans: I plan to run the marathon continuously (that's how I did my first one). I only run for fun and not for time so I don't care about speed. My goal is just to enjoy the marathon.

edited to add: If I need to suck it up and just do the long run without the socializing, I will. It's short-term. I don't want to compromise by ability to finish the race. But if a break in the long run doesn't hurt anything...

apple_22over7

Personally, I would alternate between breaking up the long run, and doing it all in one go. That way you still get the social aspect of your club, but also make sure you're able to cover the long distance in one fell swoop.

I think the fact you'd be breaking your long run by 20-30mins shouldn't make too much of a difference. IF you were to do (e.g.) 8 miles at 6am and then 6 miles at 7pm, it would be different. But a short 30min break, if it's only once every other week, shouldn't hurt I don't think - especially given that you've already run a marathon and you know you can cover the distance.

However, this is all just personal opinion and not based on fact at all - I could be completely wrong, but it's what I'd do in your shoes.

Carrieendar

I usually show up early and run extra mileage then meet people for the last 8 or whatever (as long as its not a fast finish long run). that is an option too

SonicDeathMonkey80

My group would stop back at the store every hour to "pick up" more runners. The long distance folks would show up earlier (5am, 6am) and the general social runners would show up at 7am. They would stop and chit chat for a few minutes then take off.

taeliesyn

I don't think a short break should cause too many issues.
Is it possible for you to run to your group, do the run and then run home? Or possibly get a lift home depending on the distance.

You would definitely want to get some unbroken runs in before your Marathon though!

mjpTennis

I would start earlier and meet up for the last part. Breaking up the long run too much goes against the goal of the long run. If it is a shorter run during the week, I could see breaking those up, but not the long slow distances.

tkillion810

I think there are a few ways you can approach this. First, as others have suggested, can you show up early to run the extra miles and then finish with them? It's good to run some of your long run solo anyway. Second, I've read some literature about splitting up the long runs and there is some support for it. I don't think I would do it every week, but it is still a great way to learn to run on fatigued legs. The third option would be to look at your schedule and see if you can move your long run to Sunday and do a shorter to mid distance run with your group.

CarsonRuns

A 5 minute break is fine, but longer than that I think you are starting to defeat the purpose of the long run, which is to train the body to use a higher percentage of fat stores for energy. This adaptation doesn't start to take place until around 90 minutes of continuous running.

So, show up early and get some miles in and then finish up with the group.

Also, I wouldn't do a HM as part of a long run because you will probably be doing the HM at HM pace/effort, which should be quicker than marathon pace, which is the fastest you should ever do a long run. That being said, you don't have to run long ever weekend to train for a marathon and 1 or two HMs RACED during the training cycle are a really good idea, as long as proper recovery time is allocated.

lorierin22

As others said you can show up early to get extra miles OR socialize before the group run and stay out longer than others to get extra miles after. I've done both...sometimes on the same run (when others were only running 6 miles i would show up early to run a few and then finish up what I had left after.) I prefer showing up early. I would much rather run the beginning of my long run solo and have company for the end, but that may be just me.