We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Runners Long Distance?

Char231023
Char231023 Posts: 700 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
What do you consider long distance running?
«1

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Over 10 miles
  • SLHysell
    SLHysell Posts: 247 Member
    edited November 2014
    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.
  • jasonp_ritzert
    jasonp_ritzert Posts: 357 Member
    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
    10+ miles.
  • Char231023
    Char231023 Posts: 700 Member
    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
    As a training run or a race?

    I think of anything past about 16 as a long run.
  • Char231023
    Char231023 Posts: 700 Member
    Trail or race, treadmill or outdoors. I was just thinking in general.
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Ten miles for me at the moment
  • veganbettie
    veganbettie Posts: 701 Member
    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
    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
    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
    Anything over 18 miles...

    eta "miles" to avoid the km confusion,,,
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
    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.
  • arussell134
    arussell134 Posts: 463 Member
    Totally subjective - depending on what kinds of running you've done before. As someone that's done marathons, I'd consider 10+ long distance. I consider 5 miles or less a pretty easy workout, and I like to refer to 6-10 miles as "mid distance."

    Everyone's at a different level though - I know some may not think my long runs or really long runs and I know for some people running a 5 miler is a major accomplishment and that's awesome. ;)

  • ES110791
    ES110791 Posts: 43 Member
    For me a short run is anything under 10k, 10-15k is a middle run and more than 15km is a long run.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Char231023 wrote: »
    What do you consider long distance running?

    Anything past the refrigerator.
  • SKME2013
    SKME2013 Posts: 704 Member
    Wheelhouse15 wrote: »
    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.

    +1
    Stef.
  • Rundavey
    Rundavey Posts: 12
    Is 55 miles long enough :smile: My wife and I have run the Comrades Ultra marathon. Amazingly over 15,000 peiople comple it each year. She has done it tiwce and wants to do twice more - I am now going to support - Once was enough :)
  • LoneWolfRunner
    LoneWolfRunner Posts: 1,160 Member
    Rundavey wrote: »
    Is 55 miles long enough :smile: My wife and I have run the Comrades Ultra marathon. Amazingly over 15,000 peiople comple it each year. She has done it tiwce and wants to do twice more - I am now going to support - Once was enough :)
    You run Comrades? Very cool... that's like the oldest road ultra that is still being run. I do almost exclusively trail races, but I would definitely make an exception for Comrades...and yeah, 55 miles probably constitutes a long run.

  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Depends on who you ask. If you asked me 2 years ago, I'd say anything over 6. Today, it's anything over 20. Your top-notch ultramarathoners would say anything over 50-100mi.
  • r_kraft
    r_kraft Posts: 27 Member
    When I started 3-4 miles was long, but now I have done two 1/2 marathons so 5K seems short. Even the last 10K I did seem short, but I ran that pretty fast for me. So right now I look at 10 miles or more as a long run, 4-10 as medium, and 5K as short. It all comes down to what you have trained to. Just have fun and run :smile:
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    5k is a long race. At least it feels that way to me. 5ks HURT BAD.

    Running 3 miles is short, and easy. A 5k race is brutal.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    5k is a long race. At least it feels that way to me. 5ks HURT BAD.

    Running 3 miles is short, and easy. A 5k race is brutal.

    100% agree. Toughest race to execute properly.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories