Runners: Time or Distance?

filovirus76
filovirus76 Posts: 156 Member
edited November 30 in Fitness and Exercise
I've been running for years, and I always do time as my workout. The one exception is marathon training, where my distance runs are for a designated distance.

What do others do? Run for distance or a set amount of time?
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Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    On my daily runs, I run for a set amount of time. When I do my long runs on the weekend, I usually run a specific distance.
  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
    I'm currently trying to transition from time to distance now that I'm able to get up to 3.5 miles regularly. I hit a 5-miler last night for the first time, so at those distances it seems to be more effective to go by mileage.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    Totally depends on the day. On days where I'm short of time, I run for time. For example, I have an hour between the time I get home from work and the time I have to pick up my son from daycare. That gives me 30 mins to run, then have time to cool down and have a quick shower.

    On days when I have more time, I run for distance. I will even run up and down the block in front of my house at the end of my run in order to get my exact distance :lol:
  • RollTideTri
    RollTideTri Posts: 116 Member
    I've done both. Right now I'm going by time because I'm trying not to worry about distance and pace as much as x amount of time in a certain HR zone. Just trying to build my endurance up without getting injured which is an issue for me
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    I do the same, I typically run for time (30 minutes) unless I'm race training. Then it's either a mix or just distance. Another exception is when I do outdoor running on trails, in which I do distance just because it's easier to know when to turn around based on a trail marker.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Distance as I'm training for a half marathon
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    Usually distance, either 1 mile or 5km. Depends on how much time I have overall.
  • filovirus76
    filovirus76 Posts: 156 Member
    I ran X-country throughout high school. I switched schools between Sophmore and Junior year. My first HS it was all about time. Run 30 mins out, 30 mins back as an example. My first HS it was all about distance, 3 miles out, 3 miles back as an example. I hated distance training. So as I continued running post HS, I always do timed runs, and vary my pace depending on my workout schedule.

    I was just interested in what others do.
  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    Distance with a goal pace. I make my own custom race plans. 25k, M, 50k coming up.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Used to run for distance when I was much younger. After having kids, I switched to running a set time, for practical reasons.
  • NikolaosKey
    NikolaosKey Posts: 410 Member
    When I do long runs I aim for distance. Pace and speed when training mid distances.
  • emblu
    emblu Posts: 272 Member
    Errrrrr I just run :smiley: I have a route in mind and do it, then I check the time and mileage out afterwards. It can be anything from 5miles to 8 or more and time wise; if I haven't got time to just run then I'll do my 45min quick road route for a fix lol
  • tcatcarson
    tcatcarson Posts: 227 Member
    Always a distance, and at a set speed. Longer slow runs at the weekend (8/10 miles) , faster tempo runs often on treadmill (5/7 miles) and a recovery run in between each (5 miles).

    If you run for a time, what happens when you're not back home when your time runs out? :p
  • jdt242
    jdt242 Posts: 106 Member
    Distance.
  • FatMoojor
    FatMoojor Posts: 483 Member
    Both, set a distance and a target time to complete it. Then try to improve on that time next run. Apart from my weekend LSRs which I just head out for up to 3 hours or so and then check the distance covered when I get home.
  • Bluepegasus
    Bluepegasus Posts: 333 Member
    Distance for me.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    it's been distance but, now I'm working on speed as I've gotten to a HM distance and that is good enough for me right now.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    both...goal is a 5k run in under 30mins which includes a warmup.

    I am not one for doing more than a 5k anyway.
  • Becca_250
    Becca_250 Posts: 188 Member
    Distance unless particularly short of time and just trying to fit a run in.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Depends on the workout, but most of my running right now is more about time than it is distance.
  • McCloud33
    McCloud33 Posts: 959 Member
    Usually more of a distance person, but I usually have a pace that I'm trying to maintain as well. Sometimes I bargain with myself and say "if you can do x distance while maintaining y pace then you can stop for the day...otherwise it's an extra 1-2 miles at the slower pace" If I get to the turn-around spot and am not at my pace, then I keep running. Most of my runs are out and back since I live WAY out in the country and my only loop is 9 miles.
  • steph2strong
    steph2strong Posts: 426 Member
    Both. I work on improving my 10 km time, within a set time run.... ex. run 55 minutes- 10 km in 44 min, 7.5 miles total.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Time. Or ultras would be the new 5k...
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    Distance. My phone now tells me splits, I find those times interesting--gives me a better feel on pace.
  • VioletRojo
    VioletRojo Posts: 597 Member
    Always distance with a pace goal in mind depending on what my plan for the day is.
  • bradcfairchild
    bradcfairchild Posts: 74 Member
    I've run off and on since I was younger. Never been on a team but I have run all kinds of races. I've been in great shape and not so great shape, like now. I sometimes use a spreadsheet when I have an event coming up. I'm building towards an Ironman in August 2016. First time I did an Ironman I set and held to my goals pretty close. This time I have one goal, to finish with a smile on my face. I have intentions instead of goals on the spreadsheet Sometime I do my intention and sometimes I don't; sometimes I do less and sometimes I do more. Right now my longer runs consists of creating a path on Google Earth, finding an easy to recognizable place and turning around (about 1/2 the distance I want to run) when I come to it I usually turn around but sometime the Advil is making me feel good and I run a little further. :wink: You can add some distance easier 1/2 way through a run than when you are dragging in at the end of your run. I run away from my house so I'm not tempted to stop early with loops. I do loops though on shorter runs I just run whatever then I use Google Earth-Ruler-Path to see what I just did. Time and speed aren't really important to me at the moment. I'm just glad to be able to run longer distance. I'm hoping the pounds start melting away sooner than later (actually they are). Running with extra weight is murder on your body. Hope that helps. Everyone is different, different goals, different situations... The hardest thing I've ever done was to find my max heart rate. That was 10 years ago. Speed training and hills are hard. Those things all have components of distance and time and effort and they all depend on what shape you are in at the time. Don't forget they gym, core workouts, eliminating stress, eating healthy, and all the rest. :blush:
  • filovirus76
    filovirus76 Posts: 156 Member
    "If you run for a time, what happens when you're not back home when your time runs out?"

    I never shortchange my time. A minute or two longer never hurts. I have a few different finishes to every route depending on how much time is remaining. I'm usually pretty close though.

    For instance, my workout for today is: 55 mins - 10 min warm-up, tempo training (5 min intervals of tempo X 4/5 min moderate X 3), 10 min cool-down. I'm more concerned about sustaining a pace rather than a distance.
  • rea1980
    rea1980 Posts: 93 Member
    I do a mix of both it depends on what my workout goal for that day is distance intervals vs timed intervals, Building mileage for a race vs junk miles. One is not better than the other, they both have their place in my opinion.
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    Usually it's distance. However, now I'm hoping to work towards a sub-2hr half marathon time by the autumn I begrudgingly have to do speed work more regularly, so time is more of a factor.
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    On my daily runs, I run for a set amount of time. When I do my long runs on the weekend, I usually run a specific distance.

    Pretty much this.

    It really depends on the goal of the workout. If it is a specific set of timed intervals then I go for time. If the workout is specified as some sortof endurance run, I will usually go for distance.
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