VETERAN RUNNERS! What's your preferred distance?

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Trail_Addict
Trail_Addict Posts: 1,350 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
This is for runners who have been racing for a few seasons; those who have sampled the various race distances, from 5K to Half or even full Mary.

What is your favorite distance?
Is it your strongest distance, or your favorite for other reasons?
How did you determine it to be the best distance for you?
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Replies

  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
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    bump for reading later :)
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
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    Define veteran runner?
  • Trail_Addict
    Trail_Addict Posts: 1,350 Member
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    Define veteran runner?

    "This is for runners who have been racing for a few seasons; those who have sampled the various race distances, from 5K to Half or even full Mary. "
  • aprilgicker
    aprilgicker Posts: 395 Member
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    bump for later
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
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    Define veteran runner?

    "This is for runners who have been racing for a few seasons; those who have sampled the various race distances, from 5K to Half or even full Mary. "

    Reading is an essential skill. I should try to learn this sometime.
  • nuttyfamily
    nuttyfamily Posts: 3,394 Member
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    My favorite is the shorter distances. After training for two halfs, I find I just do not find that I like the longer distances at all. I have no desire to do a full.

    So my favorite is a 10k and then 5k.
  • ChristinaK69
    ChristinaK69 Posts: 249
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    My greatest endorphin run was 30 miles. But, 10 is a comfortable jaunt. It has been awhile though.
  • annamook
    annamook Posts: 28
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    I do really well in 4 mile races for some reason. I like a 10K also though
  • dreanance
    dreanance Posts: 246
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    13.1. I think anything less than 10k is a waste of my time since getting to a race would take me longer than it would to run it.

    I'm running my first full this fall though, I can't wait!!!
  • kjcorredora
    kjcorredora Posts: 2 Member
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    Favorite distance is the marathon. Love it. Love all the training, love all the crazy stuff your mind does while you taper, love the pure euphoria at the finish line (also, because I'm odd, I love those hours out on the course, just running and staying calm and dealing with whatever challenges come up). Also, I love it when little kids want to high five me.

    For road races, my best competing results have been the 10K distance, but it's not a favorite.
    For trail/xcountry races, my best competing results have come at the 4K distance (with a big ol' hill with 20% grade smack in the middle of the course). Again, not my favorite. Probably won't do that race series again. Not even for the bling.

    Been plagued by injuries this season. Considering focusing more at competing in 1/2 marathons come Spring (it's fall here in Chile now). Maybe won't even run a full again until mid 2013.
  • tenunderfour
    tenunderfour Posts: 429 Member
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    My favorite is the half marathon....long enough to feel like a big race. But, not so long that it kicks your *kitten* for 2 days after!

    That said.... the full mary is the gold standard. And even though it's grueling and I swear I will never do another.... I always find myself coming back to it. NYC marathon lottery drawing is tomorrow. Fingers crossed I get in!!

    And, like a previous poster - my best times actually come in 10K races......

    I despise 5Ks. I would rather run long than fast. :)
  • Run4iiiiiit
    Run4iiiiiit Posts: 489 Member
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    half is my favorite. I feel like I could wake up and decide to run a half and go do it. It's long enough that you have to pace yourself, though. I don't need a week to recover, either. why do I run fulls?
  • atsteele
    atsteele Posts: 1,358 Member
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    Marathon. Love doing the 20 - 22 mile training runs as well.
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
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    Half marathons for sure! Run at a nice pace, no concerns about hitting the wall (not long enough).

    I'm currently training for marathon # 26, I still haven't figured out whether or not I like them...
  • scribb
    scribb Posts: 3,659 Member
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    I love running half marathons in a race, but if I am alone I tend to like a 10 mile run along he river bend.
  • coronalime
    coronalime Posts: 583 Member
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    Half marathon for my version of "running" and working at it..I show improvement at least..

    I run marathons but Im not that good at it. Mile 16 I fall apart and struggle
  • run4yourlife
    run4yourlife Posts: 379 Member
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    Define veteran runner?

    "This is for runners who have been racing for a few seasons; those who have sampled the various race distances, from 5K to Half or even full Mary. "

    Reading is an essential skill. I should try to learn this sometime.

    :laugh:
    My fave is a half marathon. It's not my fastest distance, but it's my favorite because I find it completely doable, yet it still gives me a challenge.
  • SD2bfit
    SD2bfit Posts: 11
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    After 11 full marathons, (Marine Corp was my favorite!), and 6 Half Ironman events, plus numerous "other" race distances, I love my one marathon I do each year. It makes me train through the holidays--great for weight maintenance, especially since I am usually doing longest runs in Nov-Dec. I like doing Half Ironman events better than Marathons, though, if I have time to train all 3 events. Running is my meditation. I am strange--love being out there with just me and Mother Nature for 3-4 hours of just running. 5Ks just aren't worth the entry fee anymore.
  • nwhitley
    nwhitley Posts: 619
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    By myself, I love to run 8-9 miles, favorite races are 1/2 marathon, but best times are always 10K's. Anything less than a 10k takes more time to warm up than actually run the race. But, I still do them b/c they are fun!
  • LilRedRooster
    LilRedRooster Posts: 1,421 Member
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    Mine is actually the 10K. It's my favorite because I tend to have pretty strong performances, in terms of besting my own PR's, and being able to push through to really finish strong. In the 10Ks I've run, even the super hilly ones, I feel like those last three miles are golden; like I have little wings on my feet, and they'll just take me anywhere. It's really that great finishing strength that made me decide I loved that distance, because I don't feel that way for the last few miles of other races. I usually get that feeling the last mile or so, but not a few miles.

    Granted, I loved my half marathon and marathon experiences, because the sheer feeling of finishing at the end is just awesome. But I didn't always feel as great during the races as I did doing those 10Ks. Those races were just pure joy during, while the longer ones were pure joy afterward.

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