The Long Run

Coach Sean Tait investigates.

Q “I’ve been training for events up to 25km, but have decided to step up and do the 42km Otter next year. My biggest challenge is going to be doing the long runs on weekends, as I have kids at home. How important are long runs, and can I make up the hours with more frequent, shorter runs? —Sarah, Cape Town

This is a really interesting question, and I’m really glad that Sarah asked it. We often get in the habit of doing things without understanding why.

If we all understood why we did the long run, and I mean accurately understood, then its relevance and importance in a training regime could be more closely determined.

But the questions are clearly:

1. To long run – or not to long run?

2. Is all training volume equal, no matter how you accumulate it?

Benefits of the Long Run

The long run increases the size and number of mitochondria, develops capillaries, increases aerobic development, teaches the body to oxidise fat to use as a fuel source, and serves many other benefits. But here’s the honest truth – so