There are benefits to long distance. Your body gets a chance to warm up, you really test your endurance and you burn mega calories. In long distance, you see so much because of the mileage you cover. You have a chance to really think or enjoy the podcast you listen too. The time is there for you to really get into running.
(Today's running partner)
(Today's coaches)
Short distance has it's benefits too. For one, you're done in a relatively short amount of minutes. Secondly, you can test your speed, which is always fun. Also, if you go slow, it can be a good recovery run. Lastly, these runs are usually close to home and that is always a nice feeling, a chance to see the neighborhood and wave hi to some neighbors.
So as I ran my short mile today, I contemplated which run I prefer. I always hate the first mile. For me, that is when everything hurts, my legs are warming up, my lungs are burning, my body protests. So when I do one mile, it's plain torture the whole time. And yes, it's over fast, but I have to concentrate hard to find some reward in feeling that pain.
(Today's coaches)If I do a long run, my body has that chance to warm up, but it works hard for a really long period of time. The aches and pains that happen in the first mile fade, but are replaced with tiredness and tightness of muscles as the mileage increases.
The long and the short of it is, I can't decide. No, in my heart I know I prefer a long run. But what I can appreciate is that with a short mile, I CAN exercise more. If I can learn to appreciate and accept the short mile, that means more fitness days on my calendar. And whether I have some minor warm-up pain with that or not, more days is a good thing.
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