How to Find YOUR Ideal Running Distance

There is no one perfect running distance... but there might be the right distance for you right now! But how do you work it out?
This week I take you through the pro's and con's of running and racing at each distance (as I see them) to try to help you make a decision about what you might tackle next
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[@Dan-vt9vk]

Not one of your Big 5, but I really enjoy 10 mile races. There's still an endurance element but you can attack them much harder than a half marathon, which can often lead to pleasantly surprising results and improve your overall long-distance pace. They're also quite rare, so each one feels like a special event!

[@carlholland3819]

they dont have to be rare. do it every day

[@jaysingh05]

10 mi race sounds like fun! Also sounds like a great training distance for the half marathon, to perhaps try out race pace or faster.

[@jps5871]

In my local area 15k it the big race that brings some elites.

[@chrisvanbuggenum871]

10 mile is a good distance. I don't normally do it because i think in terms of km, but its a little less taxing than a half marathon and less time consuming but is still a decent workout!

[@BJ-ui2rc]

Haha the 10 miler to me is the most painful of all of them. It's kind of a sick and twisted blend between the intense pain of a 10k and the slow burn of a half marathon. I raced the Cherry Blossom back in April and that's been probably the only race where I actually felt like my legs were going to give out towards the end.

[@Jay-sd9ye]

I'm a new runner, 3 months in. After making the 5k distance, I tried a10k run. I felt like I was going to die. I got it done in 59min. I just kept pushing through. My legs were so sore after the 10k. I haven't ran 10 since. I'm working back up to it again...

[@Leeroy49]

5k definitely is the hardest distance for me out of the big 5. Additional downsides: - getting ready for it takes longer than the race itself aside from getting to the venue in the first place - you have to go out hard because it's impossible to make up much time later - there's not really time to enjoy the course

[@lol-gb5vt]

ultra harder plus goin out at a normal pace seems to work fine for people I know

[@cavu9lane]

Nailed it. Love 5Ks and 10Ks as they are more “fun” runs that everyone can do, including walkers. The half marathon is really the perfect distance for racing and training, but I have a mental issue with the word “half” as it makes me feel like I didn’t do the full race. I guess that is why marathons keep calling my name. I love them, the expos, the full event weekends. I was one and done at Ironman. Not sure I have the desire to do Ultra.

[@AndreiDamian]

Let's call them ultra-5ks or quad-5ks.

[@htmonaro1969]

To an extent, I agree with most of what you said in this video, although you only really touched on what make each distance so different for me. The real difference, for me at least, is intensity. The shorter the distance the higher the intensity, which never bothered me in my 20s, but now I'm in my 60s, it just feels like I'm on the edge of a heart attack when I chasing a 5k age pb. Ultras, on the other hand are long and challenging because of the many things that can go wrong, but I never feel like the intensity is overwhelming. Thanks for the video.

[@hazeldavis3176]

Ultras have absolutely stolen my heart. I adore the mental challenge, testing my creativity and problem solving. I love the community, the spirit of cheering each other on. Sweet mercy i just love it. I hope to be able to run one One day! I'm up to waddling 10k but it's over too soon lol

[@bugbean5500]

Whenever I watch your videos about races I'm asking myself if I'm the only runner who doesn't enjoy racing at all? I did one in my teens and absolutely hated the loudness of it and the thousands of people around. I'm running up to 50k distances now, most very alpine in absolutely stunning nature and I just enjoy the peacefulness of it so much. However I'm thinking about participating in an ultra event in case I fancy to run even longer distances in the future because 50k is the limit without any support in my opinion.

[@carlholland3819]

im with you. i run ultra trails by myself. depending on the tracks you run you can support yourself. park on the trail and run past your car every 10 or 20 miles to resupply. and if youre not able to continue, you can always bail

[@AndreiDamian]

@@carlholland3819, that sounds like a plan. I've just started running last year, and haven't competed in anything yet, except the local parkrun. I do enjoy going for a run at night alone and was wondering how it would be with so many people around you.

[@timeonfeet]

Completely agree on the sense of community in ultras, that feeling of battling through it with others is a big pull for me on making it my favourite distance. Having less pressure on time and splits as an accepted part of ultra culture I think also makes a big difference in being able to enjoy the event more.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Yeah it’s an amazing community for sure. I love it. No one out to beat anyone else. It’s just support and congratulations when you do well 😊 but to be fair, the running community in general are an awesome bunch 😊

[@lexington476]

That is absolutely true, although I did not participate in an ultramarathon I was at one doing a 15K trail run and all the ultra folks are like super cool kind of felt like they should have been back in the '60s or '70s as hippies.

[@stephensimmons8657]

Just stepping up this year , have 2 half marathons entered . One in may and fortune enough to get in the Great North Run in sept 👍

[@bikerdude6119]

I love ultras, although i do enjoy it when i pr my 5ks or 10ks during training. I barely got my 5k down to 21 minutes flat ,that was before clocking in to work on a saturday working in construction 😂. Ultras will always be my sweetheart❤

[@cpruns4501]

100% agree with all your comments here on the distances. I have always said that the half marathon is the first distance where you can't just get off the couch and "run" a half marathon. You can for a 5K and a 10K. You will suffer for sure depending on how much you push yourself but you could enter a 5K or 10K race with almost no training and at least finish it. A half marathon though is the first distance where you do have to have a level of fitness/training to enter and expect to finish. That's what I love about that distance and beyond. The other comment that hit home is the comradery of the ultra. Unless you are in the top 1% there is no "racing" in an ultra. If anything, you are all one big team and you push each other to get through the event. There is no better feeling than when you come upon a fellow racer in an ultra who is clearly in a low point and you can help them through that. All ultra racers have been both the provider and the recipient of that encouragement at the right moment:) Awesome video.

[@Kelly_Ben]

Love this comment! I started doing 50ks a few years ago, and I now bring extra fuel, salt tabs, and cheap knee and ankle wraps to give to any runners in need. Except for the top 10, we're not competing against each other, but against the distance, terrain, weather, and our own bodies.

[@melihbalaban]

I run up to half marathon and ultra distances (30-35k) so far. I think 5k is the hardest one for me. for 10k/HM i don't mind about seconds but when it's about 5k even 1 second matters 🏃‍♂

[@mastenas]

my favorite distance is between 5km and 10km, because they are the only possible distances to do without the need for hydration during exercise.

[@trailsandbeers]

ultra, I'm not fast but run/walk through mountain trails is amazing experience and motivates me to keep running and hiking and going to the gym.

[@runningwithsimon]

The key difference with ultras (my distance) is the mindset and the people. Anything shorter, when it's not your first, it quickly becomes about optimizing, shaving a few seconds. But I couldn't care less about PR. A 100 miles is about solving problem to achieve something amazing - and you do that as a group. It's pretty chill - people help each other, talk along the way, etc. The downfall however is "A lot can go wrong in a marathon" - well, if I start a marathon, I know I can finish no matter what, but 100 miles? Even after 25, I can never tell if I'll see the finish line... DNF rate are 50% for a reason... Ps: wouldn't group all ultras together - a 50k is totally different than 200 miles (different sport - endurance running vs. multiday hiking)

[@10stephenrose]

Running is life! I like that. I ran 2000 miles last year and my only goal is to beat that this year. I just enjoy training, I do a set marathon course once a year and plenty of casual ones for myself. I love the distance ❤

[@thegroundpounders]

GM from NYC, I discovered your channel by chance and I got hook by your insight and cheerfulness. I'm 54 years old have been running since I was a young kid on and off but not seriously until I joined the United States Marines Corps. Now that I am retired I have taking running more seriously running 6 times a week. I have gotten a couple of injuries thru the years and pulled thru and amazingly my body has adapted to them. I have become hook on running and thanks to you I am determine to explore other races, currently I am training for two half marathons one in April the Brooklyn half marathon and the other in July the Coney Island half marathon. Keep up the good work and looking forward to see more of your amazing videos.

[@thebeardedmother1535]

My wife wasn't a runner at all. She did your beginner 5km a year ago and we have just registered for our first HM in July this year - working off your HM plan. Love your channel! Great source of inspiration.

[@Kelly_Ben]

After decades of 5ks and a few half marathons, and slowing down every year, I decided to give ultras a try. 50ks quickly became my favorite distance. Slowing down, enjoying the scenery, the atmosphere, the friendly fellow runners, the music and food, the incredible volunteers... it's like no other racing category. The "con " of DNFs you listed I actually consider a Pro... first, NO ONE, not even the world's top ultra runners, are guaranteed a finish, much less a win. That somehow takes away that division of class, that feeling of being a low level runner. I've been lapped by incredible runners, only to have them DNF for a variety of reasons. I've learned to always carry extras to offer runners in distress... what other racing encourages that attitude? Second, many of the races I've done don't have DNFs... they allow you to drop and "finish" at a lower distance. (I dropped at 22 miles in a brutal 33 mile mountain race, along with half the field. We got 22 mile medals. ) I strongly encourage EVERY runner to try out a 6 or 12 hour event. The race can be a flat track, or going up and down a mountain repeatedly, or anything in between. It's a wonderful way to experience that one of a kind ultra atmosphere, without committing to more training or struggle than you feel comfortable. (I train 4-7 hours a week, and recovery after the race takes less than a week.) Bring friends and family, they can cheer you on every lap and enjoy the party atmosphere. It's incredibly inclusive, with runners of every age/ weight/ ability. I still do shorter races for training, but I plan on doing ultras at least into my 60s, hopefully longer.

[@Les.GoRunning]

Love half marathon race but challenging myself to the marathon distance

[@irawhitlock1084]

Just finished 2nd week of my first marathon training plan. Loving the long training runs. We’ll see how my body holds up. Being good about nonnegotiables, fueling, and sleeping, and doing much more s&c, stretching, and foam rolling than before.

[@john.maynard]

This is like picking your favorite child 😬 Having run all distances up to 100 miles, I love the HM. But ultras hold a special place in my heart. When you go beyond 50 miles, you’re battling both your body and your mind. You get to dig into things you don’t quite experience during those shorter distances. Doubt, anguish, frustration, suffering, joy, celebration. Above all, however, it’s the community. I ran my 100 miler solo, without crew or pacers. But the people I met along the way, up in the mountains, from other runners to the volunteers at aid stations, made the journey unforgettable. All the highs and lows, or as Ann Trason says, “life in a day,” are what ultras are all about. Can’t wait for my next one this summer, AC100. Hope you take the time to experience a 100 🙌🏻

[@Shevock]

Great video. I'd say 5k and 10k are the best for most people. That is, for a population's physical wellbeing and longevity and decreasing the cost of public medicine, getting more people doing 5ks or 10ks every year is objectively better than having longer, more endurance heavy aims. I say this because since the 70s the marathon has probably fit that role in the public psyche but it is not the best for that. Frankly any distance where there is an increase in overuse injury (half on up) is less good as a public goal than a shorter, still challenging goal. I'm hoping to run a 5k when I'm 100. That's my running goal long term. The brilliant part of my personal long term running goal is it is brilliant, challenging but also it can be imagined.

[@carlholland3819]

you should be appointed president for life since you know whats best for everyone

[@michaelmacleod2665]

Cracking video. I'm not sure what my favourite is. I've walked 100k and run half marathons. Slowly working my up to running 100k. Just being a runner and doing all of these events are wonderful. The atmosphere around any event is buzzing. Did a 5k with my 5 year old and 1k fun run with my 3 year old today. Start them young!

[@OmahaTonyG]

I quickly realized that the full marathon is the best distance for me. I just don’t have the top end speed to run the shorter distances, but I do have great endurance at moderate speeds. I consider any race longer than marathon basically a torture session. I’m doing this to have fun and running until I pee blood isn’t fun.

[@gtcubes]

I was just searching for this a week ago. Thanks!

[@rrssna]

I tried them, but I really hated the longer distances, not because I find them difficult, but rather because I find them incredibly boring. 5k or shorter are more interesting for me. In high school I was a 400m and 800m specialist, so I gravitate more towards the shorter speedier distances. Sorry, no half marathons or marathons for me.

[@seannewell1640]

Great round up, and plenty for me to think about, scuffing my second Marathon training cycle at the moment due to pushing too hard after loosing out on a few weeks training. Half marathon seems to be my sweet spot at this point in life :-)

[@kategiles7503]

Disagree re a 5km being ‘unchallenging’ or ‘less mental’. Currently trying to break 20 mins in the 5km and it scares me way more than my recent 50km 😆

[@southerncranesyndicate7616]

Totally agree. If you find 5k unchallenging you are doing it wrong.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Oh don’t get me wrong, Kate. I didn’t say 5k in itself is unchallenging. I said some can eventually find it unchallenging. It’s all a personal journey with very different things that people find challenging 😊

[@brunoopaludo]

I hope in a couple of years from now I can come back to this video and say that I've completed my first trail ultra. Thank you for all your content!

[@alexward1664]

Loving seeing how comfortable Mary is with the camera, great work guys!

[@stevedarunner5736]

Good video idea and good commentary on the distances.

[@Leeroy49]

My favorite is the half as well. Especially because you've got some time to enjoy the course and the event itself. The mental and physical blend is really good.

[@lexington476]

Always remember, ever a bad day racing is always better than a great day at work 🙂.

[@markdyer2155]

I am fascinated by 50K ultra. 63 yo, 30 kg overweight so speed events like 5 or 10k of no interest. I seem to be able to simply engage diesel drive and plough on like a bulldozer. Did a Half Marathon 4 years ago in 2h 29, now have all the time I want to train and get miles into legs. Geeky so love the fuelling and hydration calculation and thoughts but unsure of my mental strength and that is the test of course.

[@gm2407]

Ran 14/16 days, then needed 4 consecutive rest days for my leg muscles. Still walked the distances I would have run. Today did my first 10k as a recovery run 82 minutes. Only doing that distance to improve my base and ultimately speed on my 2-3k regular running distances. 10k felt fine for my lungs and heart so I know it was a good recovery run. My legs are feeling it. Hopefully the more I do this the stronger my legs get.

[@genedollaway6466]

Very well done. Working my way up to my first half marathon this july, I hope. Training time really is the hard part.

[@pierce9128]

Great video, would love to see a similar one about triathlon distances

[@sxy4ward843]

Loving the Thailand vest

[@martinclement2291]

Great vid!!!

[@ADAMBLAZEVIC]

Great video guys! To be honest when you start running you immediately think about a marathon and this was my approach as well. But longer distances are not for everyone as I learned. I ran a marathon several half marathons but never really enjoyed these. For me fueling was always a big problem, I have a weak stomach. This year I came to to the conclusion that I really want to focus on 5k and 10k, and no, I don't feel like stepping down because I also focus on speed and I love it. And just think about it, these distances you can run on track, if you are into that so I think shorter distances can be appealing even if you are an experienced runner, it is not just the distance.

[@johnathanperkins8364]

I’m trying this for this year. I started running a year ago ran a handful of 5ks and finished the year with a half marathon, loved the half just want to find where I can both excel and enjoy.

[@jakebrooke364]

Great video ❤

[@DenisPasek]

Good video. My favorite distance is definitely the half marathon. I think 5k and 10k are much tougher for me than half marathon. Half marathon is run slightly below threshold. It‘s hard but steady/stable. 5k/10k is usually run way past threshold. At this effort everything becomes unstable for me: my mind, my legs, my stomach… especially my mind and stomach like to switch to full denial from one minute to the other…😅

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Ha ha I know what you mean. HM works best for me overall but an ultra is a transformational experience when it comes to racing. Crafts the toughest of minds.

[@artwersky]

Great vid

[@farah_lynn]

I'm currently training for my 4th half marathon and I have really enjoyed this distance. I don't want to do a full for another year or so, and I was contemplating switching it up by racing a 10k for the first time to work on more speed. A 10 mile race also seems interesting!

[@turnoverbros]

I trained for a mile and nearly DOUBLED my sleep, at this pace, if I train for the marathon, I would be getting over 150 hrs of sleep a night!

[@markhill8590]

My favourite is definitely the 5k because i can give it my all for those 3.1 miles.....so far my pb for a 5k is 18:05 so close to a sub 18

[@burgerkingbub]

Thanks for a nice summary. I still havnt figured out my favourite. ive kind of plateaued on the 5-10km and done a few solo halfs of trails/hills and roads. my first official half is in a week so interested to see how i go both mentally and physically in a race setting (and 3 weeks post covid). Love your Content Ben and Mary and recently started following on strava so i can see your runs behind the scenes. From a Kiwi/Aussie based in Christchurch New Zealand (p.s. have you been to NZ? theres some stunning places to check out here in the south island!)

[@Willz53]

5km for me. Far enough to enjoy with friends or you can race one every week/every other week. If you go out too hard, your always close to the finish line. Don’t need to train a lot for it. When traveling you can always find a event with parkrun. Can do race on the track, road or trails. Love the feeling on been on that red line. And you always have a sprint finish in you.

[@MarieAlessandra]

My all time favorite distance is the half marathon, it’s comfortable but challenging at the same time. Not too short, not too long. My next race is a marathon, which I honestly is not a huge fan of because I’m not great at following a strict plan and none of the marathons I’ve ran so far have felt good 😅😂 Hoping this one will change that up, I need to get through at least ONE marathon that doesn’t feel awful.

[@IainThacker]

Great summary guys! Really tallies with my experience as a relative newbie. 5k really did feel like a stepping-stone and I never trained for that distance, it was something that happened working on 10k. My PB came during the final 5k of my 10k PB so... I keep asking myself why I set a 10k target (UK Masters minimum standard, so 37:30) as 10ks are so physically unpleasant! Then I have a weekend like last where I knock almost 3 mins off my PB and the realisation that the goal might be achievable. I don't expect a year of improvement like the last (53:37 > 43:51) but steady progress is key. I found half, last October, a challenge in terms of being physically resilient enough for 'race pace'... distance on easy runs no issue but running more than 45 sec/km faster really took it out of me. My trainer has helped me though - stronger now than I was then. Skipping marathon, that's maybe a 2025 thing when I've a bit more training age under my shoes. Booked in for a trail ultra in September - 34 miles on the Gritstone Trail. Aim is _just_ to finish, there's a decent sized group from my running club going so paces to suit and plenty of mutual support. This is the only thing I'm looking at that is even a little scary but I know I need time on feet alongside my 10k training. I think that the two will be reasonably complimentary - my 10k readiness really responded well to half training volumes...

[@user-sz6rh6xt9s]

On 5km races - if you want to go to a lot of different places and get finisher's medals, then look at "Carrera Popular" (popular run) in the Canary Islands. Not all have medals and some are "verticals" (up a mountain) so check the details!

[@acasualviewer5861]

15ks (or the similar 10 miles) are a pretty interesting distance as well. Not as tough as a half. But a bigger challenge than a 10k.

[@irondistance4313]

Right now Ironman 70.3 but I will do an Irondistance race to me that is the ultimate test of endurance. The the video thanks to you both

[@jwuertz7101]

In the US we tend to have a lot of charity 5ks, all over, so there is some difference to park run. Did one yesterday and there are definitely some folks in it for time/ placing well and others who are there to challenge themselves and folks who are looking to finish at a walking pace.

[@brooketerra3]

Park Runs are nice because even though they track results, each run is free. Some of these charity 5k's are pricy!

[@lexington476]

13:18 you are correct, absolutely, (cough) 10-miler 🇺🇸🙂.

[@pierce9128]

@ThisMessyHappy hi Ben and Mary. Quick question, I'm training for a 70.3 in the end of July. Am planning on entering a marathon for start of October. Would it be mad to enter it with only 2months of training for it or would the 70.3 training enable me to get ready for a 5hr marathon? Thanks

[@garymanders1273]

Favourite distances 5km and 10km i really enjoy that masochistic aerobic burn..i may enter a half marathon once or twice a year but i don't enjoy running if im out more than 90mins to 2hrs and if im not enjoying it what's the point.

[@runryerun8789]

I love running half marathons, it’s when I started to feel accomplished

[@whizzkidonspeed]

I think the 5k is under rated. Rather than just get better at 5k's people feel they must move up to the 10k and beyond.

[@ollie1317]

Moving up doesn't mean that have to leave it behind (though i guess many do!) At the end of 2021 my first year running i had run 1 parkrun under 21 minutes but would keep injuring my achilles when ever i tried to get close . After doing my 3rd half marathon with proper structured training including some speedwork i came back to parkruns regularly towards end of 2022 and every single time is under 21mins now including running there and making it the middle bit of an 18 mile long run a few weeks ago.! Hoping when i have done my 1st marathon it will have similar effect and take me sub 20.

[@carlholland3819]

people should do what feels good for them. if that means you only run 5k thats fine, but let the rest of us continue to push our limitations

[@CrazedCorgi]

New runner here this April. Did 2 5k races, i did well for me. I just need to cut my time in half, so getting faster is the goal for this year. Maybe by fall time I'll be ready for 10k races without being slow.

[@jdpjamesp]

When I restarted my running a few years ago I joined a club where we go out running for an hour and the pace dictates the distance run. The goal was always to get to 10k but that seemed hard. Eventually though I got there and in fact the 1 hour runs I do now are usually 11-12k in length. It felt like such an achievement to get to the point where I could just go out and run 10k without having to specifically train any more. I did my first half marathon last autumn and loved the experience and immediately signed up for more (sadly missed one through injury) but got my next one this Autumn. It's nice knowing I can do the distance now and just have to focus on pace. I'd love to go longer but at the moment that's not possible due to other external factors. But who knows! Maybe a backyard ultra might be the challenge I need?!

[@emilys1447]

Half marathons or similar trail distances (around 25-30k) are the best for me. Doesn't take over my life and I can always be "half marathon ready"

[@stevenlowry1833]

Something worth adding as both a pro and con with marathon training is food intake. With the increase in the volume of training my appetite increases tremendously. It would be a pro in that you have to eat more & not gain the weight, but it can be a con at the same time in that you have to eat more... BTW In the past 5 years have run more marathons than half marathons, but I do prefer the half. The recovery time is quicker than the marathon and by the following day I am usually fully recovered, but tired.

[@lexington476]

7:22 not a half marathon but my first 10 miler... I don't remember what I ate the night before or the morning of that race but let's just say my digestive system didn't like it, so yeah the race starts and I'm in the porta potty at mile one and then two more times before the end of the race... So what should have been a 90-minute or even 100 minute race for me, turned into 125 😀😃😄😄.

[@AnthonyMcqueen1987]

Completed 5k, 10k, half marathon now I am training for my first marathon. After that doing 1 Ultra then going back down to just 10ks

[@gb2983]

A hilly road marathon is hell, a hilly trail marathon is bliss. Your mindset completely changes when you get off the road.

[@phoebeandkaylee7927]

Just completed my 2nd marathon in 3hrs 6mins and 49secs last 8 mile where so so tough.

[@lexington476]

3:18 yes yes it is, I have some insight here I can help you out, a 10K is two 5ks back-to-back non-stop, no break at the end of the first 5k, no halfway finish line either, you keep going, welcome to the big leagues 🙂🙃😉.

[@carlholland3819]

you should continue following your logic until you get to a real running distance. maybe try doubling it a few more times

[@stephenneal23]

I ran my first marathon last year and finished just barely in time because my right hip gave out at mile 16 and I had to walk the rest of the way. I didn't do enough strength training to handle the load. This year I've signed up for the Leadville 50 mile in July. I just got over plantar fasciitis in time to catch a cold so things are looking kind of dark. I think I can finish on tenacity alone, but if I DNF then I at least tried and set a lofty goal. My real goal race is Ironman Arizona in November, and I'm on track for that.

[@carlholland3819]

sounds like youre over extending yourself. if you want to run 50 miles you should be able to run marathons back to back to back in your sleep. you should push yourself within your limits otherwise youll always be fighting injuries

[@stephenneal23]

@@carlholland3819 Possibly. I don't feel over exerted. The plantar fasciitis came from stepping off a ladder and twisting my ankle really ad and the pain lingered on my heel which suggests I over extended my fascia. The cold was a long time coming because my kid has been fighting it for three weeks. My training has been mellow this year and my mileage increases smooth. If I don't finish the 50 miler, I'll try again next year.

[@Kelly_Ben]

​@Carl Holland Not if the goal is to just finish. If he's truly marathon fit, he can probably finish an "easier" 50 miler slowly. The Leadville... that's a big one, but I'm all about the challenging yourself for epic adventures and memories. Go for it!!

[@normazayed2100]

The half marathon is my favorite distance to be honest .... it's challenging to me but not too brutal.

[@pieter7890]

Thanks for all the content. You helped me a lot in my training. Im looking to buy a carbon plate shoe for half marathon and some training. Any recommendations? I did my first half marathon in 1:39 im training to brake 1:30.

[@DenisPasek]

I can recommend the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3: light, comfortable, natural feeling and pretty fast. Mary is wearing them in many videos lately. I have to admit that I only tried a two other carbon plated shoes than the Saucony lineup, both from Hoka. Saucony is working much better for me.

[@ollie1317]

I am hoping the right distance for me now is the Marathon as In 7 weeks i will have hopefully have just finished my first one.Up to 22miles on yesterdays long run and even though i kind of expect to want to do more in the future,the training load alongside work and family/caring commitments is a biggy so its prob only a max of once a year. or maybe every other for me.(i think maybe utras are out for same reasons)Love the HM distance and doing parkruns as quick as i can but pretty much passed the 10k by without entering any races so need to do some of those at some point.

[@Kelly_Ben]

It can be done. I train for 50ks while working 2 jobs. If you want to smash records or stand on the podium, you'll probably need to put in over 8 hours a week, but for me who just wants to finish in the top half, bumping my training from 5 hours a week to 7 max (including S&C and mobility) is making a huge difference, especially with 1 long run gobbling up 2-3 hours of that. And funny enough, I find doing a trail marathon or 50k every 6-8 weeks during the nice months keeps me in shape and injury free! (My wallet sometimes bleeds though...)

[@markknee4421]

I love the Half Marathon the most, I think. It's a mental and physical endurance feat, and the training still has the fun speed sessions, but it doesn't take too long to train for, and won't leave you dead for weeks after. I also find the training is not all-consuming, unlike a Marathon.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Very true, Mark. It’s a great balance. Hope you’re well? 😊

[@PatRiot-le7rd]

To me, the easiest way to pick your best distance is to go run a race in each of these 5 standard distances (or as many of them as you are capable of completing) and see how well your results compare to the rest of the runners. Convert your place in the field to a percentage and see if you finished in a higher percentage place at a particular distance. For example, my 5k times are in the bottom third of finishers, my 10k time is in the bottom half, my half marathon time is in the top third, my marathon time is bottom half, and my attempts at ultra marathons were DNFs, so my current performance is best at the half marathon.

[@Si_mo_na]

As a slower runner I feel like HM is my limit ( a bit under 2:30 racing). I would love to try to go for longer (I've done 35km easy run before), but I feel like I just can't put in that much time that proper training would require. Also, I looked around for cut off times in local marathons, and they are usually at 5:30, which might not be feasible for me.

[@Kelly_Ben]

This might sound crazy, but hear me out. Look up 6 and 12 hour ultras near you. You can find races on flat or gently rolling loops that bring you back to your supplies, and an awesome aid station with music, encouraging and helpful people, and usually amazing food. You can sit and rest between laps, or push on for your best time. And you've got plenty of time in a 12 hour to complete your goal. You stop when you're done, and placings are based on the time/ distance each person ran. You never get lost, always have supportive company, you can even have friends/ family set up a base and cheer you on every lap. It's an incredibly inclusive atmosphere, with runners of every age/ weight/ ability. You CAN run that marathon, and have a blast doing it. Best wishes!

[@MsRjutube]

I’ve only run 1 marathon which took me 5.25 on a hilly course. My half marathon time was 2.45 in training. I reckon you could do it. Fromone slow runner to another 😊

[@MsRjutube]

Having said that half marathon is now my preference

[@oldmandice2731]

My favorite distance is 90 minutes. Anything longer than that I get bored with and shorter doesn't feel challenging.

[@carlholland3819]

thats hilarious, you are joking right?

[@robbarnett524]

Training for Manchester Marathon at the moment. Can confirm I am not enjoying it. Maybe it is the pressure of going for 2:45. Regardless, takes up too much time, too many variables for things to go wrong. Taken the fun out of running for me. Half marathons are peak distance I think

[@robertenck-np6sw]

you mentioned messing up nutrition for an ultra, have you ever tried using a continuous glucose monitor to manage fuel intake? it’s common in cycling and starting to catch on for elite marathoners

[@carlholland3819]

it doesnt matter. you take as much sugar and water as you can and you will still be deficient. i burn over 1k calories an hour and lose a quart of water an hour running while trying to stay hydrated even if you could take in that much, you wouldnt want to. salts are easier to replenish but you will still cramp eventually

[@pugsondrugs5480]

I set a goal to be able to run a half marathon by this summer - but now my IT band’s fucked. Apparently I’m RIDICULOUSLY prone to injuries, this is like the 5th one in 3 years of running. At least it’s not the usual leg this time.

[@tihomirf4541]

you forgot about a BIG pro of the shorter races - you're less likely to run into poop problems :) i don't always have the urge to poop while running, but when i do, it's mostly in the 9-13km zone. i haven't figured out what triggers it (not eating for 5-6 hours before a run seems to help) so i have to rely on luck. when it happens in training it's not that big of a deal, but if i had to go during a race, that would suck big time.

[@toddapplegate3988]

5ks are very common where I live multiple per weekend. 10k is a rare race. Half is second most common. Marathon is pretty time intensive. Half is very accessible and you don't have to be a super fast runner to have a good race time.

[@hogie666]

I was only talking about ideal running distances with my wife this morning. I’m currently training for my first marathon and I am not enjoying anything over Half Marathon distance. I actually said that HM is my ideal distance.

[@carlholland3819]

keep pushing. once you get stronger physically and mentally marathons are easy. might have some nutrition problems tho. should look into that. carbs, salts, water

[@AndreiDamian]

> keep pushing Or keep doing what you enjoy, with a lower risk of injury and less of a time commitment. For the rest, let's train for the Barkley Marathons. :)

[@josiegjackson]

Great video! I heard some (ex-runners) people say that if people go to do a half marathon, they are less likely to go to the marathon distance, whereas people like me - experienced in 5-10K distance for 4 years have stepped straight to the marathon training is likely to do the marathon distance again and not see the half-marathon as big of a challenge as those who only went up to the half marathon. What do you guys think? Yes the half-marathon will be a challenge for me and to train for it but it's not as hard as the marathon I have done last year. Marathon just puts me in some sort of special feels of the flow.

[@carlholland3819]

running is all mental. if you want to challenge yourself then you will and if you dont want to then you wont. push yourself during "training" so you can desensitize your mind while acclimating your body. half marathons and marathons arent a big deal when you run them weekly in the mud/rain/snow/ice. before you know it youll be doing ultra trail for fun if you really enjoy running

[@martinclement2291]

Love half’s……. Not yet done a marathon 😬😬

[@buttsniffa7469]

Half mara is easily the best distance. You don't have to taper for too long, you need not worry much about fuelling/hydration, and you don't need much time to recover

[@ThisMessyHappy]

This is true. For week in week out you might be right. It is one of my life aims to always be half marathon ready. I think that’s realistic 😊

[@TheDangerousKid]

Are the vests a messy happy product?

[@liamallport3361]

10 mile is the ideal distance. About the right distance to feel you can still race it without worrying about a pace

[@gullepomp]

I keep hitting the wall after 22K, speed work is around 5m/km pace, slow/long run(10/20Km) is between 6:30-7m/km, always hope for 6m/km during a race.

[@carlholland3819]

id look into nutrition, if youre not replenishing salts and carbs its easy to hit a wall prematurely

[@chriswoolley6250]

5k can seem unchallenging but imo does not have to be . I have been running over 10 years and they are my race of choice since becoming a dad last year. Now I just work on getting faster, aiming to go sub 18 this year and it doesn't take away time with my son. But everyone is different

[@carlholland3819]

put your son on a mountain bike and start running long distance trails

[@garethbater6900]

I go out for a run and I am a marathon runner - I go 5 mins and think may be I am a half marathon runner -after 20 mins I am a 10km runner - 5 mins later and am i having a coffee thinking 5km park runs are my thing

[@reecedawson6113]

What about the price of races

[@jamesmillar1321]

Problem for me for marathon is time limit less than seven hours

[@betterme6877]

i love that this video length is 1337.😁

[@robertmason2311]

Only did my first race (half marathon) 3 months ago and I'd say the biggest con for this distance is the name, as having 'half' in the title implies that it's half an achievement.

[@carlholland3819]

ya now imagine comparing it to the 240 miles that the ultra freaks run and its actually a 1/20th race lol

[@D.A.T.J.]

Y’all have been running for a pretty long while now, correct? I can’t remember for how long and I know Mary has sorta recently just started back but in total, awhile, correct? Anyways, with that, my actual question is, is doing long distance, on just weekends, okay? I ask bc I work at a tire shop and it’s grueling on my body, (trying to find a better job tho), and it’s super hard to run even medium distances during the week, that’s why I ask.

[@ianmac4915]

Maybe I'm weird. But never had any thoughts of doing a 5 or 10K run. Half marathon was OK. Did a few and can happily do a (slow) 25K training run for fun. Marathon, never thought about doing that. The idea of running around a town for a few hours seems rather boring. Trail runs on the other hand.... More interesting, more scenery, more fun & more suffering. Although 50k is probably my limit - as I have to finish before my missus gets hungry and the pubs close. :-)

[@tak4043]

5k I'm thinking when will this torture end, while on 10k I'm almost bored. The difference between 93% maxHR and 90%.

[@karlbolderson4422]

I like 5k and half marathons and above. But why is the 10k so horrible???

[@mattheap-producer]

Time. The only thing keeping me away from an ultra :(