Are two 12k's good as my long run

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

Hi

I ran to work and back today. It's 12k each way and took about 2hr 5min for the total journey. I
intend to do this every Friday. I haven't been able to get motivated to get out on many long runs
recently and the longest I have managed was only 15k.

My question is whether running 12k, then about seven hours rest - oops I mean work - and then
another 12k is as good (or almost) as a long run of
24k/2hrs?

Thanks in advance

DaveA

The short answer is no. Assuming you plan some other running during the week, you should wind up
well conditioned for racing 10K distances. However, as shown by your 15K effort, your duration
(time) spent on your 12K runs is not long enough for your body learn to use the glycogen
alternatives (fats) necessary for longer distances. To go past 15K comfortably, you need long runs
of at least 1 1/2 hours in length (my opinion) for your body to begin taking advantage of fuel
sources other than glycogen.

DaveA wrote:
> Hi
>
> I ran to work and back today. It's 12k each way and took about 2hr 5min for the total journey. I
> intend to do this every Friday. I haven't been able to get motivated to get out on many long runs
> recently and the longest I have managed was only 15k.
>
> My question is whether running 12k, then about seven hours rest - oops I mean work - and then
> another 12k is as good (or almost) as a long run of
> 24k/2hrs?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> DaveA

--
Random number generation is too vital a task to be left to chance.

Depends on what your goal is.

DaveA wrote:
> Hi
>
> I ran to work and back today. It's 12k each way and took about 2hr 5min for the total journey. I
> intend to do this every Friday. I haven't been able to get motivated to get out on many long runs
> recently and the longest I have managed was only 15k.
>
> My question is whether running 12k, then about seven hours rest - oops I mean work - and then
> another 12k is as good (or almost) as a long run of
> 24k/2hrs?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> DaveA

--
Keith Gemeinhart Technology Service Corp. Sebring, FL
--

Keith Gemeinhart <keithg@nospam.sebring.fl.us> wrote in message
news:<3E4D6B9A.10008@nospam.sebring.fl.us>...
> Depends on what your goal is.
>
> DaveA wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > I ran to work and back today. It's 12k each way and took about 2hr 5min for the total journey. I
> > intend to do this every Friday. I haven't been able to get motivated to get out on many long
> > runs recently and the longest I have managed was only 15k.
> >
> > My question is whether running 12k, then about seven hours rest - oops I mean work - and then
> > another 12k is as good (or almost) as a long run of
> > 24k/2hrs?
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> >
> > DaveA

The best marathon runner that Iv'e known (2hrs29m) was a bank clerk who would cycle to work and
in the evening do a very fast 10m plus a long one 15-20m at the weekend.,and occasionally the
full distance in competition.....KS

DaveA <NOSPAMdna94@NOlineone.SPAMnet> wrote:

>My question is whether running 12k, then about seven hours rest - oops I mean work - and then
>another 12k is as good (or almost) as a long run of
>24k/2hrs?

The short answer is almost :-) In any case it's massively better than 1 x 12k or nothing or a 25k
which leaves you dead for 3 days.