Why do we need to do the Long Run???

I was reading “Making the Marathon Your Event” by Richard Benjo and he talked about why we need to do the Long Run that is in every single training program in the world. He comes up with 4 points:

1.       Increase your body’s work capacity.

2.       Increase your anaerobic threshold and aerobic capacity.

3.       Increase your muscle/tendon strength.

4.       Increase your confidence.

SO out of these I can come up with alternative methods that are less time consuming and weather dependent.

1.       There are multiple cross training programs that will increase your body’s work capacity, and that is a big part of “Run less, Run faster” book. And I agree with the concept and practice it myself on many occasions.

2.       Ditto. A well-structured integrated circuit training program can do wonders for your anaerobic threshold and aerobic capacity.

3.       Ditto. A good plyometric program and/or wgt lifting program can improve your muscle/tendon strength.

4.       BINGO!..This is one thing that I think that why doing the LONG RUN is a must in any program. The mental aspect of long distance running is HUGE. When you have been out on trails for couple hours the combination of boredom, fatigue, uncertainty of new course, etc. all slowly chip away at your psyche and ability to run well.  BUT, if you train consistently under similar conditions, you will be to handle the challenges on race day much easier..”Oh yeah, I have done this before” is a great mental response to race day challenges.

That is why training smarter is often mo better than training harder.