Is running two shorter runs in the a.m and p.m better than doing 1 long run?

Question

will it have the same effect?

Answer 1

Well it really depends on your definiton of long and short runs.  Are you talking running 2 miles in the morning and evening vice 4 miles all at once or are you talking about 9 miles morning and evening instead of 18 in one sitting?  

If you are talking about the former then I say it will have the same effect.  At those distances your body doesn't really switch over to burning fat for fuel, but you will see an improvement in cardiovascular fitness.  

If you are talking about something more like the later, for a marathon program perhaps, I say no it will not have the same effect the whole point of the long run is for your body to learn how to burn fat more efficiantly.  If you aren't out there putting in those miles all at once you aren't going to get the most bang for your buck.  But please remember that you are far better off going out there and running two nine mile runs than skiping your long run all together.  You will see a benifit from it.  Just not the same as you would have if you had done it all at once.

Answer 2

It depends what distance run you're training for. For a longer distance runner you should probably decide at the beginning of the week you want to do say 70 miles that week then keep a log of how much you did. Did you manage 70 miles? From there then start mixing up the long endurance runs and the short speed runs. Also do things like hill-work for core strength.

Answer 3

Depends on how long the run is.

For example, I am training for a marathon.  I would rather run two runs (2 hr) than one 3 hr run. [note: this is not on one day].

If you are just building your base, I would say run as much as you can.  When I start building my base, i would get up, run 20 min.  Then after work run an hour or so. Basically get as much time on the road as possible.

Answer 4

no cause in da middle of the day it is hotter making you sweat more and that burns more calories. if you do the same distance runs twice a day once in a.m. and once in p.m. mabe it would be the same cause it is colder then. of course it all depends where u live.

Answer 5

Short runs build speed, long runs build endurance.  You need to mix it up, depending on your goals.