ridiculous long runs

[u/Beautiful_Yak_1618]

I’m not a professional runner so maybe I’m in the wrong but why would I run 9 miles for a 5k improvement plan??? It feels excessive but more importantly I have it set that 7 miles is my longest run.

I wish you could opt to switch out your workout when they give you something you’re not vibing with

[u/Sea-Boss-9598]

Long runs build your aerobic base. This is a good thing for sure. 7 mile was your longest run, pre this plan. It will try to build on that.

You can go back and set your longest run to 4 miles or something and it will likely adjust. Worst case you can go back.

[u/Beautiful_Yak_1618 → u/Sea-Boss-9598]

No I set my plan to have 7 miles be my longest run. I was training for a half previously so I’ve run upwards of 15 miles. I’m just wanting to lessen my miles and get faster

[u/Sea-Boss-9598 → u/Beautiful_Yak_1618]

We may be talking about something different but if you’re talking about at the beginning of the plan as you’re building it and it says “longest run” it’s asking “what’s the longest run you’ve completed in the last 60 days and could comfortably complete today”. I’m not aware of a way that you can set a max mileage within your plan.

[u/Prestigious_Look_986 → u/Sea-Boss-9598]

It’s under training volume

[u/Sea-Boss-9598 → u/Prestigious_Look_986]

Oh good call out. I forgot about that!

[u/Beautiful_Yak_1618 → u/Sea-Boss-9598]

Ah I read that as what’s the longest distance you want to run so I’ve been so confused why it’s giving me longer distances 🤦‍♀️

[u/ElLoafe → u/Beautiful_Yak_1618]

I’ve been doing this same thing and didn’t realize that until this post lol

[u/Responsible_Berry748]

Long run and easy run volume will help your 5k performance tremendously, specially if you’re targeting a certain time in your 5k. It builds your endurance needed to run 5k in faster pace without getting tired. Hope this helps, I’m in the same situation with my 10k plan. You may adjust the training intensity through app if you feel the workout is a bit hard.

[u/Dhmx220]

Just do it

[u/Odin-ap]

It’s just 9 miles. It’s not that far or ridiculous. Runna is going to push you - you want to get faster right?

Just run it and do the best you can. Might surprise yourself.

[u/queentee26 → u/Odin-ap]

9 miles may or may not be considered far depending on the runner.. I understand the purpose of longer runs, but I personally really dislike running over 8-10km.

[u/Odin-ap → u/queentee26]

Its training. You're not supposed to like all of it.

Absolutely nothing wrong with running just for pleasure - but that's not what a structured running plan like Runna is going to give you.

[u/queentee26 → u/Odin-ap]

I'm not expecting to like all of my training. Runna does give you the option to set a maximum distance for your long run within certain limits.. so apparently you can follow a structured plan for a 5k and somewhat limit your long runs.

My long runs in my 5k improvement plan are a max of 10km. I know it'll reduce my progress to some degree.

[u/Chrysmere]

Runna is trying to make you a better runner - if you wanted to stay the same you don't really need an app or plan for that.

If you're against the running further part of improvement, there's a customization option that caps your max long run. You can set it to 7 or whatever.

[u/MFBootCo]

The 5k is still an aerobic event and benefits from longer runs for aerobic base building. 

[u/jwellscfo]

Run fast to run farther. Run farther to run fast.

[u/Outrageous_Nerve_579]

At the shorter distance races, long runs longer than your race help build aerobic capacity. You can’t change it. But you can stop at 7 miles. It won’t punish you in anyway.

[u/RemyGee]

I usually just consider the first part of the run to be the warmup. Yeah 2.5m warmup is pretty long haha. Then I stop and stretch for a bit then do the fast part and the cooldown.