If you’ve been hanging out here for a while, you know I’m a “give me the long miles” kind of runner. Slow and steady? That’s my comfort zone. But ask five runners their preference between short sprints and long distance, and you’ll probably get five different answers. Both have their place in training, both bring benefits, and both can challenge you in ways you don’t expect. So let’s break it down — and I’ll tell you why my heart belongs to the long run.
The Case For Short Sprints
Sprints are quick, explosive, and over before you can start your Garmin. They push your body into high gear, build power, and improve running efficiency. If your goal is to get faster or break through plateaus, adding sprints or interval work is a great way to sharpen those skills. Plus, there’s something kind of fun and powerful about pushing for pure, unadulterated speed.
The Magic of Long Distance
Then there are long runs: the ones where you settle into a rhythm, let your mind wander, and just keep going. These are the backbone of distance training, building endurance and teaching both body and brain how to push past fatigue. For me, there’s a meditative quality in the steady miles. It’s where I create grocery lists, tell myself stories, or agonize over the embarrassing thing I did in second grade. As one does.
But There Are Benefits To Both
The great news is, you don’t actually have to choose. A balanced training plan includes both short sprints and long runs, because they complement each other. Sprints build strength and speed, while long runs lay down the endurance foundation. Together, they make you a more complete runner.
Why I’m (Mostly) Team Long Distance
That said, if I had to pick? Long distance wins every time. I’m not built for all-out speed bursts, but I love the challenge of pacing myself, managing my energy, and seeing how far my legs (and my wandering mind) can carry me. Long runs remind me that I can do hard things, not just in running, but in life.
At the end of the day, the choice between sprints and distance comes down to what speaks most to your soul. If you love the adrenaline of speed, chase those sprints. If you crave the steady satisfaction of endurance, log those miles. Or go ahead and mix a little of both. After all, the best kind of running is the kind that keeps you coming back for more.
Join us next week —> Would You Rather: Running Edition
Link Up With Tuesday Topics
This year, I am joining up with Zenaida, of The Running Teacher for Tuesday Topics! Please join us every week for a new topic! Write on our weekly prompt or choose your own topic! Make sure to add your post to the link up, link back to your hosts, and comment on the other shared posts!
I’m with you, Jenn, give me long and steady over short and quick any day of the week. In fact, back in my marathoning days I probably ran too many long training runs. Most Saturdays for many years my husband and I would run 16-20 miles just for the fun of it. It was such a joy meeting our friends on the trail weekly. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the best for my body…
I feel like I’m so slow (or ok with going slow) that it will preserve my body lol. I don’t even care if I run … I just love being out there with my thoughts.
Give me long distances every time! But… sprints really are good for us. I’ve been adding strides into my run once a week (30 seconds of faster running.) I would love to get faster or at least not slow down any more than I already have!