I'm one of those people who loves to know how fast and far I'm running. Occasionally, I try to run by time, but I get frustrated not knowing my pace and distance. However, I know that it's beneficial to sometimes run for time, rather than focusing on the miles. Here are some reasons why:

• If you're not focused on pace, you'll run based on how you feel. So, on days when you're not feeling great or the conditions are lousy, you won't force yourself to go for your miles or feel guilty if you don't cover the distance. Instead, you'll run for your goal time at the right pace.
• It helps you prevent boredom and explore new routes more easily because you're not worried about the mileage.
• If you always run by distance, you might be tempted to push the pace and always hit a certain pace per mile during each run, rather than varying the intensity of your workouts.
• It makes running on vacation (or during other traveling) much simpler because you don't have to measure unfamiliar running routes.

Related Links:

• Where Should I Run?
• Mental Strategies for Running Long