Can I Split My Long Runs?

During the summer, I often get questions from marathoners-in-training who are trying to find time to complete their long runs. Vacation plans, summer weddings, graduation parties and other events sometimes make it difficult for runners to do their long runs on the weekends. So they'll ask if they can run their long run during the week and split up the mileage, running some miles in the morning before work and then some later in the evening.

While I wouldn't recommend doing it every week, splitting up your long run is a great way to fit your long run into a busy week. It's also an excellent strategy for dealing with high heat and humidity in the summer because you can take advantage of cooler temperatures in the morning and evening.

By running some of your mileage in the morning and the rest later on during the day, your body is getting some of the same physical benefits of a continuous long run. Of course, it's definitely easier mentally to run 8 miles in the morning and 8 miles at night, rather than 16 at once -- which is why you don't want to do it every week. Ideally, you want to run your long runs continuously, since that's what you'll be doing in your half marathon or marathon. But splitting your run is a good way to occasionally squeeze a long run into a busy week and it definitely beats the alternative of skipping your long run altogether.

If you plan to split up your long run, keep in mind that you don't get the same physical benefits if you sleep in between your runs. So running some miles on a Thursday evening and some more on Friday morning doesn't count, since your body gets a chance to recover and you're not really running on tired legs.

More:

• What If I Need to Take a Break from Running?
• Mental Tips for Your Long Runs
• 7 Ways to Find Time to Run
• Keep Running on Vacation