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Timed training reduces performance anxiety, allows greater flexibility, helps you focus on your body and adapt to the effort.
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Distance training, on the other hand, is ideal for preparing for races, monitoring progress and gaining more mental confidence.
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It is a personal choice: time-based training is useful for managing free time and reducing pressure; distance training is better suited for specific goals.
Running an hour or running 10km? Is there a difference? And if so which one? Training set on time involves setting a goal related to minutes of activity. Training set on distance, on the other hand, involves running a certain number of kilometers regardless of how long it will take.
Why to train by setting the training time
You may feel less pressure
If you tend to have a competitive spirit, running for a specific distance, which perhaps you are also used to running, might prompt you to make comparisons with respect to the pace at which you are used to running it. This happens more rarely when you are running for a specific time, where it is easier, for example, to listen to your body, to understand how it reacts to different levels of effort and how long it can sustain them.
Forget performance anxiety
Whether you are a beginner, starting a new training journey or returning to running after an injury, setting time-based goals can reduce pressure and performance anxiety. Trying to maintain a specific pace can cause you to push your limits at a time when it is not required, when your body is not ready for that level of intensity. Running by setting workouts on varying intervals of time is one way to find out what pace your body can handle best at a given time.
Ideal if you are short on time
Setting your workout to time allows you to know exactly how much space to devote to physical activity within your day. With a busy routine, you sometimes struggle to find a free slot. But knowing that you have 30, 40, 60 minutes of running scheduled will eliminate that excuse. Moreover, when you want to do something you will find the time.
Why choose to run by setting the training distance
Running with a distance goal is often the ideal choice for many runners, especially those preparing for a race or wanting to monitor their progress clearly.
Preparing for a competition
If you are training for a specific event, it is critical to get your body used to running that distance, or approaching what will be the distance you will run in the race. It also serves to train your mind to feel confident that you can complete it. Most training plans in preparation for races are based precisely on specific distances. Completing workouts over a specific distance will teach you to recognize the feelings to look for in the race, giving you the confidence you seek at that time.
A means of monitoring progress
Many people find it easier to track progress in terms of distance run, either on a weekly or monthly basis. Although it is possible to record minutes of running, tracking miles run provides a clearer view of progress. You can do this with your gps watch or on the various supporting apps, on which you can automatically record distances run, populating a virtual diary of your training progress.
Which one to choose?
Both types of training offer unique benefits. The choice depends on your goals. If you want to run without pressure, learn to manage your time better, or listen to your body, tempo training is the right choice for you. Conversely, if you are preparing for a race or want to monitor your progress in a timely manner, set your workouts to the distance you want to run. Before you choose you can experiment with both methods to see which one best suits your needs and your way of experiencing running.