While most runners count daily and weekly volume in miles, others log runs in minutes. There is one big advantage to assigning minutes rather than miles: the runner must simply get the minutes in and doesn't have to worry if they ran an exact distance.

This morning I had the pleasure of biking along with one of the athletes I coach as he ran his long run. He simply ran for 85 minutes and didn't worry if he ran eleven or twelve miles (assuming he's running about a seven minute mile). Ninety percent of the time we assign the long run based on minutes for that reason – if you're having a good day, you might run a mile farther than you normally run, yet if you're having a bad day, you simply get in the minutes and call it a day. By doing so, you give your body a break on a bad running day and hopefully prevent an injury by ending the run at the assigned time.

Running by minutes rather than miles on your long run can help keep you from over-training when you have a bad day, but will also allow you to get in an extra mile if you're having a great day.

*Coach Jay's advice is provided as general training information. Use at your own risk. Always consult with your own heath care provider for questions relating to your specific training and nutrition.

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