The Autumn Marathon Podcast with Running Coach Ireland

Ep 5 - How long should the Long Run be?

The Autumn Marathon Podcast with Running Coach Ireland

Show Notes

In this weeks episode we ask the question - "Does everyone need a 20-mile or 32-kilometre long run?" To help answer the questions we discuss the following: No — the number itself isn't the point; the point is what the run is meant to rehearse or develop for race day. For some runners that distance is genuinely useful; for others, especially slower runners, it's a disproportionate muscular and time cost relative to the benefit. The better question than “how far” is: what is this specific long run run supposed to teach the body this week? With René Borg and Eoin Flynn from Running Coach Ireland.

More from The Autumn Marathon Podcast with Running Coach Ireland

Oct 22, 2026

As the excitement builds ahead of Race Day, we chat about how to manage the final few days and how to execute a super race on Sunday: Race week is an execution phase — you can't add meaningful fitness, but you can protect sleep, energy, logistics, confidence and decision quality. Nothing new: execute the rehearsed plan and adapt calmly to the conditions. And lots more Q and A´s to help manage the pre race nerves and excitement. With René Borg and Eoin Flynn from Running Coach Ireland

Oct 16, 2026

For those training for the Dublin Marathon next week, they are in the middle of their big Taper ahead of race day. In last weeks´ episode we chatted about how to manage the taper correctly: Reducing accumulated load Preserving the qualities you've developed, and sharpening freshness. Listen is as we discussed how the taper is a key element of the Marathon training block and how its purpose is not to gain new fitness or to stop moving, but to reveal the fitness already built by removing fatigue. With René Borg and Eoin Flynn from Running Coach Ireland

Oct 10, 2026

Its´ time for the Big Taper ahead of the Big Day. In this weeks´ episode we chat about: Reducing accumulated load Preserving the qualities you've developed, and sharpening freshness.

Oct 2, 2026

In last weeks episode we asked the question - "Does everyone need a 20-mile or 32-kilometre long run?" To help answer the questions we discussed the following: No — the number itself isn't the point; the point is what the run is meant to rehearse or develop for race day. For some runners that distance is genuinely useful; for others, especially slower runners, it's a disproportionate muscular and time cost relative to the benefit. The better question than “how far” is: what is this specific long run run supposed to teach the body this week? Tune in now to our Ep 5 Highlights Show With René Borg and Eoin Flynn from Running Coach Ireland.

Sep 14, 2026

In last week´s episode we took a deep dive on how to find your Marathon Pace for training over the next few weeks and whether that will be the same or different on race day. We chatted about how Marathon Pace is an output of current fitness, durability, fuelling and conditions. It is not created by choosing a finish time and our key question is: Are you training at the pace you’ve earned, or the pace you hope to run? Enjoy the listen and enjoy the miles. With René Borg and Eoin Flynn from Running Coach Ireland.

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