“Real runners go long.” “Longer is more challenging.” “Longer is the only challenge.”
For better or worse, these are statements that are not hard to find within the running community, especially on social media.
The truth is that there are many challenges in running. If you think longer is the only challenge or that it’s more challenging than trying to go faster, I’d encourage you to sign up for a mile and try to run your best at that distance. Doing so might be both humbling and enlightening. A well run 5K can also be incredibly challenging.
The truth is that you can find a rewarding challenge at any distance. All distances, run to the best of your ability, demand the most of you. In fact, they challenge you in unique ways that are fun to explore. The lung burning intensity of a mile is much different than the quad bruising fatigue of a marathon and that difference alone can make it worth the effort.
A 100% effort, regardless of distance, is as challenging as it gets. The challenge just hits differently at different distances.
I’m not suggesting that you “must” go shorter and faster. Going longer can be incredibly rewarding. However, don’t overlook the challenge and reward of going short and fast. There’s a lot to the shorter events that, sadly, many people seem to overlook.