Why Aren’t My Long Runs Longer When I’m Training for an Ultra?
- Albon Team
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 27
When you’re preparing for an ultra, it’s easy to think:
“If my race is 50 miles, why isn’t my long run anywhere near that?”
We get it, it feels counterintuitive. Surely running longer in training would better prepare you for race day?
But here’s the thing: your long runs are designed around where you are right now, not where you’ll be on race day. They grow with you as your fitness improves, keeping you on a safe, progressive path to your goal.
Why We Don’t Max Out Long Runs Too Soon
Recent research shows that injuries are far more likely when you increase your distance too quickly within a single run. In a study of over 5,200 runners, even a 10% increase over your longest run in the past 30 days significantly raised injury risk.
This is why AlbonApp plans avoid big leaps in your long run duration. Instead, they gradually stretch your capacity over time while keeping you consistent and (hopefully) injury-free.
Your Long Run Is Based on Your Current Fitness
The duration of your long run is linked directly to your Running Impact Fitness. For example:
Fitness around 50 → Long run: ~2 hours
Fitness around 100 → Long run: ~3 hours 15 minutes
As your fitness grows, so does the duration of your long run. This isn’t holding you back; it’s building you up carefully so you can handle more without tipping into injury risk.
What About Race Simulation Weeks?
When you get to the Sharpening phase, you’ll see a race simulation week; a big training effort designed to mimic elements of race day. This might be a long run at race pace that’s a larger jump compared to what you’re used to.
Here’s the key: in these weeks, the plan deliberately includes very little other training apart from the race simulation (this is especially true if your Running Impact Fitness is on the lower side compared to the race duration you’re targeting).
Why? Because a significant portion of your weekly running load is going into that one effort. The rest of the week is structured for recovery to help your body absorb the training and adapt without risking injury or burnout.
Don’t be tempted to add in more workouts; you’re body needs the rest to recover from the effort.
Trust the Process
It can feel strange to train for a race that’s 10+ hours long and only do a long run or race simulation of 2–3 hours. But ultra running isn’t about replicating race day in training; it’s about building strength and resilience gradually over many weeks so you’re ready when it counts.
Your AlbonApp plan takes care of the progression. As long as you complete your workouts and stay consistent, your runs will get longer as your fitness improves.
But don’t expect fireworks: you’ll never run as far in training as you will in the race. We save that for when it counts.
The Takeaway
Your long run is designed for your current fitness, not your end goal.
Any big jump in duration (like in a race simulation week) is balanced with plenty of rest and recovery to let your body adapt.
Stay consistent, and your running workouts will grow as your fitness does.
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