Runners: Better to run frequent short distances or infrequent longer ones? HELP!

[pipkin35]

I like to run about 10 miles a week for fitness (have been running about 7 months now).

Work/kids etc....schedules have all changed.

In your opinion - for general enjoyment, fitness and running the odd 10K race (no intention/plan at present to train for anything else) do you think it's better to run 2x a week for 5 miles each time (this takes me just under an hour), or to run 3x times a week, for 3 miles each time?

I also do a boxercise class once a week for an hour.
Thanks in advance ladies... ;)

I'd err towards the 3 runs a week, but make one of them your "long run" of up to 5-6 miles, which keeps you able to run your 10k races but keeps general fitness up - I tend to find if I run less frequently than 3x per week I struggle to keep up my running fitness.

You could maybe think about a fortnightly schedule for your runs - running every 2 - 3 days and doing one longer run a fortnight if you think that doing more than 10 miles per week isn't doable for you.

I have shared custody of the DC with my ex, and as a result have a fortnightly exercise schedule: 6 runs over 14 days. I agree with cremeeggs, can you alternate your long and sort weeks?

Running three times a week is better than twice, IME.

I agree, I would mix it up a bit - try and do a slightly longer run once a week or once a fortnight, maybe a fast/interval session once a week, then anything else just an easy run. The health benefits of mixing your pace and distance are much better than doing the same pace and distance all the time.