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Miles can make a training plan feel clear. But they can also make it easy to chase a number without understanding the actual cost of the work.

In this episode, Coach Justin and Coach Katie break down the difference between training by minutes and training by miles — and why the better choice depends on your experience, your goals, your sport, and the stress your body is already carrying.

If you are a runner, triathlete, or endurance athlete trying to follow a plan without overdoing it, this conversation will help you think more clearly about volume, recovery, long runs, heat, terrain, and when “just hit the miles” may not be the smartest answer.

What You’ll Learn

• Why mileage does not always reflect the true stress of a workout
• When training by minutes may be better for newer athletes, triathletes, and time-crunched schedules
• Why runners often get emotionally attached to certain mileage numbers
• How to choose the training structure that fits where you are right now

Timestamps:

00:00 — Minutes vs miles in training plans
02:27 — Why many runners prefer mileage-based plans
06:50 — The downside of chasing mileage
12:00 — Fueling long runs by time, not distance
20:24 — How heat changes the cost of a workout
28:00 — Why template plans can miss the bigger picture
38:14 — The problem with arbitrary mileage goals
47:12 — The case for minutes-based training
56:16 — Time-crunched athletes and training stress
1:03:20 — Why training by time can feel freeing
1:20:33 — The limitations of minutes-based plans
1:28:42 — How to decide which method fits you

For coaching inquiries:

Coach Katie → https://fuel2run.com

Coach Justin → https://tabularasaracing.com

Podcast Email → theenduranceathletejourney@gmail.com