Going far is not as impressive as going fast. This is a controversial take, but it holds up when you look at what actually drives endurance performance.
The Problem With Rushing to Ultra Distances
The trend of completing a 100-kilometre ultra marathon within the first few months of running is driven more by social media clout than genuine athletic development. It takes far longer to build an impressive 5km or 1600-metre time, and those shorter events do not generate the same attention online.
But distance covered does not make you fit. Speed and distance sit on a spectrum with an inverse relationship. Almost anyone could walk 100 kilometres if they had to. The further you move towards pure distance without developing speed, the closer you get to a power walk with a race number on.
Why Speed Development Comes First
If you train to go far before you go fast, you miss out on the majority of central adaptations - the changes in your heart, lungs, and blood that form the foundation of endurance performance. These adaptations take a long time to develop, which is exactly why they should be addressed first in your endurance journey.
Athletes who spend all their time in zone 2 pursuing ultra distances are getting peripheral adaptations - cellular efficiency at the muscle level and connective tissue strength - but minimal improvements in the cardiovascular engine that powers everything. This is exactly why you should consider including VO2 max work even in your base phase.
The Evidence Is in the Results
Most of the world's greatest marathoners were once among the best in the world at middle-distance running. Most of the world's greatest triathletes came from short course. The pattern is consistent: build speed first, then extend endurance.
When athletes with a strong speed base transition to longer events, they carry a higher aerobic ceiling with them. Everything below that ceiling feels more sustainable, and the endurance comes relatively quickly on top of an already powerful engine.
What to Focus On
Develop your 400-metre swim speed, your 8-minute bike power, and your 1600-metre run time. These benchmarks reflect the central cardiovascular adaptations that underpin performance at every distance.
If you have been training exclusively for long-course events without developing speed, pull back. Build your top end. Then watch what happens when you extend back out to the longer distances with a fundamentally stronger engine underneath you. Your race distance should not determine your training volume or approach.
Speed is the base of endurance, not the other way around. Build the engine first, then teach it to last.