Marathon Training - Should long, slow runs be continuous?

Paul Davies UK

So, I'm 8 weeks into my marathon training and want to mix things up a bit.  Rather than just go out every Sunday to do my long, slow run and basically follow the same route I was wondering about doing my long, slow run during a race.  I've always considered that a long, slow run should be continuous without any breaks or stops. 

Now, the issue I have is that the races don't always fit with the plan.  For example, I need to run 22 miles on a Sunday and there's a race locally but it's only 20 miles.  So to achieve the full 22 miles I would do a mile warm up before the race and a mile cool down after to achieve this.  However, this goes against my principle that a long, slow run should be continuous!


Would like to know other runner's thoughts on this and what you see the pros and cons of doing this are.  Should a long, slow run be continuous or is it okay to break it up with a warm up and cool down?

Sorequads

Just do 2 miles immediately before the start? 

TT

I ran a 10 km race that someone I spoke to was using as the speed part of his 20 mile run that day. He ran to the start, did the race, then ran home. You could do a two mile cool down?