Why Eight Miles?

I’m Kris Duffy, founder of Eightmile.run — and a lifelong runner, marathoner, ultrarunner and adventurer. I’ve trained in lots of different ways, from casual 5Ks to gruelling skyrunning ultras. There is one thing that has had the biggest impact on my fitness, confidence, and health benefits is consistent and regular running...

Consistent eight-mile runs.

That’s the idea behind Eightmile: not a race, not a casual jog, but a simple, timed, professionally repeatable eight mile challenge you can do every week. Something that fills the gap between short, casual parkruns and the big, expensive, infrequent races.

Sweet Spot

For most runners, eight miles takes between an hour to an hour and a half, some slower, some faster. That’s long enough to feel like a proper workout, but short enough to fit into everyday life.

• You finish tired but not wrecked.

• You get the aerobic and endurance benefits without overtraining.

• You gain a real sense of achievement while still being able to get on with your day.

There is a lot of research which shows most of the benefits of a run happen within the first hour, after that, returns diminish and recovery demands spike. In my experience, eight miles is right in that “Goldilocks zone.” It builds strength, stamina, and confidence while still leaving you fresh enough to train consistently.

The Mental Health Benefits of 8 Miles

An eight-mile run clears your head in a way shorter runs sometimes don’t. It’s enough time to really switch off from stress, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming. Short enough to give it some welly but not too long where you need sandwiches!

For me, it’s the perfect “reset button.” You get:

• An endorphin boost.

• A sense of achievement.

• A confidence lift that carries into the rest of the day.

And if you run with others, you also get community and connection; something we all need more of.

Filling the Gap Between 5K and Marathon

Here’s where I think Eightmile really shines:

• Parkrun is brilliant, but it’s short.

• Races are inspiring, but expensive and infrequent.

• Clubs are social, but often unstructured.

Eightmile fills the gap: a timed, structured run that’s affordable and frequent, but without race-day pressure.

Who Eightmile Is For

I see a few clear groups who benefit most from these runs, and to to start with just turn up and try it out, it's running, we're relaxed so just come and check it out with no pressure:

• Parkrunners looking to step up from 5K to a bigger challenge.

• Club runners who want frequent, structured timed, regular efforts.

• Marathon trainees who need those all-important medium-long runs (6–9 miles).

• Busy professionals who want a meaningful, timed run that fits into a work day.

  or maybe? You dont fit neatly into a pot and just work better running with others for that motivation many of us need. It’s for anyone who wants a consistent challenge that builds confidence, fitness, and community.

Consistency Beats Occasional Big Runs

As an ultrarunner, I’ve learned that consistency is king. Running eight miles regularly builds more fitness (and fewer injuries) than saving it all up for one big “beast” run at the weekend. That's why we're building routes in lots of locations and hoping to offer you times and routes you can make without drama or fuss.

When you know you can comfortably run eight miles every week, longer races stop feeling intimidating. You gain resilience, rhythm, and belief. That’s what Eightmile is here to offer, a professional, simple setup where you can turn up, run, and track your progress without stress.

Final Thoughts

Eight miles is the distance that changes everything. It’s long enough to challenge, short enough to repeat, and perfectly placed to build real, lasting fitness.

That’s why I created Eightmile.run. To give runners a consistent, supportive space where this distance is celebrated, structured, and made accessible.

So if you’ve been wondering what’s next in your running journey, maybe it’s not “further” or “faster.” Maybe it’s just… Eight Miles.