Logical Reasoning

PT111 · S1 · Q10 Although marathons are 26.2 miles

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Although marathons are 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) long and take even world-class marathoners over 2 hours to run, athletes who train by running 90 minutes a day fare better in marathons than do those who train by running 120 minutes or more a day.

Background

Marathons take at least 2 hours to run.

Surprising Claim

It's better to train for a marathon by doing 90 min runs each day than by doing runs of 2+ hours.

Evaluate / Goal

Given that ... the race they're training for is 2+ hours

Why is it that ... optimal training is only 1.5 hrs?

Maybe you burn yourself out if you practice the full-length thing too much (hint-hint: LSAT students, don't take test after test as your form of practice)

10.

Each of the following, if true, contributes to an explanation of the difference in marathon performances described above EXCEPT:

  1. The longer period of time

    Explains

    Why don't they run longer? Because the longer you run, the more you taint your body with air pollution. We have to add the common sense premise that "people suffering from fewer adverse health effects are more likely to fare better in a marathon".

    3% picked this

  2. Correct

    The longer the period of

    Why this is right

    First of all, this mentions a good thing about running longer. To solve our paradox, we're looking for a negative aspect about running longer (if there's no negative to running 2+ hours, then why aren't they just training for the actual length of a marathon?) Secondly, it's pretty irrelevant to marathon runners whether they can adjust to different race lengths. Marathons have a standardized length of 26.2 miles.

    Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    87% picked this

  3. The longer the run, the

    Explains

    Why don't people training for a marathon run longer? Because, longer runs are harder on the body. They might result in injuries that prevent the runners from continuing with their training.

    2% picked this

  4. Runners who train over 90

    Explains

    Why don't people training for a marathon run longer? Because, longer runs are more likely to disenchant people from running. They might burn out mentally and not run as hard during the actual marathon.

    4% picked this

  5. Runners who train over 90

    Explains

    Why don't people training for a marathon run longer? Because, longer runs are harder on the body. They deplete the secret stash of energy reserves that people tap into during an actual marathon.

    4% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free