In general terms, you may need less sleep when you are healthy and fit, but if you are doing 2.5 hour runs you really should be getting extra sleep. Distance running takes a huge toll on your body and you need to do everything you can to help it recover. My favorite long run recovery technique is an ice bath, ibuprofen, and beer (carbs!).
Thats the catch 22 of it all. I get plenty of sleep, at least 9 hours a night. So when I'm up I'm full of it an could easily do a long run as I'm fully rested and ready to go.
The only way to find more time to run is to sleep less which is obviously bad.
I've never tried the ice bath, ibuprofen and recovery but I've certainly had beer. Thanks for your advice.
