****PRE-POST WARNING!!!!**** I AM A ROAD BIKE NOOB!
So next weekend there's a 65 mile classic by where I live, and i decided to go out today to do a bit of training, not knowing when I set off how far I was going to go. I decided to take the first 20 miles hard, and I averaged 17.8 (good for me) during that time.

At this point I had a choice: go for the 65 miles to prove to myself I could do it (next longest ride I've been on was a 50 miler) or just turn around and push hard on the way back.

I chose to go slow and just do the 65 miles, but was left with a feeling of self-loathing for having to go slow.

Now after that long lead up, my question is:

Do you guys who train all the time to be competitive think you get more, less, or the same amount of benefit from 1.pushing yourself extremely hard for a short period of time or 2.just doing more miles at a slower pace than you would if you were sane?

Thanks in advance for your input.