Does not really sound like that much for a real runner. 40 miles a week for 50 weeks with 2 weeks off. Although I consider myself a “runner” triathlete, I have never done 2000 miles in a year. This year it is one of my goals (I would actually like to go considerably over 2000 miles, but so far I am off the mark), and despite doing only a very modest amount of biking and swimming so far (strong run focus), I am only at par (496.6 miles after 13 weeks). My mileage is ramping up (I hit 56 miles this week, my most in 3 years), but I still have a long way to go.
Any thoughts from the “2000 milers”? What is the most miles you have run in a year? What type of run results did you achieve. My long term goal is Boston in 2009, with a May marathon this year to get my qualifier and then nearly a full year to prep for a good result.
Triyoda…I ran 3444Km last year. I had one “long run” of 3:42 at Ironman LP. I had ~5 runs of 2 hours in duration and the rest were 90 minutes or less with the bulk in the 45 min-60 min range…just lots of getting out and “fitting a run in”. With lots of business travel, running was my primary source of “fitness” in 2007 in that it was infinitely portable…no bikes, skis or pool times to worry about…that being said, I prefer biking, swimming or XC skiing over running, but I do like the beauty of running wherever I want in any weather condition, which is what makes the mileage add up in a hurry.
I ran every week of the year at least 4-10 times except for the week before and week after Ironman Lake Placid, (race week was two 30 min runs and the race, the week after was a couple of 40 min runs at the tail end of the week).
I ran 314, 305 and 300 hours in 2004, 2005, 2006 before jumping a bit to 340 hours in 2007 (That is probably about the equivalent of 2300-2400 miles). That type of consistency has helped me maintain the same run speed in multi-sport despite doing a lot more bike volume and riding the bike at a harder overall effort. With no pool again this winter I really went after some good run hours and did 40 each month in Dec and Jan. Using the OC Duathlon as a judge, I can now do the first run of a du 5K as fast as I used to run open 5Ks five years ago. My combined 10K time was also faster (on a course that was not particularly fast) at the du than my open 10K pr from 2003 which was on a very flat, easy course.
All those miles add up and help you to be able to run strongly off a hard ride.
Interesting: I was just thinking about this. It’s a great goal, and really that ***is ***a lot of mileage unless you are a 2:35 marathoner or some such “real” runner … My most is just 1600 miles. I may never hit 2,000 in a year, but I have done 1,000+ in 6 months several times: If anything, that mileage gets me to train a bit slower, but race just as fast or faster.
Fall 2006 was my last stand alone marathon: I am certain I did 1,000+ in 6 months including 6 50+ mile weeks; 3 of those were 62-73 mile weeks. If not for a persistent 15mph headwind on the Tucson course, I am pretty sure it would have been my first sub-3 (ran a low 3:04. Wind was a factor for everyone: The winner had a 2:21 PR and was going for a trials time, but ended up in 2:26+).
This year the plan is 1,000 miles during the first 6 months of this year and so far I am right on target. Feeling OK: Not great, but pretty fit. Ran a decent 10K yesterday, but it was in the middle of a few 50-60 mile weeks so I just didn’t feel as sharp as if I had focused and tapered. I am hoping for a run PR or 2 in May as I decrease run mileage and increase bike mileage.
I think it would be really hard for a working stiff to run 2,000 miles (like a real runner) a year AND bike a goodly amount, say 8,000 miles (like a real cyclist) in 52 weeks.
I think the most I’ve ever done was ~1600 miles in 2004 when I ran 3 marathons. This year I’ll have 900 miles by the end of March. So far the addition of more mileage has really helped improve my speed, although I’m still an old, slow guy. My goal is also Boston 2009 with a May 2008 qualifier. I’ve never come close to a BQ time before, but I have a much better feeling this year. If I don’t qualify in May I’ll just keep training and try again later in the year. If I do BQ I’ll cut back on the running and start swimming and biking and maybe do a HIM in late summer, along with a sprint or two earlier.
When I was a runner compared to triathlete I used to run 2000miles each year easily. I haven’t done that the past few years. Thanks to the 100 runs challenge and my desire to match an entire winter of running with no days off that I did 25 years ago I’m sure that I’ll get over 2000 this year (today was day 121 in a row and I’ve done 1467k which is approximately 911 miles which equate to just over 52miles/week).
25 years ago when I was 16 (it seemed easier to put the back to back days in then for some reason) I averaged 62 miles/week from mid November to Easter and smoked all of my personal bests in track and on the roads that spring. I’m hoping that my running this year brings back some faster run splits for me this season although my swimming has suffered as a result and I need to get it going again soon.
A few years back when I was stationed in Korea I ran 8-6 miles a day I was lived there, except for 4 days when I ran half marathons. 4-6 miles before work and 4-6 miles after work before hitting the bars. I lived in Korea from June 1st 1998 to June 2nd 1999. I didn’t run the day I arrived or the day I left. I just added it up and it’s at least 2932. They were all ‘junk’ miles though. I never did a single interval or anything else. I just ran an out and back by the flight line or a loop around the flight line. Sometimes I’d run with other people and run a bit faster than I normally ran. I lifted for 30 min or swam 1500-2000M 1-2 times a week at lunch.
Ghiagirl, I have to say that this is the one thing that I hated about being in the Air Force…all my runs would have to be on mindnumbing terrain parallel to the flight line seamingly for serveral miles until I could escape to more interesting terrain. It sounds like you just needed the 53 week year to make it to the 3000mile club!
Allan, the Ontario Masters triathletes are in trouble…keep in mind that your reduced efficieny in the water might be directly related to the fact that you are not carrying your usual 20 lbs of built in wetsuit blubber in the pool and don’t have as buoyant a body position. Once you put the wetsuit on, I bet your swim is just as fast. This is why all those doughboy master swimmers can swim circles around us
I did 2000 miles last year. At the time it didn’t seem like that big of a deal, but it did make me a much stronger marathoner. My personal experience is that if your A-level interest is running, more miles will make you stronger. The other thing that I did last year for my build-up to Boston is two long runs a week, one during the week of 12-16 miles with quality in the last half (e.g., several miles of MP, 3-4 miles of 1/2MP, or ~3 mile repeats at 10K pace), and a longer one on the weekend with quality in the last half (several miles of MP or 3-4 miles at 1/2MP). I’m not a fast runner (much slower than you are), but the miles and those kind of workouts clearly knocked me a notch up the food chain. Over four marathons my weekly mileage for the final months went from 40s to 50s to 60s to 70s and I got stronger each one. Good luck.
Dan
I think the two longer runs are key. Right now I am doing at least a 11-12 miler during the week (typical with tempo work) and then a longer run (14+) on the weekend.
My senior year of high school I ran around 3500 miles. I would do 50mpw during the winter while also doing @ 70mpw x-c skiing (skiing was not considered part of my mileage). During the non-competitive season I would do 100-110mpw and during track and cc season the coach would limit me to about 80 down to 40-50 during the final weeks of the season.
That next season as I entered college as a freshman I was running very well. 27 minutes for 8k, 33:?? for 10k, 15:41 5k.
That was over 20 years ago, now as a triathlete I’m hoping for some 20 mile weeks!
Significant mileage is the most important key to being a better runner.
I loved running around flightlines…maybe it’s the smell of the jet fuel (seems to be the only thing I remember). I guess I actually love running anywhere. I completely zone out when I’m running and when I’m done I can barely remember anything I saw or what I thought about (running is very mind clearing for me…I find myself thinking about breathing so I don’t think about anything else). I did a run on a really hilly 8 mile course the other day and when I finished I thought 'huh, i don’t really remember the hills" of course this also means I’m getting in better shape because the hills didn’t kick my ass, but it’s pretty typical of my runs.
I figure I actually ran over 3000 miles. The math I did was 8 miles a day (the minimum I did) for 364 days and since most week days (M-Th) I ran 10 miles (4 miles in the AM and 6 after work). Friday’s were normally 8 mile days. Most Saturdays and Sundays were 12 mile days (unless I was hungover…those were 10 mile days, exceptionally hungover were 8 mile days…back in the days when I could still drink/party and run the next day…to be young again). Now that I’m a triathlete I’ll never get close to that again. But thinking back to it makes me consider becoming just a runner again.
