Maximum Weekly Run Mileage (Page 2)

I've been a runner for over 30 years and have competed at a fairly high level since high school.  I didn't start running marathons until 1998 for some reason, but since then have completed 10 with a 2:51 PR (twice) and 8 sub 3.  Weekly mileage would peak at 60-70 during marathon prep, with my long run never exceeding 19 miles - nothing magical about that number it just happened to be the distance of my long run route that I chose and kept running to check progress.  However, the intensity level for many of those miles is probably much higher than someone just starting out.  People focus a lot on total weekly miles but the real key to marathon prep is how you spend those miles.  Lots of long slow running will not necessarily make you faster. 

Edited by Birkierunner 2008-09-06 7:53 AM

I think some new runners can handle 50 mile weeks.

I ran one mary and if I remember correctly max week was in the 40 mile range. 12 miles was my longest run which was a big mistake because when my body ran out of fuel /electrolytes around Mile 18 and had to walk a little. I hit the wall hard and barely made it in under 3 hours. (Grandma's in Duluth, MN)

I would definately get some long runs in to see what type of nutrition your body is going to need and how it reacts once your running for more than 2 hours.

I consider myself a life long runner even though I skipped 9 years after a major surgery and didn't run a 10k for 15years, October 93 until July 08. I have never ran 6 times a month year-round in my entire life. I plan to this year.