Just How Much??? - Clubhouse

runningbird5

19/09/2002 at 21:35

Hello all
Ive been browsing over the last week at lots of the threads and thought it was cool to start your own!!
So just how much mileage are people putting in a week
Ive had a big week this week because im a personal trainer who has to train all the clients whose ambition it is to run a marathon???
Im up to 50 miles already and still three days left this week
My feet hurtttttttttttt

Doobs

19/09/2002 at 21:53

what are you doing??? this is a running question!! Surely you've realised that you can't post on UFRC unless it's some daft subject like biscuits.

Colchester Coyote

20/09/2002 at 00:23

Excellent one Doobs :)

I have run since Monday 5km, yes 5km thats right, will be running on Sunday 10km, but nothing planned before then, speed sessions are my making not distance, I leave that to other forumites :)

supervet

20/09/2002 at 08:51

I run 12miles on sunday,8or9 on wed,and 6 on friday that keeps me ticking over just nicely,I may pop into the gym on tues,just to use the weights.

neilruns .

20/09/2002 at 09:38

Looney toon,

I plan to be running a total of 25 miles this week and am gradually increasing that by 10% a week. I've just calculated that if I continue increasing at that rate I will peak at 185 miles for the week in the middle of next February, allowing a sensible taper before the FLM. If Emile Zatopek can do it, why can't I (well ok, I know why I can't).

Anyone out there fancy a bit of a Friday boast - what's the most you've ever clocked in a week? Who is our king and queen of the road?

Neil

Peet

20/09/2002 at 09:40

I've only just started running (two weeks ago yesterday). So the most I've done in a week so far is 20 miles.

Xerxes

20/09/2002 at 09:46

I have been restricted this week owing to cold. 16 miles so far, but hope (if thrat/chest clear) to get a 10 miler in at w/end - remains to be seen. Usually I would pass 30 reasonably confortably and hope to get to 40. This will increase gradually (I hope).

neilruns .

20/09/2002 at 10:50

Tim,

How high would you hope to go? As most intermediate level marathon programmes that I've seen peak at around 45 miles, what were you running when you did your marathons. Also, if you built a base to around 40 miles, which sounds like what you're aiming for, would you run a marathon off that or build higher?

Neil

mercury

20/09/2002 at 11:36

Erm I've done 8 miles this week, being on shift really doesnt help , if i do a morning run I have to get up early and an evening run is to dark
arrrgh !!!

Xerxes

20/09/2002 at 11:58

I say Neil, details, details.

Well when I ran my first Marathon I was running about 6 times a week. Probably twice a week I would run 15 miles, the other days varied between 6 and 10 depending on time/energy/weather etc.

Second Marathon I was a little blase'. I was running most lunchtimes (5-6 miles or so)during the week. I sometimes ran a little more on a w.e. I happened to go to the US (to visit now wife) when the Columbus Marathon was on, and so decided to run it.
Despite the fact that it started in a blizzard, I found that one more relaxing, but still a bit of effort towards the end (it was 6 mins faster than first also!). I can't imagine that was much more than 40 miles a week. The secret of the Marathon (at a "normal pace" is a good base fitness, but also the controlled slow start, and will power). Remember - you know you can walk it, therefore you can run it - it is a matter of how fast without knackering yourself.

neilruns .

20/09/2002 at 12:04

Tim

I like details. So you ran your second marathon off a long run of - what? - about 10 miles? That is heresy!

What sort of base would you like now?

Neil

Xerxes

20/09/2002 at 12:11

Really we are getting into the subject of both my goals, and what I would like myself to be, as a runner.

Anyway. I think to run 6 times a week. At least 5 but up to 10 miles during the week, with a longer 15 miles at the weekend. That would probably do me for a Marathon and general running.

As I have told you elsewhere, I would also like to speed up to 6:30 or maybe even 6 minute miles up to 10 k.

Then there is the challenge of the London to Brighton, just to make things nicely diverse.

I think very long runs (> 20 miles) can be counterproductive for "amateur" runners owing to the risk of injury and the recovery time. So for a first Marathon I would avoid it (I actually did one 22 miler before my first Marathon, with no water daft twit).

Of course, more experienced/seasoned runners will be able to run more miles, but this is not (IMHO) necessary for a Marathon.

neilruns .

20/09/2002 at 12:21

So even when marathon training, your long run would peak at 15 miles? That's very interesting.

The big problem I have with marathon training is/will be the weekend run - not in terms of doing it, more in terms of the domestic chaos it causes.

I can go up to about 15 miles and be OK afterwards and can be back home functioning as a reasonably competent parent by about 10am. But longer than that and a/ it takes a very long time and b/ I'm a zombie for all of Sunday.

However, I have a lot of domestic flexibility during the week, so 5-10 miles a day would not be a problem timewise.

Your schedule seems very different to the traditional marathon workload - i.e. you don't pile about 50% to 25% of total mileage all onto that one long run.

I wonder if this could work for me? Is it a schedule you use out of choice or necessity?

Neil

akinallover

20/09/2002 at 12:26

I am fascinated how "ordinary" people manage to fit in much more than 35 miles a week,and that's a struggle for me.I am trying to gear myself up for the FLM (or another spring marathon if I don't get in!),but I find it difficult to get more than 4 times a week,I suppose that's mainly my fault as I also do weights(lunchtimes) 3 times a week.

I have started to do the early morning (dragging on the shoes at 5.30 in the morning) bit once or twice a week but I can't see myself having much motivation on a cold winter's morning.

After tea's difficult aswell with the night's drawing in.I suppose I just have to stop whining and get down to it.I would like to know how other father's with 3 kids who occasionally want to meet their families in their own house,manage.

Any ideas or sympathisers ?

Xerxes

20/09/2002 at 12:29

Out of choice mostly, but like you, very long runs leave lots of home demands unmet, and I would also end up slumped in a chair for a fair while afterwards.

I am going to court huge controversy now and state that the difficulty of the Marathon is overrated to a large extent, in that I do not think that the huge amounts of preparation are required unless you are going for fast times. For the first timer my schedule should be perfectly adequate if you do not go too fast. Keep moving (even if it is walking) and keep drinking. Enjoy!

Anyway it sounds like I have done lots, but I have only done two, but I hope I am persauding some people that almost anyone can do the Marathon *at their pace*. Faster times *will* require a much more intensive schedule (and my, am I looking forward to that!).

Xerxes

20/09/2002 at 12:32

Ian, I have two kids and so over the last month or two (I have restarted running again), I have been doing morning runs, but yes, it is more difficult to be motivated (once out it is fine). BUT running in the dark is a bit more dangerous (falling over sheep, kerbs, cats etc.), and you risk more injuries unless you are careful to stretch (I dislike stretching). I also find it hard to run hard in the morning. Lunchtimes are going to be the order of the day from next monday.

So, it is possible to fit in running around kids, but it is not always easy.

runningbird5

20/09/2002 at 12:39

Hi all
Thanks for joining in on my question - sorry for those I offended by not choosing biscuits as a subject!
Sounds like your all running pretty well and clocking up those miles.
I especially like Ians comment on how normal people manage to fit in all these miles.
How many of you are normal because im certinaly not
LTx

neilruns .

20/09/2002 at 12:44

Ian,

I also have two children (for the time being). When I started running - about 18 months ago? - I probably made things much more difficult for me and my family trying to stick to a precise schedule. Looking back, I was very bloody minded about it and ohhh the rows we had.

Now I've become more flexible and, at the same time, I think my wife has accepted that running is here to stay.

My aim at the moment is to run lunchtimes in the week and early morning at weekends. My rule on the early mornings is, if the children are awake, I don't go running because it is not fair on heavily pregnant wife. Up at 6am will usually do, but if I need to be up at 5.30 so be it (although I've never actually done that yet!).

Neil

Xerxes

20/09/2002 at 12:52

Neil, the other trick I tried was running during one of smallest's nap, on the basis that wife could more wasily control one sprog. The youngest (almnost 18 months) is now only having a nap at 11 ish, so that does not fit in too well. At w/ends I run at 3pm (ish) for 1-1.5 hrs (although I hope that will increase), and I just have to "leave them to it". However wife is not heavily preggers (or preggers at all, as far as I know!) at the mo' - that clearly changes things.

Also it can help to change your life/reorganise things a bit.

So I have dumped a few responsibilties at work to allow me less stress in getting things done. My switch to lunchtimes means I may have to take a slightly longer lucnh break, so I may have to do an hr at home to compensate, but I shall not have to get up so early, so should still be able to stay up and have a good evening.

Also (yes, it is time for ironing) - I have invested in tumble dryer which leaves clothes less wrinkled, and handed over responsibility for determining what needs to be ironed and what does not, to my wife. This has dramatically cut down on ironing w/out too many horrendously creased items.
I am still a bit nervous about latter, but it will lead to more time.

Xerxes

20/09/2002 at 12:53

..another way yo get a lot more time is to visit the fora less....but the fun it too much to resist....