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| Out to pre-marathon dinner with the Faster Bunny as I wondered, "is this pizza going to make me faster tomorrow? or maybe I should have had a higher mileage training plan?" |
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| A little pre-marathon fueling at the Newport Brew Co. (I pre-fueled with water.) |
Leading up to my 3:26 OC Marathon, I averaged 32 miles per week (including track workouts X2 and a 10K).
And I use the term "plan" loosely, because I don't actually follow a plan. I run my long runs with a local marathon training group and I completely improvise my mid-week runs (based on what I have time for with my work schedule...thank goodness I'm not unemployed because I would probably run myself into the ground and do something unhealthy like 1000 miles per week.)!
Yes, I realize that flying by the cuff is probably NOT the best strategy for marathon success. I should use a more organized plan...but this keeps it fun for me. I don't like feeling forced to follow strict plans, I'm a rebel at heart.
I am sharing this with you because I want you to know that you don't necessarily have to do a TON of high mileage weeks in order to reach your goals!
For me, quality helps more than quantity.
Are you a high mileage or low mileage runner?
Being a lower mileage runner with 3-4 rest days per week seems to work decently well with my body. But I know TONS of people who do really well with high mileage training plans, so perhaps that's the key to being a fast marathoner? I'd like to try a higher mileage training plan at some point, so if you're a high-mileage runner, tell me if you think it works and I'm curious to hear how you do it without getting injured.
I love that you wrote this today, considering I wrote about marathon panic. Thanks for the this one!!
ReplyDeleteI ran my marathon PR (3:21) in December by running low mileage. I think the most miles I had in one week was 37. Training for Eugene my high mileage week was 56. I definitively think I run better off of lower miles.
ReplyDeleteLow mileage -- My max ever is 43 and I've hit around 40 maybe 5 total weeks in my life. Usually more around 30-35. I marvel at people that can run 50 mpw, but not sure it's the smartest thing for me...
ReplyDeleteI was a pretty low mileage person for my first marathon training plan, running only 3 times a week, as I was coming off an injury and was trying to be careful. I was still really prepared for the marathon, although I will probably bump that up to 4 times a week for the next training plan.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone is different. I tend to fall somewhere in the middle--hitting around 55-60 miles/week at my peek seems to work best for me. I think if you go lower mileage, the key is getting the quality runs in, which you did. Clearly it's working for you!
ReplyDeleteTrue, I ran a 3:27 on about 35 miles per week last year (and no speedwork). This year I went up to 40 - 45 and took another 20 minutes off (but I did add speedwork) - I do think more miles helps ME with marathoning but there is a limit - I don't have a lot of free time so I doubt I'll ever be one of those 70 - 80 mpw runners!
ReplyDeleteI love this post and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for pointing this out! So many runners think that the only way to get faster is to just keep loading on the miles, which sends a lot of people straight into injury. We can always do more with less, and I've been riding this wave recently myself too. I think a lot of runners end up overtraining and are running on fumes by the time they get to the start.
ReplyDeleteSeems like the "fly by the seat of your pants" method works very well for you, so I say stick with it. You are keeping things fresh and exciting, and you are enjoying your running.
I think my mileage is pretty low too for half training. But that's only because I do 3 training runs per week. I try to do a lot of cross training and a few rest days per week. I'm glad you're enjoying this post-marathon relaxation :)
ReplyDeleteLove that you wrote about this! Looking forward to reading the comments. I am now almost sure that I do best on a plan like you do. One with tons of flexibility and lower mileage but quality workouts!
ReplyDeleteI have followed Run Less, Run Faster for all 3 of my marathons and have never run more than 38 miles in a week. It has worked for me so far, but I am also interested in increasing my mileage. I just never seem to have anything left at the end of a marathon and I wonder if increasing my mileage (carefully and safely) would help with that? I am interested to read more comments and see what others have to say.
ReplyDeletelow! for sure! having been injured, i find that taking an entire day off in between runs (i.e. running every other day) is a HUGE help. this means I have no choice but to keep the mileage low because I am too busy during the week to compensate for an off day by going for a long run the next day. Weeks day + anything over 4 or 5 miles = logistically unfeasible. but then again, maybe this is why i am soooooo slow ;)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this- I'm always interested in what works for other people since I have yet to find a plan that gets me to the start of a full healthy. I have the most awesome running coach now to help me focus and guide me to a healthy start this fall with 40-50 mile weeks.
ReplyDelete30 sounds low to me, but perhaps next year I'll be singing the praises of low quality mileage training plans. It took this training cycle for me to cut the "official" training from 18 weeks to 14...next step is perhaps lower mileage :)
And I meant "quality LOW mileage" not low quality mileage. Haha
DeleteGreat post. Training for iron man has forced my mileage to decrease a TON and to my surprise my paces have been improving significantly. I'd honestly love to run really high mileage; but I think my body likes low mileage better - and I think I would rather run low mileage and not continuously battle injury :)
ReplyDeletebtw- your bangs are fabulous :)
I think I'm a low mileage running just because I'm so injury-prone. My body couldn't handle being a high mileage runner as much as I'd love to be one. I'm exciting to see how your plan turns out since I'm planning on running a full marathon next year!
ReplyDeleteI am really injury prone, so I just run short distances mostly and not very often, either. I mix it up mostly!
ReplyDeleteI think you pretty much described how I go about training- low-mileage and not a specific plan!
ReplyDeleteI am 2 weeks away from a marathon and I have averaged 40 mile weeks for a few months now (most I have ever done), so it will be interesting if I improve from my last marathon time of 3:23 (I averaged 30 miles a week or less training for that).
I like to keep my training plan simple so I can go by feel; if I'm tired, I take a rest day, if I feel good, I go fast or long. I am very lucky in that I don't get injured and I think going by feel is the way to stay injury free.
I think I run better with more mileage, I am hoping to try for 80 at my peak this next training cycle! However I am very careful to slowly build up to it and lift 3x a week to prevent injuries. I got injured my sophomore year of college when I never lifted and after learning how to improve my leg strength I have felt great. If anything hurts I take time off to prevent it from getting worse!! In college I was always the less speedy but decent at log run girl so I think it's works for me.... But I do think low mileage plans work really well because you can do a long run, speed workout, and tempo run and cross train the other days!!!
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad you posted this!!! If I EVER heal up and decide to kick it in high gear for a marathon, this will have to be my plan! What was your longest run?
ReplyDeleteOh, this is right in line with what I was thinking this morning. I have been doing between 40 and 50 miles a week and I am feeling like it is too much for me, I am going to quit being obsessed with the numbers and focus back on quality. I think my body would do fine with lower mileage more between 30-40 miles a week.
ReplyDeleteI don't follow a plan either, just do a long run and try to do some speedwork. I don't like to be tied to a plan.
Thanks for this!
Thanks for this post. I'm trying to figure out a training plan for my first marathon and I've been feeling pressure to put in a lot of miles. But I just know, based on my training for shorter races, that high mileage isn't going to work for me. I get TERRIBLE shin splints/stress fractures so I pretty much have to have 3 rest days per week and I have to take it easy on the speed work too. It's definitely nice to know that you can be a 3-4 day/week runner and still be super speedy!
ReplyDeleteI'm low mileage too and I like it better. I like to cross train and don't get too burned out. I follow the "Run Less Run Faster" training plan, and the one marathon I did, I felt like it worked great!
ReplyDeleteRecently found your blog - great content! Interesting post. I'll be starting marathon training in July and am thinking of doing something in the middle this time around. It's pretty tough for me to break 40 MPW and I need to be hyper aware of avoiding injury (I'm currently nursing an injury). My husband is training for an Ultra and is also of the low mileage mindset - he only actually runs 3 days a week, and the other days he either rests or does strength training. (although when he does go on long runs, he goes on LONG runs, haha). But yes - everyone seems to be different here. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI keep my mileage pretty low relative to others and try to limit how many consecutive days I run in a row, but that's only to keep myself from getting injured. I don't think my body could take a high mileage plan….although I would personally love it :)
ReplyDeleteLow mileage for sure. When you read post on runners world,I cannot understand why they think that if you don't run at least 40 miles a week for a year, you shouldn't even start training for a marathon,
ReplyDeleteI don't ever follow training plans, I tried to do so for a half and I adhere to it maybe for at most 2 weeks, I am trying to follow one and ramp up from running just 2-3 times a week to 5 days a week and now I ended up with a lame hip. Who knows how long I will have to rest,there goes my first marathon,...:(
I think everyone is different, but I'm with you....low mileage seems to work better for me..
ReplyDeleteI don't really have the time to go high mileage so I guess I am low mileage but not by choice. I am always looking for training plans with 3-4 days of running due to my schedule. You are awesome any way it goes!!
ReplyDeleteI saw a woman across the street from my window today, who was wearing a hot pink jacket and neon green capris... so thought of you!
ReplyDeleteI am sooo with you on the low mileage business. I did my last marathon kinda based on the FIRST 3 + 2 training program and loved it. They do 3 quality runs and 2 cross training sessions with 2 rest days in there. I cut half an hour of my previous time with that and my next marathon i want to try it again properly to get a sub 4 marathon (and eventually 3.5 hours... EEK!). Love this post and your blog, thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteLove this! Specially because it gives my marathon dreams hope. I don't have much time during the week either nor do I like to "kill" myself or make myself run because I "have" to. Sometimes I under estimate the power of just a few miles and many times I skip logging in those 2 miles because I don't think is even worth. Thanks for the inspiration! And that looks just like my kind of pre-race fueling :)
ReplyDeleteI think I'm right in the middle...at the peak of my training I do right around 40 miles/week! I'm training for my second marathon, and the first one I didn't have much time to training due to a cycling accident that resulted in me having surgery...I'm excited to see how much different this race experience than the last one :) great post!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a just try to get out there and run, runner. But the main thing I wanted to say was that pizza looks amazing and I think pizza always makes one a better runner!
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that you wrote this post because I don't follow a plan either. I run for fun and a plan makes me feel like it's a chore to be completed and that takes the joy out of running. My fastest half was one that I hardly ran at all in the two weeks leading up to it. Weird but it works for some!
ReplyDeleteI always wish I could follow a plan, especially for the marathon or a half. I just can't either. I enjoy it too much by training by what I want to do on that day. Sadly, that means no speed work. I think I'm going to change that one of these days!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I prefer the lower mileage plans too, I'm too afraid of injury at the higher level, and I've seen progress since doing less easy miles, and incorporating track sessions without actually increasing overall miles. My first marathon I peaked at 40 miles, and I would probably do something similar next time around, with maybe just slightly higher mileage. I guess it takes a little experimenting to see what works best, but I love the Run Less, Run Faster philosophy that less miles but higher quality miles can work!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to follow a plan after so many months of sporadic running. It's really difficult for me but I feel that it may lead to better results personally. We shall see....
ReplyDeleteClearly your strategy has been working for you. You smoked that race! Can't wait to see your next goal.
well this is good to know!!! I am being forced into low mileage after this stupid stress fracture...i think I will permanently be a 40-50mile a week girl from here on out and I was worried I couldn't hit my goals with that but this gives me hope!!
ReplyDeletexx
I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one. I just ran a 3:33 (my 1st) full and averaged about 30 miles a week as well - had 2 40+ but that was it. Were miles 20-26 brutal? Yes. But aren't they for most people?
ReplyDeleteI figure if I have 3 kids and 2 jobs, I'm not going to be a 40-60 mpw-er until they're in high school which is about 10 years off!
I think I might do better taking more rest days during the week. Right now I'm running at least a little bit five to six days a week. If I could add another rest day or two, I bet I would get fewer injuries! And maybe get faster too!
ReplyDeletelooks like a great plan sweetie...I'm a new follower and just wanted to say hello, follow back if you'd like at http://runningsurvivor.blogspot.com I am sidelined at the moment with a possible inferior pubic ramus stress fracture, but still blogging!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this!!! I've been wanting to attempt a longer race (at this point, I think I need to just aim for a half marathon, haha) but sometimes I get intimidated by the training plans! I don't think I'd have the desire to run THAT much, you know? I'm afraid I'll get burnt out!
ReplyDeleteP.S. have you finished the habits book?? I've started two others but I need to go back and finish it! I'm almost to the end!
I'm a low mileage runner...too many overuse injuries.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see this because I'm choosing to go low-er mileage training for my upcoming (first!) marathon. For me, if it starts to feel like a chore, I won't do it anymore and that would completely defeat the purpose of running and racing.
ReplyDeleteQuality definitely is better for me than quantity! :)
ReplyDeleteHence why my hips hate me now! Lesson learned!
Plus-with more quality versus quantity-you can enjoy so many other things too!
Just found your blog while searching for a low mileage training plan. I tend to get injured if my mileage gets too high. Is there a specific plan you follow that you could share? Thanks so much. Love the blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I don't have a specific plan....I just do long runs w a local running group and then I do whatever I have time for during the week! I just listen to my body and mix in some speed work. Wish I had something more specific to tell you, but I don't!
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