Why do you run so much?
I get asked that question a lot during marathon training and higher mileage was also one of the topic suggestions I received on this post.
I do find that I have received a lot of benefits from running higher mileage (“higher” being a relative term, compared to some I would be considered low/mid mileage), but really my answer is also a simple one: because I like to!
Running make me happy! 
I like running, I look forward to most of my runs and my body has handled the "higher" mileage well, so I just run! I do think runners can have success on lower mileage/high quality programs and doing what works best for you is always the way to go. High mileage is what works for me.
When I train, I like to make my legs, body and mind tired and I find that running a lot is the best way to get that done for me. I like having recovery runs where I don’t have to worry about going fast. I like running double digits during the week, it makes the distance less mentally daunting. I thrive on running a lot and getting out there every day, it’s just what makes marathon training marathon training to me.
After going through 8 marathon training cycles I also have also developed some preconceived notions for myself that are hard to get rid of. I know what my highest weekly mileage is and I know what I have averaged in the past. Being competitive with myself and always wanting to be better, it’s hard to not try to beat that each training cycle. I am trying to put those aside this time and I am not planning on setting a new weekly mileage record, although I will probably get close depending on how I feel. I feel that peaking in the mid-upper 60s is just enough for me to maintain a good balance of having energy for quality runs and walking the fine line between exhaustion and energetic for the rest of them.
This has been an ongoing process through each marathon cycle…
#1: Peaked at 40mpw with occasional speedwork and 4 days of running.
#2: Peaked at 50mpw with one day of speedwork a week and 4-5 days of running.
#3: Peaked at 55mpw with one day of speedwork a week and 4-5 days of running.
#4: "Marathon May" short cycle, piggy backing off of #3.
#5: Peaked at 61mpw with one day of speedwork a week and 5-6 days of running.
#6: Peaked at 66mpw with one day of speedwork a week and 6 days of running.
#7: Peaked at 62mpw with two days of speedwork and 6 days of running.
#8: Peaked at 70mpw with two days of speedwork and 6 days of running.
As you can see this did not happen overnight and has been a gradual process from running 4 days a week up to 6, from adding one day a week of speedwork to two, and from running 40 miles a week max up to 70. I have listened to my body each cycle and responded as necessary to make adjustments. I try to start off my training cycles with a strong base, added conservatively to that base as I get into the core of training, and run slow when I am supposed to.
Running and training is a constant work in process and you have to know your body and how it adapts to it. As with so many other things, making gradual changes over time really helps with success, and as always listen to your body! Increasing mileage too fast is one of the easiest ways to get injured.
What kind of runner are you? Do you run high mileage with slower runs or lower quality-only mileage?
If you want some more information this article lists some benefits of running higher mileage and finding your peak, while this article lists ways to approach your mileage increase safely.
I have another post coming up soon on some steps I take to avoid injury while running high mileage.
Hi Aron! Yes, the mileage question comes up a lot doesn’t it? I’m like you. Used to run lower mileage, now many would consider me a higher mileage runner although I really don’t consider myself as such (even if I’m just coming off 32 miles in 2 days).
For me, as I’ve gotten more marathon experience, I’ve gotten to enjoy the longer runs more and more. It’s really the only opportunity I have to think and worry about me for two or three hours at a time. I remember I used to gauge my readiness for a marathon by how many 20 miles I have done or have left. Now it’s not even an issue or a benchmark. It’s funny how we evolve as seasoned veterans of the sport.
I’m rambling but I agree with you. I do higher mileage too because I like it, and not particularly because I have to for training.
Love this post Aron! I *wish* I could run higher mileage but I feel like I am too injury-prone too. When I was marathon training this summer I was gradually increasing, all was going well, then I hit my highest mileage week ever (39 miles) and it all of a sudden went downhill from there and I started getting injuries. I feel like my body thrives on a 25 – 35 mpw training program. Though I love the idea of running more than that!!
Have you dealt with any injuries? That’s impressive if you’ve pulled all that off without one! I’m still figuring out what works for me. But so far I’m a fan of 3 days of running per week. And that kind of lends itself to low mileage. I’ve burnt out on running the times I’ve tried to do more and quit all together. So now I don’t try to overdo it. Plus, I like to get in a couple days of yoga.
Wow. 70mpw?! I dunno how you do it! I’ve run over 50 miles maybe 6-7 times in my life! Actually, this year I’m aiming to add more mileage, since I’ve been doing maybe 25mpw for a while now. But after two weeks of 50+, I can say… it’s hard. Not hard effort-wise, but hard to find the time! I’m taking 2+ hour lunches, or staying at the gym til 10pm, just to get the miles in. I even resorted to running in the morning, which I never do because I’m a night owl at heart. I took advantage of today’s day off for a long run, but if it were a regular work day, I feel like I would fall hopelessly behind. And since I have days for intervals and tempo runs, that cuts down the number of miles I can run on those days, so I have to make up for it on other days. Just thinking about 70, I think I would have to have 40+ mile weekends to make that happen!
I LOVE high mileage! I am only at around 40-50 right now, but not training for anything. I have 100 before, but that is not for me. I feel best around 70-80.
I love seeing the progression in your training cycles. That gives me inspiration. I peaked at 61mpw in my second marathon training cycle and found that I overtrained a bit but I may add in more cross training and try to reach that this training period and see how that works. Love this post!
Wow, that is an increase! I think I peaked at 44 miles or something. I’m not actually sure how I’d fit in high mileage time-wise, especially since I’m a little slow…
Right now I’m focusing on quality runs. I’m training for marathon #8 and you do learn so much about yourself and training with each one. I try to increase the mileage or intensity with each training cycle.
My husband does really well with high mileage…I do not. My body just does not like high mileage. I’m still trying to work out how to get faster without going with too high in mileage but it will come I’m sure.
Good luck with this training cycle!
I like the way my body feels with higher mileage. A good tired! My struggle lately has been about time. I am not running super fast but I am fitting in a fair amount of miles in for the time that I have. It has been a learning curve for me to fit it all in. This week I made it to 32 miles…I am hoping to repeat this week.
Great post. I would love to get some of that higher mileage, but it is really hard with kids. It is not the distance so much, but the time. Your training always is so impressive to me. When I crashed and burned at Long Beach, some of my friends told me I might have been running too much mileage. I didn’t. Reading a post like this reminds me that I probably didn’t run enough.
I am really looking forward to following your training this cycle.
wow, great post. i’m on marathon cycle #2 (after running CC & track in HS/college and running post-college for 4 years) and my highest mileage is about 50… i go back & forth on doing more, but i think at this stage in life (grad school) i just don’t have the time because i still want to have time to relax and such… but kudos to you!
This is a great post! Your approach to training is so well summarized in your progression from one marathon training cycle to the next. Clearly you are very conscious of what you like both mentally and physically. I would like to be a high(er) mileage runner, but I broke down in my first marathon training attempt (when I hit a measly 30 miles only once) and got a bit better with my second attempt (getting up to 50 miles on two different weeks and finishing the marathon in the end). This year I’d like to get a bit higher and am focusing on the average weekly mileage for the entire year. In 2010 I managed 28miles/week, this year I’d like to have it in the 30s, which for me crosses the 50km/week barrier since I work in metric.
That being said, I am definitely looking forward to running much higher mileage and my goal is to be able to average 70-80km/week for the year (45-50 miles), and average over 100k/week during marathon training (62 miles or more). With kids and work this will be a challenge for sure since my time is pretty much no longer my own, but it should all work out.
I hope i do well with higher mileage. After training for long beach with lower mileage and comparing it to the mileage i ran for chicago & CIM, i ran much better with hal than runners world. I hope pfitz trumps them both!
keep on running sista, you rock!
Is that top picture from a duck tour in Boston?! I think it is! Good for you being able to run 70 mpw, very impressive. I definitely am a low mileage type of person…I always end up getting hurt when I run over 50 mpw at my highest week! I’m looking forward to your injury prevention post!
I was on a run in that pic, but the Duck Tour does go under that bridge!
Ahhh! Very fun
I do love running along the river…very few things are better than that!
Nice post, Aron! I totally understand what you mean when you say you compare yourself not to others, but to yourself as you know what you are capable of. It’s tough to not focus on that, but you’re doing a great job!
I am continuously amazed by how much you run! I definitely have to limit myself to lower mileage weeks with lots of cross training to get in those hours of sweat time. I wish I could run 70 miles a week but I’ll end up in another boot! You are crazy awesome at rocking the distance.
i think what you said about this being what you enjoy is the most important. everyone needs to realize they have different mileage in them and different mileage for their goals. i don’t think there’s a one size fit all training plan.
I love this post, I have been upping my mileage and get alot of questions from my running friends that run 4 days per week, I run because I love to (and hopefully to become faster!)
hmmm i think i try to do high miles and quality. with mixed results. i think for my next cycle i’m going to try and cut down on my miles and focus on speedwork
great post! I’ve only done 1 marathon so far, and my highest mileage week was exactly what yours was at 40 mpw. For my 2nd one I think I’ll be exactly the same as you with either 50 or 55 mpw at the peak. (I’ll be following either the Run Faster or Pfitzinger plan). So maybe my marathon mileage progression will be exactly the same as yours, haha
I tend to do higher quality, lower mileage sessions during the week and a longer run on the weekend. Easier to fit into my schedule that way
SEVENTY MILES!!! You are my HERO!!! Loved that you answer people when they ask you why you run by saying because YOU LOVE IT!!! The more miles the better for me….if it wasn’t for a silly job I would run all day long!
I ran my best marathon following a high mileage plan (of course high mileage is relative). I think that running more miles trains your body to put forth a greater effort in a distance like the marathon. But I really like your answer to the question, why do you run so much: because I like to
.
Thank you so much for answering all our questions! Your posts are so informative and I can’t get enough
wow i think i hit 40 miles twice in my life in one week, I cannot imagine more than 45~
Visiting from the 1000+ miles challenge. This post makes running more sound really appealing!
While training for my HM, I ran four days a week…when I could. This time around, my marathon training plan is three days a week with one tempo or speedwork run, one long run, and one easy short run. We’ll see how it turns out.
I run about the same mileage as you. I consider it “medium-high” for a non-elite marathoner. I wouldn’t mind doing more, but I think I would get hurt. 65-70 seems to work well for me.
I have injured so easily in the past that I am downright afraid to up the mileage. I am trying this year, for the third time, to go for a marathon, but I think if it goes sour again, I will have to just be okay with the fact that I am a short distance runner. Fingers crossed for 26.2!
I’m the opposite, I’ve come to realize. I think trying to do things like two runs in one day (all for the sake of getting in higher mileage weeks) might have contributed in a small way to my injury. Most likely, it’s the combination of higher mileage and my biomechanic problems!
Thank you so much for this post! I’ve been training quite the opposite for probably 13 months now. I’ve seen great (drastic) results in all of my running – except in the marathon! Hence, I’ve finally come to terms that if I race another marathon (or should I say when), I need to UP UP UP my mileage. My legs are speedy … but they get tired and aren’t strong enough to finish. I’ve only ever had one week at 50+ miles. The rest have always fallen between 45-50ish miles. I do tempos, speed work and tempo miles in my long run each week which has made me faster … but I think running 40ish miles a week will only prepare me to where I want to be in half marathon training (max).
PS: Just read the post on the kitties, too! They’re so adorable!!
It’s really interesting to see how you made adjustments to your weekly mileage with each marathon.
Did any one training program make you feel more prepared than any of the others? I realize that’s difficult because each marathon (unless you ran the same one twice) is different but just wondering if, after 8 marathons, you’ve found your niche in miles. It sounds like your “niche” might be what ever your body tells you it is during that cycle?
I think running higher mileage for training does work. It all depends on the person and making sure to build up safely! It takes time but like you did, you can build up to 70 mile weeks!
i am STILL in amazement that you are able to crank out that many miles. I would (and have) totally destroyed my body by going that high. Nice work!!!
We advice all our athletes that go with what you love…make training enjoyable and it actually simulates the greatest Marathon runner of all times philosophy as well…Haile Gebrselassie who trains hard when his body feels like it and takes it easy on the days he feels flat
THANK YOU for this post. I have been getting the occasional comment from some lower-mileage runners that I train with to the effect of “you run too much” and I have a hard time coming up with an answer/justification. I am relatively new to higher mileage so I am still learning, but I know my body is handling it well so far… we’ll see where it takes me!