Archive for June 7th, 2010

I’ve been thinking about optimum mileage lately.  If you read the marathon training forum on Runners World, you’d definitely come away thinking more is best.  And for the most part, I tend to agree, but what exactly is “more”?  Among my internet running friends, there are marathoners who post super fast times on 50mpw and would consider 70mpw to be beyond their scope, then there are others who do 100+mpw and don’t bat an eye.

Yesterday, I asked Jaymee Marty how much she runs.  She’s a masters runner going for the Olympic Trials…uber-zoomy.  I wasn’t really interested in mileage as much as hours per week spent running, since that’s a universal measurement I can compare.  She said her high weeks are between 8-9 hours and her easier weeks are 5-7.  In comparison, my high weeks are 9.5 hours, low are 7 – and I’m not doing marathons.

If I had a 5 hour week, it’d be around 35mpw, so I just went back to see the last times I ran under 40mpw:

April 14, 2010 – 31 (taper for Boston)
Nov. 31, 2009 – 31 (recovery after Philly)
June 39, 2009 – 39 (2 days off for IT band)
April 27, 2009 – 39 (taper for Lehigh Valley Half)
Dec 22, 2008 – 38
Dec 15,2008 – 37
Nov 24, 2008 – 38

Wha?  I hadn’t realized…twice under 35mpw in the last 1.5 years.  Wow, might be time to take some cutback weeks.

The main question is: how much should I be running for the best possible shorter races? (Halfs being the main focus)   I was thinking I’d only benefit by running marathon mileage when I didn’t “have to”, that every extra mile is money in the running bank but maybe I’m actually doing myself a disservice.

Would I be better off at 50-55mpw instead of high 60s?  Maybe I’d be fresher and so could do my harder workouts harder?  It’s conceivable that my current mileage, while maintaining all that aerobic fun stuff I’ve acquired, might also be compromising me in other ways.

This is a real quandary because 65mpw works for me as far as activity level and enjoyment, but I also admit to running it because I think I should, because in my ex-marathon brain, I think more is better and will make me faster.  Misguided or sensible?  I’m interested in your opinions on the matter if you have any.

As it happens, I will be running a bit less the next two weeks because I have a couple 5Ks and also, I’m taking today and tomorrow off due to….

Yesterday’s Run (and walk)
I’ve had a low-level annoyance for a few weeks, either heel bursitis (like I had last year but the other foot) or peroneal tendonitis – it’s between the ankle knob and the heel.  They share symptoms but I’m starting to think it’s peroneal over bursitis.

It usually only shows itself upon waking when I have a stiff ankle, though when I first got it, sitting for awhile would also make my ankle stiff, but that stopped a while back and now it’s only been the first morning steps and sometimes while going down stairs.  Running hasn’t presented a problem, though occasionally I’ll notice my ankle warming up the first tenth of a mile but then nothing.

Yesterday, I went out for a 13-miler that ended up being a 7.25 run capped with 3 miles walking home.  For the first time, my ankle started hurting on the run and enough that I felt it necessary to shut it down.  Once home, I started an ibuprofen regimen and pledged to roll the crap out of my calves and butt (which has also been tight for awhile and probably related).

Woke up today and no stiff ankle!  Must be yesterday’s ibuprofen working.  But I’m sticking to my guns of taking today and tomorrow off even though the heatwave we’ve had for 7 days (highs 93-95) just broke.  I’d like nothing better than to run right now, it’s 64 beautiful degrees out there.  Must. Not. Run.