do people have a maximum mileage/training volume?

mitchyinge

probably haven't phrased that very well, am wondering if there's a built in limit to how many miles or hours per week any given person can run, or whether anyone who wants to (and pays proper attention to rest and nutrition and has the time and so on) could run, say, 100 mile plus weeks?

(I don't aspire to this myself, I am just curious)

CarsonRuns

There are many elite and sub-elite runners that log 100+ miles per week at some point in their training, but not all the time. I've even seen reports of runners logging 200+ mile weeks, but it's rare.

That being said, not everyone is cut out for that kind of mileage, event he elites. There are some that start to break down at 90 per week, so they keep it there.

There was a time when I told my physio that I just wanted to be able to log 30 mile weeks. Now, I topped out at 85 miles during my last marathon training cycle.

So, yes, it is possible for some, but not for others.

trail_rnr

It depends on your goals and what your body can handle. I start to fall apart when I get above about 70 mpw, but do very well in the 50s and low 60s, running 5 days a week (usually cross training one of the other days and I try to take a day off completely). I am in my mid-40s (age)--any more than the 50-60 range just doesn't work for me. I have friends who run ultras on 40-50 mpw (age range is 40-60) and others who log a lot more (age range 20-60).

I think you need to run a few years at different intensities to figure it out.

aldousmom

everyone is different. I think at some point last year, Jonathan Savage was running about a marathon a day every single day. I can't recall how long he kept it up. I think he fell and hurt his teeth and had to get dental work done. ha ha, always the weird things messing up ultra runners. here's what's he's done so far this year http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Training_Macrolog

everyone has a weekly mileage that's their optimum, which gets pushed a little at the peak of training. Mine is around 35-40, but my coach peaks me out at 50 right before a race (same for either 50k or 50 miler...my training for those is the same). Since I've only been running for 3 yrs, I assume that my weekly max/peak will increase.

mitchyinge

thanks for your responses, it's fascinating, would love to know what we've learned about the people who can run 200 miles per week, however briefly, without injury or illness. Are they genetically advantaged, live on beetroot juice and chia seeds or just incredibly determined?

am a bit worried that my own weekly mileage cuts off far below what I'd like it to be but it looks like patience is the thing, years rather than weeks and months

likitisplit

My guess to your suggestions "Are they genetically advantaged, live on beetroot juice and chia seeds or just incredibly determined?" Is "Yes."

But I think a lot of it is genetic advantage + form.

For us...John Bingham once shared his experience that "adult onset athletes" typically achieved their lifetime PRs around 7 years after starting to run. Not that this is a hard and fast rule. I've noticed that I'm a much different runner than I was a year ago. Not just weight, it's everything about me physically. I think it just takes at least 5 years for an adult's body to make the transition and then you need to be savvy enough to figure out how to build on that with training.