I’m like you, my weekly mileage is pretty low mostly because I only run three days a week, it’s just the only way I can run, cross train and strength train in a week without it interfereing with work and school. My half marathon training is based off of this but it’s my first half marathon so I’m not too worried about speed right yet!

I’m a new runner and still trying to figure it all out – but this post really helps! I’m probably running 12-15 miles/week right now. 3 miles/3-4 days/week. 🙂

I’m probably around 45 mpw at the moment, though I’ve peaked around 65 before. I don’t run 5k’s anymore, but I drastically decreased my HM time with a boost in mileage without much speedwork. I’d say if you’re eating a high-calorie alkaline, vegan diet, have no pre-existing injuries, are getting lots of sleep and stretching, and most of all aren’t increasing stupidly fast:), mileage increases are not a problem.

I run about 20-24 miles a week on average. I’m a little confused though. If I want to get better do I need longer runs (say 12-15 miles) or overall distance accumulated or both? I’m training for a 1/2 and I want to have more endurance and speed.

I don’t run very many miles per week right now, and honestly I don’t even track it. I guess I’ll pay more attention to it when marathon training starts, but since I won’t be running for time I’ll probably run at the low end of what’s required to avoid injury since I’ll be running way more than I’m used to.

I think Megan’s so right though and I bet you’ll meet your goal in no time now.

When I was training for my 15K I ran 20-25 miles a week which was actually more than what my training plan called for! I’m starting Half Marathon training soon and I’m also going to stick to the same milage per week because I think it helps push me along for some reason. 🙂

I do about 45 miles per week running and more walking.

I definitely noticed when I was training for my first half that the weeks that I put in well above the minimum required miles (doing, say, 25 instead of 18), I could TELL a difference– I felt stronger, faster, and overall more prepared.

I’m building a base right now, and so far I’m at 45 miles. I tend to burn out high 50s, so I have to be careful and have learned to take rest days. I think you definitely need at least 20 miles per week if you want to race a good/fast time. Running longer distances will make 3.1 seem like nothing! It always makes me smile when I tell people I race 5ks, because they’re more amazed that I can FINISH 3.1 miles, whereas my mind set is to just run it as fast as I can, I don’t think twice about being able to run that distance.

I usually run between 20-26 miles per week. I read recently, “if you want to run fast, you have to practice fast”. I can’t remember where I read or heard this, but it has stuck with me. The same source talked about eliminating trash mileage from your routine stating that it does nothing to improve your speed or endurance. Just make sure those miles you are adding are quality miles and not trash 🙂

I am currently running between 25 and 35 miles a week. Last week – I ran a 15K race on Sunday – I ran 26 miles. I was also traveling last week so it was a bit more difficult to get the longer runs in. Plus I did have a time goal – nothing spectacular – that I wanted to reach for the race.

Yesterday, I started my first day of marathon training. I am modifying a Higdon program to help me decide on training distances and such. I have 12 weeks. I will finish and hopefully with a decent first time.

I’m training for a marathon right now(I’m using good ol’ Hal’s training program! He really is the best) so my miles covered over the week is now into 30+. I am looking forward to working more on time once this is over but I think somewhere in the 20’s is very reasonable for a 5-k.

okay, i’m trying not to let these commenters freak me out! i’m just now working up to 10 miles/week and trying to stay consistent with that—I started running last October! HA it’s amazing to see all the mileage adding up in these comments! and I have to tack on here that your blog is one of the few that I read the comments on….i like your commenters and/or how you get the convo’s going. thanks for all the info!

Your title certainly made me giggle. 😀

I’ve never gotten into serious running or training plans, but what she advised you does make great sense. I hope it works out well for you. Looks like it already is though which is awesome!

TWSS is the best joke ever. I am doing tri training right now so I am only running 5 miles a week! BUT I did train for a speedy 5K back in January/February. I was doing 2 4-5 mile runs a week, plus shorter speed drills, similar to yours a couple times per week. I did more ladders, like 800m, 400m, 200, 100, repeat. I did a freezing cold 5K in 24:30, my goal was under 25 minutes! Accomplished! I know you can accomplish yours! I think the longer runs are important because it makes the 3.1 seem like a piece of cake, then you just have to focus on speed and going all out! Shorter all out bursts of 30 sec to 1 min should help. What are you doing your 400m sprints at? I know to finish a sub 25min 5k mine needed to be 1:30 to keep me on track.

BEST TITLE EVER

If I run more than 25 miles a week I break and will poof into thin air.

I run about 30-40 miles a week. It’s been hard for me to maintain over 40 miles, although I’d really like to.

I think adding in a little extra mileage will help you out, too. Even if you’re not running it fast, it’s training your body, which will definitely help.

I’ve never run more than 30 miles in a week. But I wish I could run more.

I run 20-25 miles a week. I’ve never gone over 35 miles in a week. I love to run, but my body seems to need a day off from running in between running days.

When I ran cross country at a D1 school, (I’m retiring myself this year lol) we ran 40-60 miles/week during 5k-7k season.Obviously, that’s a different situation- our times were all under 20 minutes, so it takes A LOT of work to improve.
In high school, however, Mon.-Fri. we would do speedwork Mon, Wed, and Fri, and run 60 minutes on T and Th, plus an easy run over the weekend. It seemed to work!

I went through a period where I was running 25-30 miles every week, but recently it’s been more around 15. I want to get my mileage back up, and also work on my speed too. I pulled a muscle in my glute, so I’m going to keep taking it easy and doing my yoga, but I hope to get back into it soon! Running is actually more *fun* when you push yourself. I think!

I run about 12-15 miles per week at the moment but I’m not really training for anything. I think it’s a personal thing too and you are always very good at outlining that any big fitness/food decision you make are done so because they work best for YOU – I like that 🙂

I’ve heard conflicting advice about increased mileage. I think it’s important not to add “junk mileage” and what I mean by that is to give your speed and easy workouts real distinction i.e. give it everything you have on speed days and force yourself to go slowly on the easy days to make sure you’re fully benefiting from both workouts.

Hi Caitlin! This is my first comment, but I love your blog!

I live about an hour outside of Charlotte and I am training for my first half-marathon in September. It is at the National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. Is that one of the races that you are doing?

I trained for a half marathon, and did the same as what you mentioned… I never really pushed myself to run more miles then what was required. Now, I’m going to be running a marathon relay in September, and really want to work on my speed! I wasn’t sure how to really go about doing this, but what Meghan said makes sense. I’m going to try to up my mileage too…. grrr. Fitting that in is difficult, but I guess neccessary!

I typically shoot for around 25 (give or take…usually more take). I find that much past 25, and i begin to majorly dislike the sport.

I’ve never really trained to get speedy, but it is something I want to work at. I’ve gradually been shaving a few seconds here and there off my time, and it honestly seems that it has been with the addition of mileage (I’m coming into the end of a half marathon training schedule). I think Megan may be onto something! :0)

My weekly miles vary depending on if I’m training and what for, but I usually get 75 – 100 miles in per month. I can double that near a marathon, though.

Right now I am only doing between 9-10 running miles per week. I’m fresh off a stress-fracture injury and not pushing it. But I am training for a 5K in the middle of August. That’s enough for me and I’ll probably keep it around that even after the race for a few months. Priority is on not reinjuring myself.

But, I also bike or walk to work–that’s another 20+ miles a week.

I usually run between 7 and 25-30 depending on what I am preparing for (and also my mood!).

Caitlin, I know that this does not fit in your schedule, but I am training for division 1 cross country and I run about 50 miles per week when not injured. I think about 60 is going to be important for me to run my fastest 5K but I think I will have a hard time going over 60. I might do 70 mpw if I get permission to run 10K.

I’m training for a fall marathon, so I’m running 40-45 mpw right now, which drops down to 30-35 on rest weeks, and my plan will peak at 55 miles. I’m kind of nervous about increasing from 40-50 just because I feel it a lot more in my joints when I hit 40+ miles. I also do a good amount of cross training, especially yoga, strength training, and boot camp-type classes.

My 5K PR (even with wind and sub-freezing temps)came 3 weeks before my first half marathon, after I had upped my mileage from 15-20 to 30-35, even though I was doing much less speedwork. That PR was from February, and I haven’t raced one since, but I’d be interested to see how I do with my marathon training mileage!

So I think it’s all about balance. Get in some quality speedwork to work those fast twitch muscle fibers, but get in the mileage to increase your endurance!

I think I run somewhere in bewteen 20-25 miles a week. I am just starting to do speedwork as well – I did it today, but didn’t write it on my arm! I should have though, my memory is bad 🙂

I’m training for the Chicago Marathon (ahh! my first!), and I’ve been really slacking on my during-the-week runs, and this post totally motivated me to get out there tonight. I’ve been running around a 9-minute mile for shorter runs, but I ran through the discomfort (the annoying kind, not the painful kind), and busted out THREE MILES IN TWENTY-FOUR MINUTES TONIGHT! And I’m going to try to stick as closely to my training sked as possible going forward.

Great workout, Caitlin – you rocked it!

i run in the low-mid 20s/week. i used to do MUCH more but had so many injury issues! i supplement with 1-2 days of elliptical so if you’count’ those miles, i typically end up a bit over 30.

i do agree that more mileage helps speed! but it also can lead to injury so be very careful with how you increase and listen to any pain signals that come along 🙂