Is it worth doing a 2-3 mile run just to hit triple digits in mileage?

Don't be a slave to numbers

That would be useless miles. You already said you're tired, so why waste the effort just to hit triple digits?

Only if you're a mileage whore, buddy. Heck, even most of the mileage whores here simply incorporate those extra miles into their normal runs. So really, it's only worth it if you're a dirty, cheap mileage whore.

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Yep. Train to get faster, not to hit some arbitrary mileage goal.

Only if its for the first time that your hitting triple digits should you consider it. It won't help you on a fitness level of course.

plus, you've been probably rounding the mileage of a lot of your runs off, and when you're running 98 or 99 miles a week with all that rounding you might be a 96 or 102

Don't be a head case. Nothing special happens at 100mpw.

Holy s---! If it matters enought to ask just go do it! You'll be done before this thread gets to double digits.

I've never hit triple digits... I've hit 98-99 many many times though. Thing is I ate a lot, so if I do run it'll be really really slow... also next week I'm taking a down week and lowering mileage for the season so I'll probably not get the chance to hit 100 till winter (unless I try to hit it the week after my down week).

It won't really make a difference will it? Except to see a "98.xx" in my mileage log agian...

does your rtaining log serve you, or do you serve it?

undecisive runner wrote:

I've never hit triple digits... I've hit 98-99 many many times though. Thing is I ate a lot, so if I do run it'll be really really slow... also next week I'm taking a down week and lowering mileage for the season so I'll probably not get the chance to hit 100 till winter (unless I try to hit it the week after my down week).

2-3 mile runs are just fine. Never good just to get a magic number for the week.

Explain to me, why are you lowering your mileage now? You are presumably training for 8k-10k races aren't you? You should be ramping it up now.

I'd do it. You'll be done and showered in what, 20 minutes? And then you can say, "yes, I've hit 100 miles in a week."

All great advice.

In general realize why your training and what the numbers actually mean. 100mpw is an arbitrary number, think about this:

If you trained by time and not mileage (pretty popular method) and you averaged 7:30 miles your 100mpw would be 12:30 minutes. Might as well run 13:00 hours, but then you just ran 104 miles.

If you using the metric system it would be 161, doesn't have the same ring to it huh? Might as well 170, but then you would or ran 105.6 miles

With those fun facts realize what 100mpw does mean. It means your putting in good volume of aerobic running. And a few 90+ mile weeks will always beat someone that runs 70 on average and threw in a 100mpw. (volume wise, he could still kick your a$$ in a race, who knows)

Now think about which system you would stress if you ran 3 miles? What adaptations would come? 21 minutes of running at best?

My advice? if you never ran 100mpw before, put your shoes on and go for it. But after this get it out of your system and realize that chasing arbitrary numbers will get you no where, and may even get you hurt.

I'm a girl actually so I am training for more like 6k races (though i wish we could race longer). So take a down week next week and maintain this mileage all of september? Then lower it into the 80s, 90s in october?

gamecock wrote:

I'd do it. You'll be done and showered in what, 20 minutes? And then you can say, "yes, I've hit 100 miles in a week."

Why is this any more significant than being able to say "yes, I've hit 98.37 miles in a week?"

undecisive runner wrote:

I'm a girl actually so I am training for more like 6k races (though i wish we could race longer). So take a down week next week and maintain this mileage all of september? Then lower it into the 80s, 90s in october?

I think it would be wise for you not to run over 90 again. 80s (or even lower) sounds fine to me. Focus on being faster (and better) before you drift up towards 100 again.

This summer though (over 10 weeks) i have averaged around 90 mpw (including 2 down weeks). I've finally gotten to the point where a 90-100 mile week feels like a 70-80 mile week used to... I actually have not increased the mileage much, just maintained 90-100 over all 10 weeks (started out in the 80s, then went right up... felt tired, but took down weeks as needed). After all this, and with a season peak in November, should I drop the mileage that much?

running an extra 2 or 3 miles will never hurt you. and it might help your motivation. plus it will feel good to know that you hit triple digits.

everyone says don't be a slave to numbers. but the fact is, a large percentage of runners already are. instead of letting it eat at you, just go run. it is NOT going to hurt you. all not running will do is prove the completely arbitrary point that you're not a slave to numbers, which won't feel nearly as good as hitting 101 for the week.

do it.

Oh and to update everyone, I did end up jogging an easy 1.5 miles to hit 100... ran it very slow, like 13-14 minutes, but I did hit the number... haha :)