Thanks to everyone.
I'm recovering from an SI joint injury. I've had the injury for 3 years, but I ran through most of it--basically for 2.5 years I mostly continued to run 40 mpw (a little cross-training to equal 40 mpw but not much). The last 6 months I have been in PT, maybe 2 months of very little to no training when I first started, then 4 months of cross-training to equal 40 mpw (elliptical and swimming). I've added leg wts per PT in last few months.
Before the injury, I was running 40-50 mpw. My highest mileage ever was 50-70 mpw (this was maybe 6 years ago).
Here's the thing--my PT has told me to run unlimited. She is highly qualified--the lead therapist in sports facility and highly highly recommended by ortho surgeon and also excellent by my own observation. She said that we would "just deal" with whatever happens from the injury as I build up mileage. This was after months of trying to get better, then run, then it would hurt again no matter what. So she told me to run. I am running with an SI belt. The pain is very minimal at this point--almost non-existent--just a tiny bit of tightness on the right side after runs--and this from her treatment that she applies twice weekly (deep tissue massage, ultrasound, and ETPS--electrical stimulation). She wants me to run as much as I feel that I can/should b/c she wants to test my hip, make sure that she is setting me "free" on the mileage that I want to be running, etc. And even with the increased mileage she has been able to cure the minor pain with treatments in between runs.
Even more important, I am trying to run the mileage that I want to run b/c if I were only running 20 mpw, then it wouldn't hurt. And I don't want to leave PT on lower mileage only to start running more and have the pain return without PT. It's kind of complicated. I'm paying a lot out of pocket and kind of in a hurry to test the waters on mileage--and anyway not planning on exceeding 40 mpw (which I should hit this week) any time real soon. I just want to see if I can get to 40 mpw and stay with that number comfortably for a while, maybe get 100% rid of the pain at that mileage. Again the pain almost isn't pain--last week it was gone until I tried to run strides and one interval for the first time, then a little pain returned for the rest of that one day. So she told me to hold off on any speedwork, at least for a week or two of more treatments.
I haven't explained the whole thing to these coaches. The thing is that I don't do much speedwork. I've just run a lot of miles. So they both are saying you need to add speed and take away miles.
I really feel that I'm strong enough to run these miles and am really listening to my body in terms of not running through anything that doesn't feel right (if I ever have pain it is always after runs anyway).
I thought they were thinking less about my injury and more about the fact that I need to add speedwork--which they seem to think/say needs to include a reduction in mileage. But I need to build back a base b/4 I get into trying any speed, IMHO.
I guess I also just figured they fall into the "low mileage is better" camp--are there 2 camps? Or would most coaches recommend higher mileage IF they thought you could handle it? Sorry to ramble. Have never worked with a coach and just wondering. Thanks.