The fact that pro triathletes can run a sub-30:00 10k shows just how deluded this forum is about training.

Imagine how fast they would be if they trained specifically for running.

If you're an 18:xx 5k guy on 90 mpw you aren't gonna be very good no matter what you do.

Is there really a typical Letsrun 100 mpw 18:20 guy? Or are they just saying they run 100 miles a week? Or are they well past their prime?

I've never met any male under the age of 50 who runs even 70 miles a week that couldn't break 18 for a 5k, much less 100 miles per.

I'm new to triathlons (2nd full season) and it's incredible what cycling has done for my legs and my runing. It just made every aspect, all the muscles on my legs, stronger. I think that serious runners should consider, if they have the TIME (CYCLING TAKES TONS OF TIME) to supplement with REAL cycling, not 'spinning' but real rides where you are accumulating some good elevation or maintaining a difficult speed for yourself.

Nice numbers. 18:20 and 100mpw. Did you find those on the way to your colon?

I'd love to see some links to guys running 90 mpw and not able to break 18 minutes, and then concluding to go to 100 mpw. I read a lot of threads, and can't remember one of those.

I know several triathletes that put in a lot of training time per week between the three disciplines, and can't break 24:00 for a 5k. Strike 1 - they're not fast. Strike two - two of them battle plantar fasciitis. Of course, in true hobby-triathlete training form, they run about twice, maybe three times per week... all quality.

What would you suggest such a triathlete do if they want to run faster?

Care to link a thread in which someone complains about running 90 miles per week and while being unable to break 18:00 for a 5K?

Professional triathletes are tremendous athletes in their own right. I was very impressed with Alistair Brownlee's 28:32 at Payton Jordan earlier this spring and he was maxed out doing it. However there are not that many triathletes capable of breaking 30:00, and maybe 1-2 in the world can break 30:00 off the swim/bike. Professional runners at Brownlee's level are running 12:50s and 26:40s.

There are no "typical 100 mpw 18:20 guys" on Letsrun unless he is over 60 years old.

As for triathletes, the heart and lungs don't know the difference. They are getting a lot of work and the fitness bears this out. However if they didn't shave their legs they would run at least 45-60 seconds slower for a 5K. ;)

3/10 for your obvious troll effort.

Trackjacket3 wrote:

Imagine how fast they would be if they trained specifically for running.

If they trained correctly, they'd be fast, I bet. If they just started jogging out the door for a 12-miler at the same pace every day, they'll probably end up slower.

ConfusedHSer wrote:

If you're an 18:xx 5k guy on 90 mpw you aren't gonna be very good no matter what you do.

That describes a lot of people here.

I think another key point to take away from this thread is that these people do A LOT of aerobic exercise, which really reinforces the idea behind high mileage.

Now let's think about time constraints. 60MPW takes what, 7 hours of running? 90-100 takes maybe 10-12?

The top triathletes who break 30 do about 30 hours or more of training a week. So we are already looking at almost tripling your hourage training to be at the same level.

Now guess what.

Galen Rupp runs 26:48. He runs 115 MPW. Maybe if he backed off, did 60 and cross trained an extra 24 miles a week he'd be could be running... 28:00

Maybe I should spend $300 a week on Stinger Honey packets and recovery powder. I can consume both of those from the 21 shot glass sized bottles strapped around my waist. I will then consume all of that from those containers while I ride my $8,000 self-propelled bike that I sold my liver for.

might as well jump wrote:

ConfusedHSer wrote:

If you're an 18:xx 5k guy on 90 mpw you aren't gonna be very good no matter what you do.

That describes a lot of people here.

Link to three of them if there are so many.

Lol, you poor, bro?

doo doo wrote:

Now guess what.

Galen Rupp runs 26:48. He runs 115 MPW. Maybe if he backed off, did 60 and cross trained an extra 24 miles a week he'd be could be running... 28:00

Right, but the fact that Galen could still run 28:00 on 60 mpw with all that cross-training from swimming and cycling should demonstrate that most recreational runners with a decent goal like 33:00 don't need to be doing any more than 60 mpw. I would argue that, by holding back a little on the mileage, focusing only on constructive running workouts, and going all-out with the cross training (since you can't get injured with swimming or cycling), they'll probably hit their goal with less chance of injury along the way.

There's probably not a person on this board that runs 100mpw and can only must 18:20. First of all, you're drastically overestimating how many people run 100mpw. I ran at a DI nationally competitive program with multiple guys under 14:00 for 5k and not a person on the team ever hit a 100 mile week even once that I know of. I'd bet that only 1% of people that visit these boards have ever strung a month of 100 mile weeks together in their life, and if they do...they're a whole lot faster than you're describing.

I understand where you are coming from but triathletes are just as injury prone as runners. And while I haven't broken 18 yet I have never heard of anyone running 90mpw and being as slow as me.

Everyone knows core and cross training helps but runners are lazy when it comes to anything but running. There is a lot of bad training info out there and while slogging 100mpw will make you faster its not the right way to do it.

I need a formula for dummies that basically says "you want to run 17:30 do this". I just want to run for x long or x miles. I don't want to sit there staring at my watch and worrying about splits.

might as well jump wrote:

(since you can't get injured with swimming or cycling),

Come on, that can't be true.

obviouslee. wrote:

Link to three of them if there are so many.

I swear I've seen it before, but here are a few examples of guys pushing 60 mpw and not figuring out how to run sub-18:00

And here's someone running 40-45 mpw with a current PR of 19:39, confused about what to do

might as well jump wrote:I'm not trolling. I want this to be a serious discussion.

Then why did you build your argument on a foundation of imaginary BS?