Started doubling..2 miles AM and 5 miles PM

That's exactly how I started. The important thing is to keep the daily routine until it becomes,automatic. Where you take it us up to you.

If I were you I wouldn't even worry about doubling until you start running around 55-60mpw.

Ffvds wrote:

If I were you I wouldn't even worry about doubling until you start running around 55-60mpw.

There are benefits of doubling other than the weekly mileage number.

Ffvds wrote:

If I were you I wouldn't even worry about doubling until you start running around 55-60mpw.

But you are not the OP.

What are the benefits to running 2 miles in the morning?

malmo, you're right, it's all about getting into a routine. As an evening runner all my life, I'm surprised at how quickly the body adapts. I'm hoping that this will yield good results.

Is it advisable to add miles to the morning run first? Wondering if I should work my way up to 5/5 or increase the length of the second run. I'm leaning towards the former.

And should I even mess around with speedwork? I was thinking of doing maybe one session of quarters per week for leg turnover or runs where I finish at a comfortably hard pace if feeling good.

Can't tell you how to build if you don't tell us what you're training for and when.

Also, why do you need to run twice. If you are able to, you would be much better off just running all 7 miles in 1 run each day, and 1 long run of 10-12 miles each week.

It is the routine that is important. OP can always increase either the AM or PM run in either distance or intensity.

a Dvck wrote:

If you are able to, you would be much better off just running all 7 miles in 1 run each day, and 1 long run of 10-12 miles each week.

What makes you believe this?

Don't listen to the people telling you not to do doubles. The ones saying the routine is important are correct. Getting in to the routine so that it is automatic and second nature will be very beneficial. From there you can increase the distance and intensity of the runs as you see fit. I am personally a fan of keeping the secondary run on the shorter side and making the primary run longer. But, I will occasionally split them equally.

All my research has always concluded that its best to have one easy recovery run thats shorter, and then your scheduled workout/mileage. I.E., I make my schedules, and wherever I decide that I wanna bump up my fitness and raise the mileage, I'll throw in a double or 2 for that week. Usually on a mileage day it'll be something like 3 very easy miles at 8AM then 7 miles at regular mileage pace at 5PM.

Glenn. wrote:

malmo, you're right, it's all about getting into a routine. As an evening runner all my life, I'm surprised at how quickly the body adapts. I'm hoping that this will yield good results.

Is it advisable to add miles to the morning run first? Wondering if I should work my way up to 5/5 or increase the length of the second run. I'm leaning towards the former.

And should I even mess around with speedwork? I was thinking of doing maybe one session of quarters per week for leg turnover or runs where I finish at a comfortably hard pace if feeling good.

Advice from Miller's soliloquy in Repo Man, "People get so hung up on specifics, they miss out on seeing the whole thing."

Add miles as your body feels it needs them. It gives you immediate feedback. You're the only one who can determine to increase or not.

2-3 miles now. 3-4 later. 4-5lown the line.

Yes, do something faster each week. How fast and how often? ... again, your body gives you the feedback needed to determine that. But basically, start off with short reps much slower than you think you need. There's no reason to extend your body early on in the process. Read what I wrote in SOM. I've that for college 14:00 5k runners I'd even certify repeat 400s at 70s. Most everyone will say, "I can do that!" That's not the point. The point is that 70s 400s is 23:20 8k pace.

Just get your body moving now at an easy pace you can live with. The rest will come with time.

^ this exactly!!

Ffvds wrote:

If I were you I wouldn't even worry about doubling until you start running around 55-60mpw.

Could this please be the thread where we dismiss the random, pulled out of our arse # of 57.28 miles as some magic threshold before we can start doubling??? Without doubling I'd never get to 60 miles per week (5 kids, job, yadda, yadda, yadda).

Doubling at your mileage is unnecessary. Consider doubling when you want to push beyond 70 or 80.

runnerwhoprofesses wrote:

Doubling at your mileage is unnecessary. Consider doubling when you want to push beyond 70 or 80.

It's a lot easier to add doubles now and add mileage later than add the doubles later.

Cronje wrote:

runnerwhoprofesses wrote:

Doubling at your mileage is unnecessary. Consider doubling when you want to push beyond 70 or 80.

It's a lot easier to add doubles now and add mileage later than add the doubles later.

^ This also!!

Cronje wrote:

runnerwhoprofesses wrote:

Doubling at your mileage is unnecessary. Consider doubling when you want to push beyond 70 or 80.

It's a lot easier to add doubles now and add mileage later than add the doubles later.

I never realized training was supposed to be about doing what's easy.

In reply to those that ask:

What good does running two miles do?

My experience is that any double I do (even if it's 2 miles) helps me make better training decisions throughout the day. I eat better, keep track of hydration better, and I'm more likely to go to sleep at a reasonable hour if I'm planning on doubling the next day.

Actually a short double sometimes is best because when I reach that critical moment in the morning while laying in bed, debating whether or not to get up and run, a 2-mile run is less daunting than if I had planned to go an hour. And if nothing else, the 2-mile run helps get the blood flowing to get working through sore muscles.