Runners who MADE IT by running HIGH mileage

Gerry Lindgren indeed ran 100-150 miles a week in high school, and up to 200 during the summer after. He also got as high as 300 in his 20's. I've asked his high school coach about it, and Jack Daniels attests to it as well.

But remember that Gerry, like anyone else who ran mega-mileage for long periods, DOES have natural ability. They are blessed with the talent to withstand, process and benefit from that kind of massive workload.

For example, 10k Gold Medalist and World Record Holder Billy Mills tried desperately to get his mileage to 100 a week during his mid-20's but could not. He always broke down. So he restructured his training to feature 10-day weeks that gave him that magic number he needed mentally (which were in fact just 70-mile weeks).

yesstiles wrote:

But remember that Gerry, like anyone else who ran mega-mileage for long periods, DOES have natural ability. They are blessed with the talent to withstand, process and benefit from that kind of massive workload.

This is true.

Truth Syrup wrote:

yesstiles wrote:

But remember that Gerry, like anyone else who ran mega-mileage for long periods, DOES have natural ability. They are blessed with the talent to withstand, process and benefit from that kind of massive workload.

This is true.

Lindgren was also one of the smoothest runners you'll ever see. Like a sewing machine. Effortless.

Singer wrote:

Truth Syrup wrote:

This is true.

Lindgren was also one of the smoothest runners you'll ever see. Like a sewing machine. Effortless.

Guys named Shorter and Rodgers did, too.

Thom Hunt. 1:47 800m, 3:57 mile, 7:48 3000m, 13:26 5000m, 27:59 10000m, 2:12 marathon. Did well with pretty much nothing but LSD.

Scotty Bauhs ran pretty solid mileage at Chico. Don't know if he was Cam Levins range, but he put up some good numbers.

In the early 70s Fullerton State had guys doing loads of mileage. Mark Covert, Doug Schmenk and Dave White were reportedly in the 160-180 range. Schmenk and White both had marathons around 2:17 or so. Covert "only" got to 2:22 but was seventh in the '72 OT Marathon. Tom Fleming was a guy who was usually running 150 or better when he was serious. If you go back to the 70s and early 80s you'll find tons of stories like this.

Rory Linkletter was just a 9:20 guy in high school but he got to 2nd at NCAAs by running ~90-100 mpw. Not sure how that worked for him this season, but he’s definitely an example of someone who was never a blue chip runner but clawed and scratched his way to the top.

Anton Krupicka.

Brian Sell

HRE wrote:

In the early 70s Fullerton State had guys doing loads of mileage. Mark Covert, Doug Schmenk and Dave White were reportedly in the 160-180 range. Schmenk and White both had marathons around 2:17 or so. Covert "only" got to 2:22 but was seventh in the '72 OT Marathon. Tom Fleming was a guy who was usually running 150 or better when he was serious. If you go back to the 70s and early 80s you'll find tons of stories like this.

My high school assistant XC coach was the Head Coach at Cal State Fullerton at that time. I'll have to ask him about that stuff.

Mark Nenow did it and broke the American record in the 10000 metres in the 80s .

John Walker did mostly 90 miles a week at a steady pace and was the first to break 350 for the mile.

Libertarian vegan wrote:

Mark Nenow did it and broke the American record in the 10000 metres in the 80s .

John Walker did mostly 90 miles a week at a steady pace and was the first to break 350 for the mile.

Is that true about John Walker?

Here are some links to john walker training.

https://www.runnerstribe.com/features/pure-strength-the-training-of-john-walker-part-1/

http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/70944640/walker-runner-world-recordholder-reunited-40-years-after-john-walker-made-running-history

yesstiles wrote:

HRE wrote:

In the early 70s Fullerton State had guys doing loads of mileage. Mark Covert, Doug Schmenk and Dave White were reportedly in the 160-180 range. Schmenk and White both had marathons around 2:17 or so. Covert "only" got to 2:22 but was seventh in the '72 OT Marathon. Tom Fleming was a guy who was usually running 150 or better when he was serious. If you go back to the 70s and early 80s you'll find tons of stories like this.

My high school assistant XC coach was the Head Coach at Cal State Fullerton at that time. I'll have to ask him about that stuff.

The Runner's World story made it seem that he was not exactly thrilled that these guys were running marathons. I'm interested to see what you find.

Mark Nenow training was high mileage very little track work.

https://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/25-laps-25-years-later

malmo.

How about Ron Clarke? David Bedford?

Better yet, Rudy Chapa, Jeff Nelson in HS?

Boston Billy, Shorter, I mean really, take your pick pre 1985