100 mpw: How? Should I try?

Hey, that's a great suggestion! Thanks. I might try boosting my mileage next year without planning another marathon. I think that's a great idea.

By the way, I have time for the extra stuff, like icing, weights, stretching, etc. The problem has been forcing myself to do that stuff. I lift weights, but don't really ice, stretch or get massage (which would be too expensive for me, anyway). I think I could handle a lot more mileage if I bit the bullet and drove 30 minutes each way to the nearest dirt trail. 80-100 on asphalt would probably do me in.

What's the matter? Got kicked off of Cool Running?

Someone Special wrote:

I cannot survive without one rest day. So, I have a few questions:

You'll never do it with that false belief.

I have taken kids who were 50 mile a week runners and brought them up to 100 miles in well under a month.

Schedule? can't give you one. We make it up as we go along.

35, 40 or 45 minutes in the morning, 70, 80, or 90 at night, depending on how we felt. I have done this with numerous kids over a 25 year period, none, and I mean NONE of them broke, they all got faster and open to thinking they could accomplish more than most are willing to to imagine.

Shit, 100 mile weeks ain't jack, I do them all the time and I am 43 years old in a few weeks. And I do them just for the fun of it. (my serious racing ended in the early 90's)

If I only ran 50 miles a week my girlfriend would kick my ass. By the way, skip the twenty miler.

Oh yeah, if it's a fall marathon, skip it. If 60 is your highest week thus far, you'll never be ready.

I would like to know what happens if you miss a day off. Do you break out in hives and your throat closes up?

Gees, thank you so much for the tough-love encouragement. Really? You think I should skip it? Please be honest. What about the experience? I intend to keep climbing next year.

The day off . . . well, I just use that time to recover. I look forward to that day. I kind of presumed I needed some down time. Maybe I was wrong.

Brief background info: I was never on a track team (where I truly believe you learn a lot that I just don't know). Ran only recreationally (very low mileage) for years (when I also worked in gym, taught step aerobics, swam competitively, taught lifeguards, was personal trainer, etc.) Started running a bit higher mileage 4 years ago. Really only started racing 5Ks two years ago and not very many of them. I'm 34. Female.

Thanks again.

Oh, also, why did you say that I should skip the twenty-miler? Thanks again!

It sounds like you are in a good marathon training program right now. If you decide to bump up the mileage, I recommend adding easy miles only. Just keep up the weekly workout(s) and occasional long run and you\'ll do fine.

Gosh, sorry to keep posting. I meant: do you really think I should skip the marathon and the twenty miler? Just wondering why . . . I don't understand.

Thanks!

Someone Special wrote:

[Gees, thank you so much for the tough-love encouragement. Really? You think I should skip it? Please be honest. What about the experience? I intend to keep climbing next year.

The day off . . . well, I just use that time to recover. I look forward to that day. I kind of presumed I needed some down time. Maybe I was wrong.

Started running a bit higher mileage 4 years ago. Really only started racing 5Ks two years ago and not very many of them. I'm 34. Female.

Thanks again.

I don't care if you are a 2' 2" asexual martian. 60 mile weeks is "recreational".

Yes, skip the marathon. You are not physically or mentally ready. You want to get to the marathon line and feel like you are freaking stoked for anything. If you want an experience go hiking. If you want to race prepare properly. If you are not recovering from day to day you are probably not eating enough or pressing too hard. Will you always feel fresh? Of course not. I have been in atletics since I was 6 years old. I have always had that morning feeling of a little stiffness, loginess, it's part of the deal. We are like race cars, we need to be revved up and warmed up and then we are fired up. I still jump out of bed ready to go. I love the opportunity to be an athlete. I dread the days that I have to take off, it only means I am injured, sick or extremely and unusally tired.

I say skip the twenty miler because it takes too much out of most newbies. Just worry about "time on task". Break it up each day as it suits you. On days that I am a little down a 45 mintues slow am run and a 45 minute slow pm run is very doable and very refreshing. It's 90 minutes of running with out hardly any effort.

And quit describing yourself as a female. It simply does not matter. Woman are strong tough capable athletes as well.

You're all wasting your time. "Someone Special" most definitely isn't, unless emotional turmoil and personality disorders make one special. She's a 22:56 5K runner who can't pick a Cool Running user name and stick with it for more than a day or two to save her life. So far we've seen TinaRuns, mountain lion, MaryJaneS, InYourDreams, and others, and she's been warned by the moderators to quit playing these games. She has caused training threads to be locked and starts other threads just to bait people. Trust me, she knows enough to talk a half decent game, but she has as much real interest in running 100 mile weeks as Mo Greene does in the Ironman triathlon. Pfitzinger plan, my behind.

What she does enjoy is the attention that posting meaningless training questions (sure, an anemic 7:30 a mile 5k runner will be putting in triple digit weeks any day now) and going after people in various ways on the Internet delivers. You people have all been had.

The only saving grace is that this troll leaves style fingerprints in neon yellow and can never remain anonymous for long.

Tina, tear yourself away from the computer, have your husband double your Thorazine, and find a hobby that won't eat a hole in what's left of your miserable soul.

Wow! You've given me a lot to think about. Thank you, sincerely. I never thought 60 mpw made me a newbie, but I am glad to hear that you think so. That can only mean that I can make significantly more progress, which is extremely good news!

I was able to handle 19 miles without falling apart a few weeks back. Would the 20+ mile runs benefit me if I could handle them?

And, please forgive me for repeating myself because I know you made yourself clear. I was just so set on running this race. Why do you think the experience would hurt? I figured the race would at least make me a tougher runner/better racer. Plus we have planned the whole deal and I'm smack dab in the middle of training following Pfitz. I'm not ignoring what you suggested in the slightest . . . just asking for you to expand a little on the thought. Or ignore my late night babbling on this point and please just answer my other questions. I'm just trying to let this idea sink into my brain.

If I don't run this one, when do you think I should plan on running a marathon?

Thanks again!

You are a loser. I am as honest as they come. Get a life and stop following people around the Internet. Your anonymity is your only saving grace on this website.

If others on this website want the truth, I was banned from coolrunning because an older female moderator didn't like attractive, intelligent females. That required me to adopt new screen names. Pretty simple stuff, really.

Yes, I ran a 22:58 5K and I have anemia, which I am trying to correct. I also sincerely want to improve.

I have been the brunt of some jokes from faster and more experienced people at coolrunning. There are also a few experienced and fast runners at coolrunning who have become my friends. I'm a pretty controversial person, so don't give me any advice if that sort of stuff turns you off. I say what is on my mind. Many people find that refreshing. Others don't.

Anyway, I ran 57 miles last week and am scheduled to run 62 miles this week. I am extremely fit. I am 6 weeks into Pfitz's 24 week, 50-70 mpw program. I will someday run 100+ mpw. I may never run fast, but it will not be for lack of trying.

Oh, and I also can run 34-35 second 200's repeatedly and 400's in 1:13 to 1:16 (varies depending on heat, recovery, etc). . . so I should be able to race significantly faster. That's where the anemia question becomes significant to me. Or maybe I'm just cursed with too many fast twitch fibers. I'm trying to test my limits through racing and training.

This is just a personal goal. Not seeking any medals here. Just trying to reach my personal potential.

Anyway, thanks again to everyone who has given well-meaning advice.

p.s.

Noel=Leon.

Funny.

I expected more from even you.

You should never light another's fire.

I really should thank you. I think of you when I am running . . . just gives me all the more determination to prove you wrong, Leon.

Leon=Pathetic.

Get a life, Leon. Preferably one in which your endless crusades are fought in the real world, not some online portal.

Someone Special wrote:

Oh, and I also can run 34-35 second 200's repeatedly and 400's in 1:13 to 1:16 (varies depending on heat, recovery, etc)

You can do repeats at that speed, run 60 miles a week and can't run faster than 22:58 for 5k? I'm calling bullshit, loudly.

Just a quick note to apologize to Leon. He has told me that post was not written by him and I believe him.

As to the person who suggested that I'm lying, you have proven your own inability to know what is theoretically possible in this little sport of ours. I have many faults, being a liar is not one of them.

For further explanation:

http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/Forum1/HTML/056752-3.shtml

Thanks again to everyone who gave well-meaning advice. Unfortunately, this will probably be my last post under this screen name.

Tina, if you can run 35 second 200's and 75 second 400's

don't waste a second training for a marathon, or running

20 milers.

Work on running PR's at the mile and 5K.

6 times 400 meters in 75 seconds with a 90 second recovery

= x.xx mile?

Thanks, Fred, for your ongoing support and faith. As I said at coolrunning, I'm not sure about the 400's because I was going on memory of splits that were combined with rest periods during a group run. Now I'm wondering if I was correct. I am sure about the 100's and 200's. Have you considered that maybe the anemia situation causes me to run faster at distances under 200? Or maybe I have the fast-twitch curse? I really have no idea, as I've said, I'm just speculating.

Unfortunately, there are no mile competitions around here (central Florida). I checked several sources the last time you made that suggestion and couldn't find any listed on websites or other printed material advertising races in Florida.

By the way, I just opened a very old email account which was FLOODED with supportive thoughts! So you were not alone! Why these people wouldn't say a word on coolrunning I will never know . . .

Guess you one of the few with the courage to stand up for what you believe is right, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Oh, also, Fred, I'm still getting in the miles for a good base, either way, right? Can't I just focus on running higher mileages, maybe run a marathon for fun, then work at shorter distances from a much stronger base?

I guess that's been my idea . . .

If you drop your mile time and get use to hurting, everything else will follow. You could then run faster mile repeats, and run a faster pace on your hard days.

FT and intermediate fibers are a blessing.

While I think some of mplatt's advice is sound, some of it I do not agree with.

He's right that if you believe you can do something, you can. You will not break if you build up to 100 mpw, just make sure you do it sensibly. And I also agree with him that a day off is not necessary. If you can adapt to it, running 7 days a week will be great for your fitness.

However, this business about 60 mpw being recreational? Give me a break. Webb was running less than that in high school when he ran his 3:53. Read "Running with the Buffaloes" again. Aside from the mileage hogs, most of the team is running that kind of mileage.

I agree 60 mpw is not high mileage, and to maximize your aerobic potential you need to run more than that. But get off your "I run 100 mpw for fun" high horse. I don't know recreational runners who go for 15 mile runs or do 10 mile tempo runs. If people are running that much, they are doing it for a purpose, and that purpose is to compete.

Also, I don't agree that you should skip the marathon in the fall. Just like any distance, simply being in shape is not enough. You need to learn how to run it. Experience is a valuable thing, especially in the marathon. Stick with your program for now. Run the marathon in the fall. Then start building your mileage.