most miles run by a human in a life

How about Yiannis Kourous for the most miles, the fastest?

These streaks and mega miles are due to untreated OCD. These people need professional help like any other control disorder (e.g. eating, hording). Encouraging OCD type behavior is like telling a girl with an ED she looks fat. Do these people have families who can help them?

I'll bet most of those people would not deny the similarities. When you run behind the snowplow in a blizzard, hobble around on crutches, leave the hospital against doctor's orders, then it goes well beyond just getting in the workout. Maybe 98% of the runs might be just running, but theother 2% speak of a psychological need. Still, it's not like Lady Macbeth or Jack Nicholson (what was that movie with Helen Hunt?). Most runners are a little nutso or compulsive anyway.

RE: most miles run by a human in a life?

The answer is: Seb Coe.

I've heard he ran a lot more than people realize. I'm told this is because never counted his warm-ups. Therefore his actual weekly mileage was around 300.

Lorenzo the Magnificent wrote:

... it goes well beyond just getting in the workout. Maybe 98% of the runs might be just running, but theother 2% speak of a psychological need. Still, it's not like Lady Macbeth or Jack Nicholson (what was that movie with Helen Hunt?). Most runners are a little nutso or compulsive anyway.

Actually, for the hard-core "streak" runners, and ultra-distance guys, their OCD is a LOT like Jack Nicholson's character in "As Good as it Gets". Yeah, you are right that "most runners are a little nutso or compulsive anyway." But there is a fine line between being dedicated to your sport/hobby/ "giving it your best" and just being completely overboard obsessed with getting in certain mileage totals in a definitely unhealthy way. For those people that cross the line, it's no longer about becoming a better athlete, getting faster, or living a healthy life. No it's about obsessing over mileage #'s and obessing over doing something over and over and over again or they will feel their life has no meaning. THAT is unhealthy, and yes, lots of runnes border on going into that scary place, but don't go there. Hopefully most of us can tell the difference between healthy participation in sport/hard-core dedication to doing your best on the one hand and obsessive compulsive behavior on the other.

b u m p ty dumpty.

I am proud to report that I have been keeping meticulous records of my bowel functions during my daily runs, dating back to Sept. 23, 1970. I have averaged 2.2 movements/run, for a running total of 28,512 defecations.

I challenge anyone to document a longer brown streak in the history of running. (and yes, Uta Pippig and Grete Waitz are my favorite all-time runners). I will wipe out any challengers who emerge.