CAN I RUN A 2:50 MARATHON OF 50 MILES a WEEK?

Sure it can be done. I've broken 2:50 four times (2:41 best) on 50mpw with a day off each week. Last time was 1999 at CIM, where I ran 2:43 at the age of 41.

I know we're all different in terms of ability, but I never ran for a school team and have always been self-coached. I've always believed it's not necessarily the NUMBER of miles you run, but what you DO with them.

dogface gremlin wrote:

I've never run more than 50mpw and usually average 40-50. I've run a 1:17 half marathon, so a 2:50 marathon would be no sweat, kimosabe. These people who are saying you can't run a 2:50 marathon on 50mpw just have no talent so don't understand that someone with just a bit of talent can do this without any problem.

yeah, back in my younger days usually did 50-60 at the most, and I ran about the same 1:16 half, so I think a 2:50 would have been completely doable.

Just be careful and don't go out too fast.

It's possible to do, just a matter of how you run that 50 miles a week. I understand where the guys are comming from about the talent aspect, but sometimes talent for people running a longer distance at a slower speed starts to make an appearance... everyone knows the guy who's slow as rocks, but can keep that pace forever...

I ran 2:44 on 50 mpw.

Here's my highest week from my log

Mon - 8 miles - workout ( 2 wu. 4 x mile around 5:15 with 90sec rest, 2 cd)

Tue - 7 miles easy

Wed - 8 miles - workout (30 minute tempo half pace)

Thur - 7 miles easy

Friday - 5 easy.

Saturday - 14 moderate

Sunday - 5 easy

I was in ok shape overall, like 26:30 8k shape... (not really training for a marathon, but decided to do one anyway)

Best of luck and get after it!

THE ANSWER IS NO

I dont understand why everyone on here preaches high mileage like it will work for everyone. Maybe this is a rarity but I lowered my 2:56 pr to a 2:48 with about 35-40 mpw for 3 months. Most all of the runs were at a decent clip (630-640 for me) with some tempo runs/800m reps/one 20 miler. Guess it depends on the person tho. Ive never run more than about 55mpw.

dump a duske wrote:

can i? how do i do it?

There are studies mentioned by Jack Daniels and others that declare that a runner reaches 90% of his distance running potential by training at about 60 mpw and you need less mileage if you have been consistently running for a number of years; the old 'miles in the bank' concept.

Some folks are prone to injury no matter how gradually and carefully they try to increase mileage above 60 or 70 miles per week. Their PB's can 'only' be achieved by avoiding the temptation to do higher mileage.

I've run under three hours three times from age 46 to 48 averaging about 60 mpw for each race while trying a variety of training plans. I don't have a waifish runners build and must train rather than strain or so I am trying to learn.

There are no hard and fast rules to this strange, technical sport. It is a tedious process of individual modification that can only be assessed after each 3 to 6 month training cycle and races which becomes increasingly more difficult as one attempts to factor in the effects of aging.

Good luck.

As shown from previous posts, yes you can.

I certainly don't consider myself to be talented; I used to plod about at the back of the field in school cross countries and yet I have run several sub 2:50 marathons off 40 mpw and with few long runs. However, I always struggled the last 6 miles and took a long time to recover and would have been better off on 50 mpw including a long run of up to 20 miles. Out of interest I ran 4.50 for a mile.

The important thing is pace judgement - get yourself out and race 10 miles / half marathon and work out a target time for the marathon.

Here is what it takes. If you can runs these times then you ought to be able to run sub 2:50. I used this same formula to break 3 hours many years back on 40 mpw week. My long run was 10 miles.

Performance level: mile: 5:01

5K: 17:21

8K: 28:36

10K: 36:17

marathon: 2:48:46

By the way it would also help if you could break 60 minutes for 10 miles and 1:20 for the half marathon.

Well, I ran 2:50:06 (it was 2:49:59 by my watch) last spring, with training of about 50 miles a week .. so yes, maybe you can too.

I'm 35, used to run a lot more mileage up until a couple of years ago, since when work and fatherhood have gotten in the way. Speed evaporates faster than stamina, I've found.

Anyways, key for me was a solid long run (preferably with lots of hills) every week. I also ran 17:30 for 5k / 1:20 for half during my buildup.

But given the time you should run 100 miles / week rather than just 50 - you'll be a lot faster!

shortshorts wrote:

I dont understand why everyone on here preaches high mileage like it will work for everyone. Maybe this is a rarity but I lowered my 2:56 pr to a 2:48 with about 35-40 mpw for 3 months. Most all of the runs were at a decent clip (630-640 for me) with some tempo runs/800m reps/one 20 miler. Guess it depends on the person tho. Ive never run more than about 55mpw.

How would you know then.

Hi, another recent (just a little under) 2:50 marathoner on roughly 50mpw.

For me, a typical week was:

4 X trail run. Roughly 60 minutes for roughly (only) 6 miles on very steep and technical mountain bike trails.

1 X tempo. 10 mi total, 8 tempo (~6:10 pace) on very flat roads.

1 long run. Alternated weekly between 15 and 20 miles.

Would usually do 5 miles toward end faster than MP (~6:15 pace), with the rest at ~7:30 pace. The fast part on a very flat section, the rest on rolling hills.

Probably not very typical, but it worked for me...

Get on your knees and take out my flaccid bellend and consume it as you gag. Thanks.

NO YOU CAN NOT. NO ONE HAS DONE IT BEFORE AND NO ONE WILL EVER DO IT.