A lot depends on what event you are running. A 10K racer needs more mileage than a 1500m racer. If you want to run fast, you have to run fast. A miler needs to do strength work and speed work. It could be a waste of time to run 90 miles per week for a miler.
Leopardless wrote:
MPW is king wrote:my performances at longer distances are terrible (14:50 5k, 25:30 8k).
...only on letsrun
I don't think he meant terrible in absolute terms, just terrible compared to his 1500 time.
Interesting theory, my coach often says something similar. (He gets worried if you're too light early in the season before hard training begins). At 5'8.5", My 60mpw weight is about 142, whereas my 80-90mpw weight is 136lb. I had my VO2max measured at 84mm/kg/min at 137lb.
podgajny wrote:
This shows that you have a heavier physique and that you work like a dog. A naturally gifted talent would slow, and or, be injured as the mileage increases. What most never recognize is the effect of your natural weight. If you are small boned and genetically light, higher milage is big risk for injury and malaise. If you are a rugged build, then your best times will come only with massive work that wastes your natural weight and increases your strength to weigh ratio. VO2max is your O2 uptake divided by weight. If you are high weight, you will improve with high mileage. If you are low weight, you will likely tank until you have many, many years in the bank.
VO2max is measured in mL/kg/min, and not a very relevant piece of information for what you're attempting to solve here. Better information would be to identify running economy at various paces whilst training at different volumes/workouts...