Minimum Distance That You Will Call a Run for mileage

Personally, I don't think anything less than 7 miles is worth logging.

I started running in 1976. The first few years most of my runs were 6 to 8 miles with some three mile runs, nothing less. I ran almost every day.

The last 15 years I've only been able to run 4 days a week, but nothing under 6 miles. Most runs are 8 to 10.

So, the answer 36 years ago would have been 3 miles. Now it is 6 miles, but with a lower weekly total.

standing alone, 30 minutes.

would count 2-3 mile warmups before workouts as part of the daily total, but now i am old and require 30 minutes to warm up anyways...

i'm not counting the 10min prerace shakeout shuffle in the dark at 5a.m. as mileage.

I have never logged a distance less than 3 miles.

As for the running part, the running godz set forth in 1972 that 7 minute pace or faster is running and slower is jogging.

I may have jogged a few 3 milers in my youth but now I jog more miles than I run. Like a poster above, I rarely go out for less than 5 miles and usually 8-10. Whether jogging or running, it all goes in the log.

i don't log distances under 3 miles.

I don't log anything under 25 miles. Just kidding.

Come on... Is it really important what you LOG? I'd say no.

It is important what you TRAIN. So it is better to ask yourself: Does this run make sense? Or is it just a run for a good looking log ;)

Pikachu

Pikachu wrote:

I don't log anything under 25 miles. Just kidding.

Come on... Is it really important what you LOG? I'd say no.

It is important what you TRAIN. So it is better to ask yourself: Does this run make sense? Or is it just a run for a good looking log ;)

Pikachu

Exactly. Running a token 2-3 miler just for the sake of weekly mileage goals really provides no benefit.

That being said I wouldn't bother going less then 3 miles or 20 minutes and consider it a training run.

Looks like Henry Marsh logged 2 mile runs:

spoke with Henry Marsh this evening. He responded to an email I sent to him at

henry@henrymarsh.com

. Here's what he shared with regards to his training:

Always took a month after summer track season. Commented that he "always did better late summer in meets than the June nationals in U.S. Said that the type of training he did may have atrributed to a longer peak or late peak in summer.

Henry then spent 1 month "just getting back into a training regime, running 20 -30 miles a week easy".

MOndays were the biggest mileage day, with 3-4 miles in the morning, followed by a 10 Miler ( his long run). Henry mentioned that " the 10 miler got fatser as the year progressed. His fastest was 57:00 towards the end of the year.

Tuesdays: 2-3 Miles am on the treadmill. PM: 3,000 Meters

of longer intervals and he usually ran in a ladder format.

The longest was 1200 Meters. Warm - Up was always a 1 mile jog, followed by stretching and then 1 mile of fast strides on straight, jog the curves and then some more stretching.

Wed: 2 - 3 Miles am treadmill

3- 4 miles pm treadmill or trails. Henry said that if was very tired he cut this down even to 1-2 mile jog an some stretching, because he wanted to be well recovered.

Thursdays: 3 - 4 miles am on treadmill. PM: 1500 meters of reps at faster than race pace; such as 200m, 300, or 400 m reps with a longer recovery. Henry said he got down to 26-28 for the 200's.

Friday: The second lightest recovery day of the week, behind the sunday rest day. 1 - 2 mile jog on treadmill am

1-3 mile jog on treadmill pm

Saturday: Early season, steady mileage of say 5- 7 miles.

progressing to 1-2 mile warm up - tempo run and warmdown. Race simulations in season or races. RAN SEVERAL INDOOR MEETS and SAID THIS BROUGHT HIM AROUND BETTER FOR OUTDOORS.

Sunday: REST DAY

Funny guy, actually. Said that guys in europe would laugh at his workouts and he would comment, "why should I train when i am resting for the races". That his unusaul short jogs of 2 miles or so the day before races or in between short workouts of 3-4 x200M or 800 Meter time trials.

Mentioned that his physical makeup was different than most and alot guys could not handle such little volume, where he could not handle higher volumes. Also got viruses alot from early overtraining before Bowerman.

Hope this is insightful.

Read more:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=1160651&page=0#ixzz2mc8lUmbD

When I was training for my first marathon, I would wake up in the morning and get in a 15-20 minute run that eventually ended up being a few decent two-a-days during a week. Just by doing that, I added a good 14-20 miles without really feeling any significant pounding.

So, my take is 15 minutes minimum.

Only if your mail box is3-4 miles from your house!

1/4 mile