Do people who run 100 MPW have girlfriends/wives, regular jobs, etc?

simple math wrote:

If I work 50 hours per week and spend 5 hours per week running, it isn't that hard for me to believe that some other guy can work 40 hours per week and spend 15 hours per week running.

It takes more than hour to run an hour.

You have to take time to get dressed, stretch or whatever, get to the starting part of your run, run for an hour, cool down, walk it off, get back inside, take a shower and get dressed.

If you run an hour at home, it takes at least an hour and a half to get that in.

If you drive to some trail, add the time for that round trip.

It can take up to two hours of your day to do a one hour run. 7 or 8 miles.

Fax wrote:

Literally how you gonna run that much and have a healthy balance between all facets of your life? And these are the type of people who probably also do strength work, too.

I work 50 hours a week and run 140-150km a week most of the year. Its fairly easy, run teite a day every weekday and once during the weekend. You have a cell phone right? Imagine you used half that time at running.

Its easy.

For slower runners like myself it would be a huge time investment to run that many miles. I think about it more in terms of time. It isnt hard to fit in an hour to an hour and a half of running every day (and i have a wife and young kids). But for slower people like me this just puts you closer to 50 or 60 miles for the week. And if you are doing trail running then the mileage is way less for the same amount of time.

probably many do.

It's pretty much a waste of time if you're not averaging at least 7min/mile in your training runs. You're out there longer pounding more on the pavement just to run mediocre times. What do you really get in return? Cut your marathon time by 5 minutes to 2:50?

When you are married you don't have a life outside of family. So running 100 mpw is a welcome break.

Fax wrote:

Literally how you gonna run that much and have a healthy balance between all facets of your life? And these are the type of people who probably also do strength work, too.

I have done 100mpw plus for years working full time. It's not hard once you get in the routine. I usually work 50-55 hrs per week. You just have to be disciplined and plan ahead as much as possible. Always do your longer run of the day or hard workout first thing when you get up so that it can't get interrupted by things that may come up throughout the day. Have not had a family. I think adding kids to the mix would make it impossible.

You do have to be willing to make some social life sacrifices. Also, most of your running will be alone. It's all about choices and how you want to live.

I know people like that. It is amazing how they little know what is going on. All the black lives matter protest after George Floyd's death, and one guy had no idea for about 2 weeks. I had to show him the video when we were stretching to explain why he was stuck in traffic the previous day. He had a full time job and a girlfriend.

Stay off social media, don't consume TV or movies, and especially news is a waste, you'll be amazed how much time you really have.

He decided to go back to school to get a doctorate, and still had to work to support himself. That is what finally got him to give up running 100 miles a week.

A lot of people in the running group I'm in have great careers and kids manage to run 60-80 mpw or more. I think it depends on the job, whether or not it's WFH, and how old their kids are. Also, some of their spouses are runners too.

I work at least 50 hours per week. Run about 11 hours per week - 150km ish. 3 hours of gym. Quite common for people who have a bit of running talent and no kids. Need a partner who understands why you run. That it's more than just a hobby. Could not do this if I had kids I do not think. Compete at an elite, but not pro level.

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

[quote]Fax wrote:

Also, most of your running will be alone. It's all about choices and how you want to live.

This is the key here, most of your running will be alone. Try to make sure that your key sessions are with a group if possible. Because, if you are competing at a high level, that competition within the group is essential to push you to the next level.

It’s doable. People generally spend time

On what they value, and prioritize life accordingly. Speaking. For myself I’m 37, am an engineer working in oil and gas (15 years now). Generally work life balance is good at my company. I have 2 kids (2 and 4) and have been running my whole life. I’ve been able to manage my schedule reasonably well able to run around 100mpw. Usually run during lunch, and at night after kids go to bed. Workouts are 2x /week and for best results do at lunch. Long run Sunday. My PRs are 2.18 and ran at the trials in 2020. Kids have been in day care since they were 6mo old, and both my wife and I work career jobs so we work together to watch kids so the other can have some time alone. It’s doable and I value running from a personal fulfillment perspective. I do have time for family and friends (most friends are runners too). Having kids puts us to bed early anyway (helps maintain a schedule for work and running). Also staying competitive for as long as I can and hope to continue to get faster before I get too old!! 2:15 is my personal goal right now.

Totally agree. Never been a fan of multiple tasking. Do ONE thing, but do IT well. And give it your all.

People say running only take 1 h but there is THE other stuff, changing 20-30 min, shower, fatigue after a harder run etc etc...

YESSIR wrote:

For me it is not about the actual time spent running, that is more than doable to achieve in my schedule. Rather its the fatigue - if I am running 15 miles a day, I'll definitely need a nap in the afternoon, and my wife aint having it.

The most I can run before my wife would probably divorce me is about 60-70 miles. At the mileage I am not half asleep and useless to my wife and kids by 6 p.m.

I agree with this take. Most of the responses in this thread emphasize that running 100mpw doesn't take all that much time. Sure, I get that even for a decidedly non-elite runner like myself, the actual time spent running is less than 2 hours a day - not unmanageable. But it's so tiring! I may feel good during the runs themselves, but then crash about an hour into my workday. Everybody acts like finding the time in the daily schedule is the only concern. But what about walking around like a zombie all day?

So for all those type-A folks who easily fit in 100+ mpw while also dating, renovating their home, volunteering at the local shelter, raising 8 kids, spending quality time with the fam, maintaining a small dairy farm on the side...more power to you. But in answer to the OP, I say it's very hard for some people to run 100mpw while leading a "normal" life.

Former pro runner (female), and I still run lots of slow miles, and twice a day. I am married with a grown daughter, a full-time job, and a great and fulfilling life. I run at 5am, and on my lunch hour, and couldn't be happier. It is all about prioritizing your time (and not talking about running all the time). You just work it into your day.

inagreementwithu wrote:

Former pro runner (female), and I still run lots of slow miles, and twice a day. I am married with a grown daughter, a full-time job, and a great and fulfilling life. I run at 5am, and on my lunch hour, and couldn't be happier. It is all about prioritizing your time (and not talking about running all the time). You just work it into your day.

Basically this. It is all about priorities. I know so many people my age who burn hours of time watching tv, doing fantasy football, swiping through Tik Tok ect. If you organize your life, plan out your day and enjoy running enough where the other stuff doesn't matter its very doable.

I personally don't run 100 miles a week on average but I have hit 100 mile weeks. I have a family and a job. They are usually sleeping while I am running. I finish my run and am back home before the kids leave for school. I don't watch any tv at all, I don't watch movies or play video games. Running is my only thing. That makes it much easier.

If you love football, basketball, movies, TV ect. That makes it harder because you need to sacrifice those things to keep time with your family.

What`s refreshing for the mind and time -pressed runner of today is to know it`s a fact you can run close to your very best possible race times by just running about 40-60 mpw with 1-2 days off every week. It`s a myth that there would be

a need for as much as 100 mpw to reach your optimum performance.

If you are curious to know more about it just send me a message.

magic@coachjs.se

Welcome! :)

This is exactly it. All the time and energy outside of the running itself. People are running 18 miles, head straight to the shower and get right on with their day? I like to take a few minutes just chilling even after easy runs, and after particularly long/hard efforts sometimes just lay around for hours.

The days I go to the office, which luckily right now isn't every day, I have like 90min to actually run if I'm being generous. And then I'm sleepy at work cuz I can't take a nap. And I'm tired the whole evening if I go to my girlfriend's house. And then I have to do it all again the next day. And this is only on 50-60 miles a week.

Honestly, good for anyone who manages it and enjoys it. Running isn't a singular hobby to me like some people who've shared their stories. Plus, I honestly like wasting time online too much.

Not quite 100mpw, but check out Matt Clowes (https://www.strava.com/athletes/18788786?hl=en-GB) . He jokes about being a ‘blue collar’ worker and is still a very decent runner. He also has a podcast (https://www.strava.com/athletes/18788786?hl=en-GB). The trick seems to be getting up very early…