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

Well John, as you said the question is in the title. He's/she's not asking about what the others can run of off 50 miles per week, he/she is asking what he/she can run of off 50 miles per week in the marathon.

If 1,000,000 different runners ran under 2:50 in the marathon by doing 50 miles per week, does not mean that the original poster can do it as well. Every runner is an individual case with distinct levels of talent.

do you see the difference now? or you don't?

So I responded by telling the original poster that most runners with very little talent would not run under 2:50 by doing only 50 miles per week.

just a note the concrete runner has to be michael wardian as he is the only american who ha been under 2:30 so far this year 8 times.

dump a duske wrote:

can i? how do i do it?

Don't believe the nitwits on this board. Most of the guys that I know that have broken 2:50 in the marathon train less than or around 50 mpw.

Yes I have run mid 230's many times of that.

dump a duske wrote:

4:54 mile...that's it, don't usually do 50mpw. i'm a low mileage guy, but then again i've never tried high mileage

If you have so little personal interest in distance running then why the sudden interest in the marathon? 50 mpw is certainly not "high mileage" to anyone other than the Jogging Journal Gallostrolling crowd. If you want to do a marathon and run that well then spend a few years moving up through 5k, 10k, half-marathon distances to gain aerobic development and experience at distance running. I see it all the time when I browse the running magazine-affiliated forums, people who don't understand why their performance routinely fails to meet their (unrealistic) expectations when they've taken a bassackwards approach to the marathon.

"Well John, as you said the question is in the title. He's/she's not asking about what the others can run of off 50 miles per week, he/she is asking what he/she can run of off 50 miles per week in the marathon."

I respectfully disagree. He/she is asking, and I quote "Can I run a 2:50 marathon", not what he/she "can" run, but whether this particular goal (2:50) is achievable. Some of the posters that followed demonstrated that THEY were able to do it. Of course, this particular OP is different than them, as I am different from you. Everyone is different. But, if no one answered to the OP in the affirmative, things might be bleaker for them. Now though, he/she has hope.

absolutely right! The posters who ran 2:37-50 for the marathon off of 50MPW, outstanding job but what NS/MS is saying is, what could have these posters have run had they been training upwards of 100MPW or more? To see your true potential at the distance you're surely not going to get to the upper threshold of your talent by running 40-70 miles a week. I can understand if that is all the better you want to run or due to time constraints thats all the more you can do but if that isnt the case, why not really put in the work needed to run a fast time.

There was a 2:20 marathoner stating he ran it on 75 miles a week, outstanding but Id like to see that guy run 2:19 and below off of 75 miles a week. The best coaches in the world emphasis higher mileage, quality not junk. Like NS/MS said, its a 26.2 mile race, not a 1500m, running merely twice as much as the distance your going to try to RACE is not going to get you to your capability. Keep in mind it is a RACE, not an easy long run..they are two different things. I believe if the running is 100% quality anyone can run a 2:50 marathon off of 50 miles a week but why not see what you can truly do?

The big boys breaking 2:15 and below are not running 75 miles a week. A 2:20 marathon is very good, Ive went 2:19 but it is nothing special, anyone can do it..breaking 2:15/2:10/2:05, all individually another realm of running..your true running potential in the marathon distance will not be realized off of 50 miles a week.

Nate

Okay, I ran 14:10 5K, 29:50 10K and sub 25:00 for 5 miles in XC, all in college in the late 70's so I guess you have to bring some talent into those 50 miles weeks.

Now, I can't believe that last part...please.

Yes you can! But, if you are really a 2:35 marathoner on 80+ mpw, this will work. Otherwise...no.

I was a fat f@#K and 5 years later ran a 2:48 running 4x/week. I am not talented at all

it is not that difficult to run <2:50 with a little specific prep.

I ran my balls off in uni and was a 3:59/14:59 type at best.

Overtraining is not the answer, especially if the OP does not have the talent.

50mpw is probably preferable to 80mpw if s/he is not that talented.

Are you the same guy who wanted to know about 2:20 on 75MPW????

turkey leg wrote:

Yo, Concrete Runner -

Did you grow up on the crete?

No. I grew up on gravel, grass, dirt, and a cinder track. A little bit of concrete, but not much. I'm a convert.

possible? yes

likely? impossible to tell; no one really knows your talent/ability level

youll need to hit all the elements; long runs, quality tempo runs, some speed work, goal-pace runs

I do not see any problem to run 2h50' with 50miles (it is already a decent mileage), IF YOU HAVE TALENT/DNA/BACKGROUND for running,

BUT YOU WILL NEVER REACH YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL RUNNING 50 MILES

I give you my concrete example, after I increased the mileage year by year

- training 40Mpw: many times around 2h50'/55'

- training 50/60Mpw: 2h42

- training 70/80Mpw: 2h37

- training 80/90Mpw: 2h32

can I run sub2h30' if I move to 100Mpw ? maybe...

I know very few 2.50 guys who run much over 50 mpw, most of the 2.50 guys I know are married with kids and jobs. You certainly don't need much talent to do it. If you can run a mile in 5mins you have all the talent you'll need.

You need to get in regular long runs of 15-20mls at a decent pace. 3 other days per week run 10 milers on hilly terrain at about 7min mile pace. Run some 10k to 1/2 marathon races. Don't worry about speedwork just work the hills and work home solidly on your long runs. 2.50 isn't fast running you just need to build the endurance into those legs.

You can definately do it. I ran a 2:48 in baltimore this past weekend off of 45-50 mpw. Now I can\\\'t tell you how to do it, but I have been running competitively for years now and am a mid to low 15 minute 5ker. So that helped me. Good Luck.

I ran 2:32:00 and 2:33:50 on 50 miles a week.

It can be done.

This is a very useful thread to me. It points out that to run a marathon well -- forget time but consider potential -- you really have to put in the miles. I ran 2:48 a couple of years back on relatively low mileage. Over 50, but not by much. So this year I knew I had to up it, but an injury ended that.

For me the question going forward is whether I can/want to put in the time and mileage necessary to run well, "well" meaning what I'm capable of, not some arbitrary time. I appreciate the reminders here that doing that requires a commitment.