Galen Rupp only averaged 80 miles a week

No, you just think he has.

This has been discussed before...

Averaging 80 mpw for the calendar year is pretty legit. Keep in mind, he's not even a marathoner. It may not be in the top-10% (or 20% for that matter) of elite US distance runners, but its still pretty good. That mileage takes into account down time after races, seasons, injuries, illness, etc.

I ran 4,245 miles in 2010 (averaging 81.4 mpw) with 16 weeks over 100 miles....but I also had a handful of only 30 mile weeks, which totally kills the average. 80 mpw for the year isn't as easy as it sounds.

If I recall correctly, Galen's overall mileage actually dropped last year from the year before.

Doubtful LR poster wrote:

http://www.letsrun.com/2011/alberto-galen-0111.php

No way Rupp only averaged 80 miles a week last year. Hasn't he been doing close to 100 since high school?

I doubt they planned for him to average that, but when you take into account what he actually ran (time off for this, a day off for that), he ended up at around 4000 miles for the year.

Just to be clear, this does not take into account time he took off from running all together.

I run 140 mpw as long as you only count my 20 mile long runs.

Aghast wrote:

Just to be clear, this does not take into account time he took off from running all together.

Seems like team Al has realized that the alter g and underwater treadmill mileage doesn't count and is just cross training. They used to always mention running "inside" and running "outside" and I recall them talking about Ritz running 100 mpw on the alter g during one injury period. Now Al says Ritz had a period of running only 40 - 50 mpw while injured and you have to suspect there was some additional alter g miles as well. I agree with Jerry's group who has always considered all of the additional stuff as cross training. Effective cross training but still cross training and not "real" mileage.

Doubtful LR poster wrote:

http://www.letsrun.com/2011/alberto-galen-0111.php

No way Rupp only averaged 80 miles a week last year. Hasn't he been doing close to 100 since high school?

No, that was Withrow and McDougal, Rupp was brought around slowly, even though the doubters thought he was tapped out in high school already.

Yes, he was brought around somewhat slowly, just like Al Sal was brought along slowly in HS by Bill Squires. But, enough of this crap, time to get out and run, run some real mileage and do it over a period of time.

Are you calling Rupp out?If so, I think AlSal is on top of it. who cares what his mileage is if he is running 13:0 and 27:10 as a 23 yr old.

Way Land wrote:

Yes, he was brought around somewhat slowly, just like Al Sal was brought along slowly in HS by Bill Squires. But, enough of this crap, time to get out and run, run some real mileage and do it over a period of time.

Doubtful LR poster wrote:

http://www.letsrun.com/2011/alberto-galen-0111.php

No way Rupp only averaged 80 miles a week last year. Hasn't he been doing close to 100 since high school?

You've been listening too much to the Lydiard cult and other mileage-obsessed types.

According to Salazar, in the summer of Rupp's high school junior year, he had a PEAK mileage of 40mpw. Salazar has gradually increased the mileage up to about 80 the last year, which compares to 96 average for this year Solinsky (and don't tell me some wag here knows more than this--that is what Chris himself posted on his Twitter).

The key is that Salazar has also had an emphasis on speed at the same time he has been gradually increasing Rupp's training load. This is the proper way of doing things, particularly for younger runners.

But older farts around her with OCD issues don't want to get this.

That quote is complete Bullshit. Salazar is a douche. He says its going to take at least a couple of years to go from 110 to 120 or 130. That it has to be done gradually...Yet, he also had him go from 80 miles a week last year up to 110 this year?? Completely contradictory.

40% increase this year, but 10% next year is just too much...

He's either stupid, or lying about one of the totals.

Idiot Alert wrote:

That quote is complete Bullshit. Salazar is a douche. He says its going to take at least a couple of years to go from 110 to 120 or 130. That it has to be done gradually...Yet, he also had him go from 80 miles a week last year up to 110 this year?? Completely contradictory.

40% increase this year, but 10% next year is just too much...

He's either stupid, or lying about one of the totals.

I agree that this comment seemed internally inconsistent.

Idiot Alert wrote:

That quote is complete Bullshit. Salazar is a douche. He says its going to take at least a couple of years to go from 110 to 120 or 130. That it has to be done gradually...Yet, he also had him go from 80 miles a week last year up to 110 this year?? Completely contradictory.

40% increase this year, but 10% next year is just too much...

He's either stupid, or lying about one of the totals.

You sir are either an idiot or a troll.

If I run 20mpw one year and 60mpw the next does that mean I can do 180mpw the following year?

Jog on son. 130mpw is no joke.

Salazar seems to have a quantity/quality philosophy biased toward quality with his runners. If he's planning this as a volume oriented year prior to a quality focus prior to the Olympics then the percentages probably make sense. The real point of the interview is that he's planning a more focused peak than Galen's had the last couple years which typically means more time in a base period which would naturally up the average annual mileage.

Interesting that LR continues to hype megamileage when truth be told, Rupp has not been doing that at all.

Let's review:

Solinsky actually runs less volume than any 10k AR holder since Prefontaine. Lagat runs less volume than Ritz and Teg for the 5000 record. Meanwhile Wheating and Manzano seem to do just fine on 50-60 mile weeks in the 1500m. Moderation and good quality running is winning the day.

It makes about zero sense to think Rupp will run any much better at 110 or 130. Salazar is just off mark sometimes. My own guess is that Rupp will get slower as the volume goes up. Hopefully we wont see him hurt like Ritz or Teg. Like Bowerman said, if it works don't fix it. Dellinger was right too when he insisted the future belonged not to those who run the most miles, but those who jog the fastest. Better off trying to keep these kids in one piece, Alberto.

more importantly why isn't he at or near what salazar wants him to be running mileage wise? He is 24, he should be at his peak or very close to it so shouldn't he be maxing out his training around this time?

I was under the impression Galen's progression looked something like this.

9th grade: 30 mpw

10th grade: 40 mpw

11th grade: 50 mpw

12th grade: 55 mpw

Off: 60 mpw

Freshman college: 70 mpw

Sophomore college: 75 mpw

Junior college: 80 mpw

Senior college: 85 mpw

5th year: 90 mpw

Last year: 80 mpw

2011 (projected): 100+

Galen is a 10k runner, so peak age for him would be around 30.

Remember, he has the resources of Nike, so he won't have to worrying about rushing training volume before he has to get a desk job.

Also consider, that if he averaged 80 miles a week per year, and lets says, took 6 weeks off the past year that means he REALLY AVERAGED 90 miles per week.

That is excellent when you take into account low volume weeks that go along with tapering, or building mileage, etc.