Is it possible to run 100 mpw and get a PhD?

Are you allergic to peanuts? Will you get a PhD?

These are all questions based on you and you're lifestyle. How could anyone answer this for you.

Anything is possible, but if you can do it then you'll probably end up injured after several weeks of this.

abba zabba! wrote:

I'm going to be a full-time student and a teaching assistant. Screw talk about undergrads having time for school/track/partying, will I be able to manage 100 mpw in grad school?

Yes. Easely. Thats only 14.3 miles a day, divide them in two and once or twice make it one long run.

Its all about disipline. Wake up one hour earlier than the average joe.

Several olympic finalists in the 70s had full time jobs.

What do you plan on studying? I'd say the answer to your question is 'yes', but in some disciplines finding the time (and energy) will be harder than in others. I earned mine in mathematics. It was not too difficult for me to run high mileage. Math involves - mostly - thinking. I taught a couple classes, and took three. So, altogether, I had to be in class maybe 15-20 hours per week. Grading was another 5-10 hours/week. The other 10-40 hours I worked each week were devoted to thinking about how to solve problems and how to teach my courses. I could do some of that on the run.

On the other hand, I had friends in micro biology whose advisors wanted them in the lab 60-80 hours/week. There's a lot of programs which require a tremendous amount of reading. The bottom line, though, is that you can do it if you really want to.

Sure. ~14 miles a day, maybe 1.5 -> 2 hours running depending on how you structure it. Most people spend more time than that watching TV.

Part of the trick when you're busy is to do easy/recovery miles on journeys that you'd do anyway. e.g. run home from school/work - you'd be using that time to travel anyway. But this does mean you should thing carefully about where you live in relation to where you work/study.

I am doing it-its all about time management. If you are disciplined it should be no problem. If the 100mpw is a priority you'll just have to put it in front of other social events once in a while.

Yes, it's easy. I've done it twice as I have two PhDs.

Lol. Oh, a PhD will consume your whole life, alright. Much more than so, than say, a real job.

you just need good time management skills. Take Ron Hill for example back in the mid 60s. Used to run to and from work, did his PhD, held down a job, had a couple of kids, raced incessantly, ran 80-100 miles per week and still managed to regularly go down the pub. After his doctorate he held down a full-time job and also set up his own mail order company. All you need is energy!

Yes, phd schedules are pretty flexible compared to real jobs. (except if youre doing bench work in the lab or somethng similar.) But there will be busy times when you'll have to cut back a day or two. I don't run 100, but I help,coach a team and that takes more time than the 100mpw would. Good luck!

Physically-- no problem. You may have to shift your afternoon run more into the evening, but it is completely doable.

Mentally-- it will be hard. You will have to get used to running without a competitive team. Most people can't do it.

Easy. 100mpw is physically taxing, of course, but the time is not that much. 12-14 hours depending on your speed. Assuming doubles, add in 10 minutes for a shower. (I assume you shower once a day and eat etc already.)

Grad school is by far the most flexible lifestyle I have ever enjoyed. Training seriously in med school - different story.

depends on field. Physics and math are way harder than med school which again is way harder than gender studies.

Yes. I have not done it myself because sadly I am too injury prone. But I have done 80 while coaching, on top of my PhD in aerospace engineering. It can be done, just don't expect to do anything besides school and running. Also, you'll need to find an adviser who trusts you to produce good work and values your results more than the amount of time that you spend sitting in his lab. Mine allows me freedom to choose my own schedule as long as I do good work.

It worked out fine for Jack Bacheler and Ron Hill.

Depends. I'm getting my PhD in chemistry. First year was just classes, and it was no prob (Well I was running ~90-95 a week and not having issues). After I started research it went to hell. Some weeks I have no problem, but others I'm spending all day in the lab (some days I don't even go home). Those weeks I'm lucky to get in 50. On others, 100 is no prob. It just depends on the week.

abba zabba! wrote:

I'm going to be a full-time student and a teaching assistant. Screw talk about undergrads having time for school/track/partying, will I be able to manage 100 mpw in grad school?

If you can do it during undergrad, then doing it in grad school should be easy. You will have about twice as much free time and twice as much flexibility in your schedule. Most of the phd's that I know don't even get up until 11. And they do a ton of partying and socializing.

I'm a microbiology PhD student. I don't run right now, but that's mostly because of nagging old injuries and lack of motivation. If I wanted to, I know I would definitely have the time for that kind of milage (I've done it before, so I know the time it takes - not much, really). I'm going to be rooming with a friend this year who's planning 100+ mpw, so I'm guessing I'll be running again soon because he's not going to tolerate my lazy ass. But again, I don't think that time will be an issue for me, more just getting myself out the door.

Although, it REALLY depends on your department/ PI / how much time you want to put into your research. I know some people in my department that might not have enough time to train seriously if they wanted/ were able.

Forgot to add that there's a guy in my lab that trained as a somewhat serious cyclist when he was in grad school, which probably takes even more time than running 100mpw. If you're really serious, you can find the time.

P.S.S. - I hope you like coffee