Why do I run better at 160 lbs than 150 lbs?

Is it possible that you have simply burned out? If you were pounding all summer, maybe you came into the season at your peak and have merely worn yourself out as the season progressed. The weight loss could also be a sign of sickness, so maybe you should go get a physical and see what is up.

How much do you eat?

You, like everyone else, has an optimal racing weight. What reason do you have to believe that yours is something less than 160?

Obvious Question wrote:

You, like everyone else, has an optimal racing weight. What reason do you have to believe that yours is something less than 160?

have*

Obvious Question wrote:

You, like everyone else, has an optimal racing weight. What reason do you have to believe that yours is something less than 160?

This.

Man, the men on this site have a seriously f-ed up notion of where a healthy weight is. 140--hell, even 150--at 6' is not only not a good look, but is also probably unhealthy for the vast majority of people (i.e. not everybody, but most).

little violin wrote:

Obvious Question wrote:

You, like everyone else, has an optimal racing weight. What reason do you have to believe that yours is something less than 160?

have*

Thanks

Galen Rupp weighs 138 pounds. Thus, everyone that is 5'11 should weigh 138 pounds. No more, no less.

Today has been a pretty typical day.

7:30am Breakfast: 1 bowl Oatmeal, 1 Banana, 100 calorie yogurt

10am snack: apple

12 lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich, 1 bowl potato and kale soup, some carrots peppers and cauliflower w/ hummus dip

3:30 workout - 8 mile (1 hour) run w/ some general strength work after

5:30 dinner - 2 chicken breasts, brown rice, salad w/ spinach, tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, onions, light french dressing, pudding or cookie for dessert

What are you drinking?

I am 5 11 1/2 and PRed at 157 lbs. Supposedly my ideal race weight is about 140 but whenever I drop under 150 people seem concerned that I an not eating enough. Currently at 149 and not anywhere near my PR although more of an issue of low mileage.

I'm 5'4" an 197 lbs and I still run a 16 min 5k. Everyone has their weight, back in '94 I was down to 174 and could only run a 19 min 5k. Eat cake makes you run faster!

My 2 cents. The weight was calcium. The body is quite complicated interaction between different minerals. Take too much iron you get increased needs for other minerals. I been running over ten years and yes I too run faster heavier. That is normal. If it aint broke dont fix it. If when you where low weight, if your teeth had a lot of cavities there is your problem. Inbalance of minerals. You thyroid fires up hormones that steal calcium from teeth and bone. You heart needs calcium to beat. Your muscle need calcium to run. Eat well or you going get a stress fracture. Lastly have easy days. Ease off the pedal when you getting overtraining. I will stop, before this turns into a chapter.

You already did your workout and ate dinner today?

fyi you don't eat very much. A sedentary person could eat like that every day and not gain weight.

You have to eat more. Just train hard and eat real food most of the time and you're body will be at an optimal weight for running.

i ran my best in college at 160-162 lbs (i'm 6'1") and ran crappy when i was 150 lbs. seems simple, but my mileage was higher when i weighed 150 lbs and i've always done better when i do less mileage. so i take that to mean i'm not a high mileage guy and whenever i kept my mileage closer to 60 miles a week, i would run a lot better in any event from 10k to 800m. same applies now for roads races as far as 1/2 marathons and marathonscool thread, hope you figure it out. for me, if i am losing weight despite eating a ton everyday, i back off my mileage instantly. i've been successful with intensity/fast pace versus more miles but we all know everyone is different

confused and concerned wrote:

Today has been a pretty typical day.

7:30am Breakfast: 1 bowl Oatmeal, 1 Banana, 100 calorie yogurt

10am snack: apple

12 lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich, 1 bowl potato and kale soup, some carrots peppers and cauliflower w/ hummus dip

3:30 workout - 8 mile (1 hour) run w/ some general strength work after

5:30 dinner - 2 chicken breasts, brown rice, salad w/ spinach, tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, onions, light french dressing, pudding or cookie for dessert

Certainly not enough. It appears to be similar to my diet but I either add eggs to my breakfast or have a clif bar as an early snack instead of a measley apple. Maybe add a snack later in the evening after dinner. Try a bag of Doritos or Ice cream or even 6 more cookies, it won't hurt, I promise.

max219 wrote:

You have to eat more. Just train hard and eat real food most of the time and you're body will be at an optimal weight for running.

"your"

well.......... wrote:

This.

Man, the men on this site have a seriously f-ed up notion of where a healthy weight is. 140--hell, even 150--at 6' is not only not a good look, but is also probably unhealthy for the vast majority of people (i.e. not everybody, but most).

No, not that.

Most people (you included) have a seriously f-ed up notion of what a healthy weight is. Having a bmi in the very low 20s (or even 19s) IS HEALTHY. It's PERFECTLY healthy.

It's only now that everyone is so fat everywhere you look that being thin has turned into being 'unhealthy'. It's so friggin' stupid.

Way to perpetuate the stupidity, yo.