Elite Marathoners never run 20 miles plus

* the last that should be a than

How do they finish the race then?

It's cool that you take the time to run and spend time with special needs people, but I wouldn't take running advice from them.

pewow wrote:

Today I mentioned to a friend on a run that I want to run a 100 mi week at some point in my life.

My friend said that even elite marathoners never run further that 20 miles a day.

One or both of you are having some difficulty with math here.

20 mi/day - 140 mi/wk.

100 mi/wk = ~14.3 mi/day.

No conflict at all.

It would not be seriously detrimental to your health. Many elite runners do not run long runs longer than 2 hours. Typically, they are running slower than 6 min miles, and therefore, less than 20 miles. However, they run at least 50 minutes every run, everyday, and develop stamina , strength, speed and confidence.

However, many of these same elites do a "race tempo" by some coaches directions. This is a 22-24 mile tempo run, just to keep the runner prepared for the fatigue at that distance and effort. And, it gives the coach a chance to see how well prepared the runner really is.

Ask your friend why many of the 3+ hr marathoners that run a 20 miler every two or three weeks, are not dying or have health problems?

Finished a few 100+mi weeks and 20+mi runs in my life...

Legs still there? Check. Heart still works? Check. Still can get up? Check.

'It would not be seriously detrimental to your health. Many elite runners do not run long runs longer than 2 hours'

Elite marathon runners read the question

PC Alum wrote:

Many elite runners do not run long runs longer than 2 hours. Typically, they are running slower than 6 min miles, and therefore, less than 20 miles.

No, typically they run faster than 6 minute miles... at least the sub-2:14 elites.

pewow wrote:

even elite marathoners never run further that 20 miles a day.

Tegenkamp (long runs up to 24 miles) :

(22 mile tempo)

Vail (27 mile long run):