I have had this goal for a while and that is to run 20 miles. I do the long run consisting of 10 miles every Saturday at 7:20 pace. My weekly mileage is between 42 to 45. I am a high school sophomore.
My question(s) is should I do it?
Will I get injured?
What pace should I go at to ensure that I finish?
I expected this to be a cannabis-related running challenge, which is disappointing.
There's no point in doing it if it's just a one-time thing. If you really really want to do it for sh*ts and giggles, just bang it out one weekend, sure. You might get injured. If you have to ask someone else what pace you should go, you probably shouldn't do it.
With that said, just start at the bare minimum of pace that doesn't feel like a complete jog, and hold it for as long as possible unless you feel like speeding up. Maybe start at 7:40's.
My advice: start running 12 miles instead of 10. Bump it up higher a few times in the summer. Four years from now you might well make the range of 16-20 a regular long run, who knows.
edit: maybe start at 8:00
It's an arbitrary and imo pointless goal right now. If you keep running long enough you'll surely get to the point where it isn't such a tall order. If you're dead set on doing it, just wait until track is over. One long run probably won't get you injured, but it could leave you pretty beat for awhile.
Yeah that's the point! I am not going to be able to run for three days after Friday, so I decided that it's time for the 20 miles. I will be busy Saturday through Monday, so why not do it Friday night? I am a loaner anyways.
what is the significance of running 20 of a man-made, arbitrary, meaningless, unit? try running until your body (a creation of nature/your parents loins) forces you to stop from cramping, dehydration, etc.
The dank 20 wrote:
I am a loaner anyways.
When you're done being borrowed, I have some "chores" that need done if you're interested...
Tips wrote:
I expected this to be a cannabis-related running challenge, which is disappointing.
The dank 20 wrote:
I have had this goal for a while and that is to run 20 miles. I do the long run consisting of 10 miles every Saturday at 7:20 pace. My weekly mileage is between 42 to 45. I am a high school sophomore.
My question(s) is should I do it?
Will I get injured?
What pace should I go at to ensure that I finish?
Why don't you see if you can enter a 20 mile race in your area. I know they aren't that common. Not as common as marathons for sure.
Lol ok
So you want to double the distance of your long run, which would also be nearly 50% of your current weekly mileage. Pretty sure that violates two cardinal principles of training. A 20 mile long run is not necessary for a high school runner unless you are running 90+ mile weeks. Try working up to 12-13 instead.
It's a one time thing
Bring bus/cab fare with you so you don't get stranded.
Or you could run loops. Say, 5 4-mile loops, that way you're not too far from home if you need to stop.
Tell us how it goes.
It doesn't seem wise to go that much further than you ever have one time, with no build up, just to do it.
I think the former posters have said it best. That being said, there are hobbyjoggers much slower than those you'd find on these boards that do marathons with their highest mileage week being like 50. Wait until you're not at a crucial time in the training season, and please consider building up to it via gradual increase in mileage if 20miles is truly your goal. As far as pace, if it's just distance you're worried about, just start at a shuffle (seriously, don't even care about the pace) for however long you feel should pick up the pace alittle. I've completed 14 mile runs this way, start at 10:30 mile pace, finish the first mile in 8:30ish, and finish the last three miles in 7:30pace.
You can do whatever you put your mind to, thus use your mind and realize that you'd be better off gradually build up to it if you wish to not get injured. Training Adaption = Stress (Proper Workouts for your current skill level) + Recovery (Good sleep, going easy on the junk food, stretching, foam rolling, etc.).
Make sure you have access to 1) water 2) nutrition and 3) toilets on your route. These are all things that become much more important on a long long run. Know where the working water fountains are, and where you can find open public restrooms or portable toilets, and bring some sugary candy in a pocket. I've gotten good results from fruit snacks and Jolly Ranchers. Start slow, stop every 5 miles for water, a quick bathroom break, and to pop a Jolly Rancher, and you'll probably get through 20 OK. It might take a couple tries to get everything right, though. If you feel awful at 8 or 12 or 16, bail out and try again 2 (or more) weeks later. Don't plan anything else for that day or the next.
Just wanted to do a little update... I decided against doing a really long run, instead I replaced it with a mile time trial in which I ran 5:09.
Lame. Man up and running. 20M. Start at whatever pace, get faster, then finish it.
AKMarmoset wrote:
Lame. Man up and running. 20M. Start at whatever pace, get faster, then finish it.
+1 I was waiting for someone in the thread to say just do it
seriously though, if you are a good runner you will not get broken from it
be smart do a progression of long runs over a month and build to 20