60 miles per week seems like a threshold for a serious runner. Of course, it depends on what event(s) you're training for.
60 miles per week seems like a threshold for a serious runner. Of course, it depends on what event(s) you're training for.
A serious runner is one who is constantly looking for ways to improve themselves, by either lowering theirs PRs, getting better at a particular distance or obstacle, or to improve their level of fitness through running. They are not happy with just getting a medal and showing up to a race for a t-shirt/medal. They want to do well and if they don't, go back to square 1 and look for answers.
The answer is: Who cares. People who consider themselves serious are serious. If they do what they can to improve, they are serious.I ran D1, but was not on scholarship and only made the top 7 a few times when a few normal top 7 guys were resting or injured and never went to Conference or Regionals. So I probably don't qualify even though I ran 85mi/wk, structured and was faster than 98% of all humans who have ever attempted to race distance. Now I'm in my 40s and run faster than 95% but only run about 35mi/wk. Guess I'm not serious, never was.Some can't handle a lot of miles - I know a mid 50s guy who puts in 25mi/wk and runs 16:xx 5ks (I guess he's not serious). Some don't have time due to jobs, family, etc but fit in in whenever they can, but running 8mi at 9pm after your kids are in bed is not serious on LR. Get off your high horse. When people ask you your PRs, they will be duly impressed. They will ask you how. Then you can tell them about your mileage and workouts. They will be more impressed. They still will likely not be able to do it due to lack of time and talent. They are still serious. I was probably faster than you and you think I'm not serious. Get over yourself.
Idontreallyknow wrote:
When they are a pro runner or D1 runner. Anyone else does it for hobby
The answer is (as everyone knows but don't dare to say): 100 mpw
The least amount of mileage you should be doing depends on the race distance. For the half marathon I'd say the least you should be doing is 40 mpw. However there are many things you can do to stretch these mile a lot farther. 25 miles is very low and his race outcome will probably be fairly poor.
Tomato Tomato wrote:
biogen wrote:mpw is cheap recent PRs are all that matter.
This is the correct answer. If you are good, mileage doesn't matter, the times do. I'm guessing if you are concerned about mpw being an indication of how serious a runner you are, then your recent pr's must not be that good
It's hard to beat this first quote. Anyone can make it a habit to run or run more than others. But defining "serious runner" recent and consistent PRs is what it's about. If some continues to improve and gets better over time they are a serious runner to me. BUT!!! There's a line in the sand as well, there will eventually come a point where someone doesn't improve anymore no matter what they do (especially as age catches back up) so with this in mind I believe it comes to attitude and staying consistent with the training they have. If they're dominating masters then more power to them, i can't take that away from them. So there is an arbitrary line at some point.
ToiletSnake wrote:
perf vs serious wrote:"Serious" is about attitude and has nothing to do with performance. You can have zero talent, or be really old, but still train hard and work towards whatever your personal goals happen to be. That's what makes you "serious." If you happen to be fast too, that's a great combination, but not a required attribute.
Well if you call setting records, representing your country in WCs etc "not" serious but the dude logging 65 mpw but unable to run a 40 min 10k serious, well we see the sport verrrry differently.
Are you implying that someone out there is setting records and/or going to championships, and yet does not work hard or have a serious attitude? Please name some names.
I haven't met too many world class athletes but the ones I've talked to -- in a few different sports -- worked their asses off to get there and were exceptionally focused. Tough to imagine a slacker at that level.
i totally agree with this.plus, if i'm a 67 minute half marathoner doing 70 mpw, working a full-time job with no sponsors, I don't consider myself a serious runner. I consider guys who can run 1:02 serious, or under 28:00 minutes in the 10k, or dudes who cross the halfway point in a marathon at 1:03, or people who sacrifice a million thing sin their lives for running even if they're "slow" etc etcmileage, pace, PB's don't define what serious is. If someone's best marathon is a 3:50 but they give up alcohol or have a crazy strict diet and workout routine and log 110 mpw, that sounds pretty serious to me
zephito wrote:
I would say anyone who runs workouts that are uncomfortable for the purpose of running faster in a race (or who race a lot for the purpose of getting faster), and who runs as hard as they can during the race to get as fast a time as possible is serious. I don't think mileage matters. 20 miles a week with intervals is more serious than jogging 40 miles a week.
You're not serious, unless you make money by running or break running records. You may be a snob, but you sound like an amateur.
Anyone who runs less than I do isn't serious. And those who run more than I do are clueless about training.
Dear Alan wrote:
Runningart2004 wrote:I guess Roger Bannister was not a serious runner....
Alan
You're not writing a letter to someone when you post on a message board. No need to put your name at the bottom. Have you ever noticed in all the years you've been posting here that you're the only one who hasn't figured this out?
Dude. It's like, his signature thing, man.
No, that's exactly what it is.
Yup.
Dear Alan wrote:
Runningart2004 wrote:I guess Roger Bannister was not a serious runner....
Alan
You're not writing a letter to someone when you post on a message board. No need to put your name at the bottom. Have you ever noticed in all the years you've been posting here that you're the only one who hasn't figured this out?
He's got the bottle to put his name and we haven't
This all sounds like a lot of numpties taking themselves, as well as their running, far too seriously.
Be passionate about your running, by all means, but don't s*** on others who don't share your slavish dedication to the craft. Also, when Jack or Jill Office Colleague start talking up their 59:00 10K and show off their finishers' medal, resist the temptation to snipe or ask if "every child got a prize"; be the better person. When it's all said and done, no one gives two tosses about our 5 x 1k with 2 min jog intervals, do they?
anything less is hobby jogging wrote:
The answer is (as everyone knows but don't dare to say): 100 mpw
Finally, someone said it.
/thread
The answer is xx.87 mpw, meaning that they must have a GPS to record those digits. GPS = serious runner.
I once ran three times a week 3 miles per workout and did 29:35 for 5 hilly miles without much effort.
I think every other day can still keep you in pretty good shape.
behonest wrote:
I once ran three times a week 3 miles per workout and did 29:35 for 5 hilly miles without much effort.
I think every other day can still keep you in pretty good shape.
Being honest, it doesn't sound like you were serious about running at all. Especially given your odd example of a hilly 5 mile - who trains for a 5 mile, and at a slow pace?
Are you really the OP proving his post right by posing as an ultra low mileage runner talking out of his a-ss?
its relative- to the common person anyone who runs more than a few days a week is a serious runner.
To a high school runner it would likely be someone who was successful in high school or who runs in college... etc etc etc
DPL wrote:
A serious runner is one who is constantly looking for ways to improve themselves, by either lowering theirs PRs, getting better at a particular distance or obstacle, or to improve their level of fitness through running. They are not happy with just getting a medal and showing up to a race for a t-shirt/medal. They want to do well and if they don't, go back to square 1 and look for answers.
I concur. These days, I'm not a serious runner b/c of life situations and lack of motivation. However, if I sign up for a race on a spur of the moment, I will give everything I have for that day. It's hard for me not to be competitive even if I didn't really train for the race.
Reminds me of the old George Sheehan line:
"The difference between a jogger and a runner is a signature on an entry form."
"Waddle on friends."
Tell 'em John.