Minimum mileage needed to OTQ

You could always do more cross training like aqua jogging, swimming, and biking to supplement aerobic work.

Randy Wholeway wrote:

Zero. So long as you run 2:19 they let you in. They don't ask how many miles per week you run.

Really the best answer.

Insert John Parker quote about trials and miles wrote:

Like most good post collegiate runners my goal is to try to qualify for the Olympic Trials marathon. I tend to get hurt when I do more than 70 miles a week, and I'm worried about running a good marathon off of 60-70 miles per week.

Like most things in life, running injuries would go away if you ignore them long enough.

Anyone without disabilities can run at least 100mpw. It's all about motivation and commitment.

The Way We Were wrote:

Like most things in life, running injuries would go away if you ignore them long enough.

Anyone without disabilities can run at least 100mpw. It's all about motivation and commitment.

+1

To close the loop here, I'll plan to post an update if I am able to stay healthy and get an idea of how this mileage works for me in a marathon. If I get hurt then no point in following up since I obviously won't get close.

Current plan is to debut next spring and go for the OTQ in fall 2019 if all goes well.

fartleks and bagels wrote:

The Way We Were wrote:

Like most things in life, running injuries would go away if you ignore them long enough.

Anyone without disabilities can run at least 100mpw. It's all about motivation and commitment.

+1

Idiot posts of the week.

It will be cool to see how it goes for you. Best of luck.

well,, wrote:

fartleks and bagels wrote:

+1

Idiot posts of the week.

NO U

deeed wrote:

I got just under 2:19 on 75-85 miles a week. No workouts. Hard long run of 20-24 at close to marathon pace. Tempo at 10-15 seconds below marathon pace. Everything else easy.

This is a really interesting post.

How long were the tempo runs?

Didn't Renato Canova claim last year that Geoffrey Kirui only ran 80 miles a week leading up his Boston marathon win?

If you can stay injury free the 70 miles a week will be fine. Consistently is more important than peaks and valleys. Naturally the 70 miles have to be distributed correctly- 10 miles a day for the week won’t get you there. Don’t burn yourself out by running the long or recovery runs too fast. A pioneer of training by the name of Ken Young did some research that resulted in what he called the collapse point. It was three (3) times your daily average @ 70 miles that would be a collapse point of 30. I also remember hearing that Tim Noakes once said that 100km (62.2 miles) is enough for a successful marathon. That would give you a collapse point of 26.6- not a lot of room there, but that’s from two (2) of the pioneers of our sport. I will repeat what I said earlier consistently is more important than big weeks followed by injury’s forcing down or off weeks. Best of luck in your quest

I'm not sure if anyone cares but said I would follow up, so here I am.

I debuted in the last couple weeks and ran 2:29 - was on pace for 2:23 through 20 then had a rough last 6 miles (I know, classic first marathon story). Ran a high of 75 miles in a single week, averaged 69 for a couple months.

Planning to bump it up to at least the 80's for some weeks in the spring to take a couple more shots next year. Decided it's too tough to do on 70 mpw and that it's necessary to bump it up.

Yuki Kawauchi usually does 80-100 miles per week(in singles) with highs of 120 miles(in singles).

Jake Robertson says in interviews he only does 80-110 miles per week.

I've read Mary Ketinay and Wilson Kipsang don't do much more than 100 MPW.

Insert John Parker quote about trials and miles wrote:

I'm not sure if anyone cares but said I would follow up, so here I am.

I debuted in the last couple weeks and ran 2:29 - was on pace for 2:23 through 20 then had a rough last 6 miles (I know, classic first marathon story). Ran a high of 75 miles in a single week, averaged 69 for a couple months.

Planning to bump it up to at least the 80's for some weeks in the spring to take a couple more shots next year. Decided it's too tough to do on 70 mpw and that it's necessary to bump it up.

Awesome stuff. Thanks for the update. Out of curiosity, how old are you? Do you have a shot of going for it for the 2020 trial and the 2024 trials?

26.2

SalmonRice wrote:

People on LTR are obsessed with mileage. Slapping your feet on the road for 10 more miles every week isn't going to magically turn you or anyone into a sub-elite marathoner.

This.

You'd better worry about minimal talent needed, grit and will to train hard to succeed.

Guessing you need to back off faster workouts and get the miles up. Slow down enough to go the distance.

After running the base miles for at least 3 months, and I think that number should be closer to 90 - 100, then take stock of your fitness and adjust according. Beware of feeling so good you may want to increase mileage even more. All this needs to be done over time, not over one training cycle.

keepgoing wrote:

Insert John Parker quote about trials and miles wrote:

I'm not sure if anyone cares but said I would follow up, so here I am.

I debuted in the last couple weeks and ran 2:29 - was on pace for 2:23 through 20 then had a rough last 6 miles (I know, classic first marathon story). Ran a high of 75 miles in a single week, averaged 69 for a couple months.

Planning to bump it up to at least the 80's for some weeks in the spring to take a couple more shots next year. Decided it's too tough to do on 70 mpw and that it's necessary to bump it up.

Awesome stuff. Thanks for the update. Out of curiosity, how old are you? Do you have a shot of going for it for the 2020 trial and the 2024 trials?

Yeah 2024 is in play as well - I'm 26 so will be 29 when the next qualifying window opens.

Randy Wholeway wrote:

Zero. So long as you run 2:19 they let you in. They don't ask how many miles per week you run.

Zero is impossible. Obviously, the answer is 26.2.