Is this normal? I have been training for 15 MPW for about a year, and haven't seen any major improvement. I can't run at a higher mileage because I end up getting stress fractures, problems with my achilles tendon, and other injuries in higher mileage. I run my easy pace at around 11 minutes per mile, and my easy pace hasn't felt easier at all over the course of the year. I am male, 18, and at a health weight.
Running 6 minute miles is very hard; and hard on the body. Just run for fitness. I run about 6 miles 3 to 5 days a week and am in exceptional aerobic condition. I only occasionally need to take a week off for a sore calf or something minor.
My doctor says I've done really well for myself by regular running. There is a positive correlation between fitness and all other aspects of one's life.
ihaveaquestion wrote:
Is this normal? I have been training for 15 MPW for about a year, and haven't seen any major improvement. I can't run at a higher mileage because I end up getting stress fractures, problems with my achilles tendon, and other injuries in higher mileage. I run my easy pace at around 11 minutes per mile, and my easy pace hasn't felt easier at all over the course of the year. I am male, 18, and at a health weight.
Not everyone has the inherent ability to run a mile under 6 minutes. Is it normal that you can't? Yes. Most people, even in their top physical condition, can not run a mile under 6 minutes.
How do you define "normal"? The people on this forum are not exactly a representative sample of the population. On the other hand, I've been running for six years and have never run a 6:00 mile. Considering how much I struggle with running injuries, maybe I never will. 15 MPW is almost nothing though, especially if you aren't also doing a lot of other training (e.g. triathlon).
When I run 15 mpw my mile was 8
Increased it to 60 and got 5:45
The issue is that I constantly get injured when I tried to go above 15 MPW.
Then how do so many high school runners run a sub 5 minute mile?
Except I don't want to just run for fitness. I have a goal of someday running a sub 17 minute 5k, which I can't do because of the fact that I am not improving much and I am extremely prone to injury
Then how do so many high school runners manage to run a sub 6 minute mile?
ihaveaquestion wrote:
Then how do so many high school runners run a sub 5 minute mile?
Talent.
ihaveaquestion wrote:
Is this normal? I have been training for 15 MPW for about a year, and haven't seen any major improvement. I can't run at a higher mileage because I end up getting stress fractures, problems with my achilles tendon, and other injuries in higher mileage. I run my easy pace at around 11 minutes per mile, and my easy pace hasn't felt easier at all over the course of the year. I am male, 18, and at a health weight.
What was your mile time last spring? Last fall? Last month?
Where did you run your mile? On a road? A trail? A track?
What was the altitude of the place that you ran your mile? Below 1000'? Around 5000'? Above 7000'?
Was this a solo time trial? A workout with some friends? Or an actual race?
Were you fresh that day, or did you do a hard workout the day before? Did you taper?
What were you wearing? Tennis shoes? Racing flats? Spikes?
How was the weather? Rainy? Windy? Was there snow and/or ice on the ground? Was it very hot and humid that day?
There are just too many factors involved in determining whether it's normal to have difficulty running a sub 6 mile. You won't be getting any meaningful responses if you don't give us that information.
Is talent that rare? I never knew it was so hard to compete at just the high school level
Last summer, my mile time was around 8 minutes.
I ran the mile on a track.
It was near sea level.
It was solo.
I was fresh.
I was wearing racing flats.
The weather was calm and cool with moderate humidity.
ihaveaquestion wrote:
Is talent that rare? I never knew it was so hard to compete at just the high school level
It's not rare if you have it.
Well, I guess I lucked out in being extremely unlucky
You gotta figure out why you’re getting hurt. Is your 15 mpw mostly easy? Do your shoes fit well? Is your form good?
Do you do strength work? How about core?
ihaveaquestion wrote:
Last summer, my mile time was around 8 minutes.
I ran the mile on a track.
It was near sea level.
It was solo.
I was fresh.
I was wearing racing flats.
The weather was calm and cool with moderate humidity.
What is your exact mile PR? 6:01? 6:30? 6:59?
What were your splits?
What are your 800 and 2 mile PRs?
Did you do any tempo runs? Intervals? Hills? Strides? If so, how often?
How long is your long run? How many days a week do you train?
Maybe you're just pacing it wrong and/or haven't done the required speedwork to maximize your mile potential.
The 15 MPW is all easy, my shoes fit well, I have good form, and I do work with my core.
Mile PR: 8:05
I never raced those distances
I used to do tempo runs, hills, and strides, but I stopped doing them after I got a stress fracture during them twice a week
My long run is currently around 3 miles, and I train 5 days per week
height and weight please