How Many Miles per Week Would You Run Just to Stay Fit?

I think once my competeteteteteteteptepeitepetive days are over I can see myself running 25-30 miles a week. Thats kind of my "I'm not training, but I don't wanna lose fitness" number.

5

Plus ride, hike, swim, lift, climb.

I currently run 45 mpw. I am not seriously training for anything, but I like to shoot for some intermediate running goals (sub 1:25 in the half). I also bike 3 hours a week and occasionally do other social activities like hiking, climbing, yoga etc.

If I had no running goals, I would probably run at most 15 miles per week, and they would all be social miles with friends, coworkers, spouse and family. I will probably do this for a year when I get a dog and do a lot of hiking. But once the dog is ready to run, I am going to dive into training again and run canicross with my dog.

28. 4 miles a day

If I were still young when I did that, I'd say run an hour each day and do 90 min run mid-week and 2 hours on Saturday or Sunday (I enjoy long runs).

If I were older (40+) when I did that, I'd just do 5 miles a day and maybe 8-10 on the weekend.

At the moment I run about 100. I don't think I'd ever go below 80. Running is my routine, my solo release, my social life, and I don't think that'll ever change until I'm 75+

I run by time. I'd say i would run at a bare minimum 40 minutes 5 times a week and maybe 90 minutes for a weekend long run

I can't eat dessert unless I'm around 50 or higher. And I like dessert. So there's the answer.

Have you tried power running? It's like power walking but it's, you know, running...powerfully.

This is what I do currently. I run 15-25 mpw probably 75% of weeks, with 20% of weeks below that (vacation, busy at work, sick, etc), and 5% of weeks above that (hop in a half marathon with my wife, get on a beautiful stretch of early fall weather and run every day for 10+ days, etc).

About 2+ years ago when I was running the mileage was the same, but I ran below that range probably 40-50% of the time with a lot of those “below” weeks being zeroes (I was a lot busier at work then). Since I’ve been pretty consistent with this routine for the last couple years, I’ve lost 20 pounds and found I can hop in an easy weekend long run with friends or pace my wife in a half marathon whenever I want (whereas before I couldn’t). So it seems like it’s my sweet spot.

I'm down to 50 mpw with some strides and a hard 10k once a week. When things pick up I can adjust.

If I was still in college or hs I would use the opportunity to train 100mpw.

The only time I ever accomplished the "run for fitness" goal was in the year or so after college. I maxed out at over 100 mpw in college, which was probably too much for me at the time. I actually had more success my senior year running 85-90, but I didn't do anything special even with that. When I got out of school I basically ran zero for about 3 months and then started running a little. Within 3 months I was running 70 mpw, which was more or less true for a little over a year. But no workouts. Just ran 10 miles per day, every day between 70 and 75 minutes. Same route, never got bored. That doesn't mean I had a streak of over a year straight. I took a day off when I wanted it, but I had a couple of streaks of over 2 months without a day off in that time period. I don't remember what lit the fire, but eventually I decided to race. To do that, I had to start doing different workouts and mixing things up. I ran well, but when I got to my target, I was tired and took a break. What was supposed to be a week off, became like 3 months off. Started again. Since then it's been a much faster yoyo. Start to run for fitness, doesn't take long before I want to race. Race something (good or bad), take a bunch of time off. The one time when I truly ran just to run, it was pretty nice, but for the most part, it doesn't really work for me.

I usually run somewhere around 80-90 but right now am staying closer to 60 since there are no races on the horizon.

I had about 1.5yrs where I didn't have the ability to focus on training for races at all. Pretty much ran an hour most days, sometimes hard sometimes super easy, mixed in a lot of trails, and did one 75-90min run on the weekend. Usually I'd take Monday off running and just lift weights for 45-60min, run an hour at 5am on T/W/TH/F and lift for 30-45min in the evening on W/F, long run Saturday, easy hour on Sunday. Pretty much 40-50mpw on average, I'd usually miss one of the hour runs or not have the ability to extend the weekend run.

Didn't lose much, if anything at all, raced again on this program and was pretty much where I was before (low 1:20s for HM). Kinda made me wonder if it was worth stressing through hard sessions anyways. I did a lot of natural Malmo-style tempos where I'd get down to 6:15-6:30 for 4-6mi, and all my routes are super hilly.

To stay fit I run 20 mpw in 3 sessions, plus 3 days of moderate strength training (right now just boring bodyweight training at home). That definitely keeps you fit and good looking, but I have to say strength training does not give me the kind of instant gratification I get after finishing a run, in particular after finishing a workout. You look better though with a mix of training. There's something about running, the purity of putting one foot in front of the other, that's special.

Im coming back from injury and have been doing 3-4 hours lifting 4-5 hours running 4-5 hours biking per week. If just wanted to say nice and fit and not race it would be similar imo ... except probably do more like 6-8 hours on bike and 3-4 running.

i can stay in ok to mediocre shape (aka like 18-18:30ish) off of 20-35 miles most weeks with a 10 miler every 10-14 days.

I can't seem to shake old injuries that come back if I go over 40, although I'd love to work up to a solid 60ish with a day off every week. That would get me into sub-16 shape if i did it for 6 months

Fit for what?

You could definitely stay fit for another sport by running 10-15 miles per week (dedicated running alone) if you are practicing/playing the other sport and the other associated non-running training.

I quit competitive running a few years ago. I'm 39 now.

Now, I run 15-20 mpw. one 5-7 miler, one tempo or hills, and one real hard track session (i still love the track).

I lift 2-3 days a week and climb 3-5 days a week.

I feel the best I ever have. Can still run 4.40 and 16.30. If i ever get motivated to race again i can still up the mileage without having to start from scratch.

The best part is I look forward to each and every run. When i was running big miles 95% of my runs were pure grinds and i didnt enjoy it.