by Following Logan Smith’s 2:15 super marathon in Frankfurt, I heard numerous times that he was running 140 miles a week in training.
At the same time, several people have also told me that they have heard that I too run the same high mileage every week.
Well, first of all, yes, I am a firm believer in high mileage for those who are serious about running a fast marathon.
However, that doesn’t mean I think every determined runner should now start running 20 miles a day.
First, it takes several years of training to get to this level. It also takes a certain body type and lifestyle that allows you to find several hours each day to travel such long distances.
Additionally, and more to the point, running 20 miles a day was not something I did seven days a week for 52 weeks a year. I highly doubt Logan will either.
Granted, for me that meant maybe three or four weeks over the course of a 16-20 week marathon plan built around lower mileage weeks.
In fact, when I ran my highest mileage while preparing for a marathon, I didn’t actually run a personal best. My best running times usually came from training weeks of around 110-120 miles per week. Actually, my 2:17 came from the fact that I wasn’t really preparing for a marathon and it was after a summer of doing lots of races from 10K to half marathon, although I had covered very high mileage earlier in the year.
I know that Logan, in addition to being very talented and determined, is also very intelligent when it comes to his training and racing. He also has an excellent coach in James Senior.
Pushing our body to its limits is one thing, but it also means finding the right balance.
However, when you see others racking up the miles and big sessions, it’s about knowing where you are currently with your training and fitness while having the confidence to sometimes hold back.
Without a doubt, you’ll need willpower and determination to succeed, that is, to get the job done even on days when your mind might be telling you to stay indoors, especially if it’s cold and humid out, but without adequate recovery, you will never get the true benefits. of your training.
Every time we run (I apologize to those who already know this), we degrade our body, especially as we increase the intensity and duration. It is during adequate recovery that reconstruction and regeneration take place for better adaptation and small increments of progression. However, and without the required recovery, progression will be much slower and will of course create more risk of rupture following injury or illness.
In truth, it can be quite an art when it comes to getting it right and even luck at times, but as we said earlier, it’s really about balance and smart planning .
So whether you aspire to be as good as Logan or are simply determined to perform at your best, then yes, always look to learn from others, but always stay focused on your own racing and training. Oh, and of course, keep in mind the word we use regularly but don’t always adhere to… patience!
Have a good weekend of running everyone…
