how much mileage is enough per week?

[Ronald]

hey guys ... I'm a predominatly 800m runner, and am kind of new to the sport. I'm a university runner, but am not sure at what kind of mileage I should be running. I've been running around 35-40 miles per week, but I don't know if that's enough. I don't have the speed that some of the guys have, so I'm thinking I need to step up the mileage. I would love to know what kind of mileage other 800/1500 m are doing. Thanks a lot. Any comments would be beneficial.

[ireid]

For any advice to be worth anything, a lot more information is required. Any coach worth his/her salt would need to know how long you've been running ("new to the sport" isn't all that specific). What training you've done so far (mileage, workouts, etc) and how long you've been doing it? What your past race performances have been (so they can be evaluated against specific training you've done versus initial improvements in a new activity). What is your coming competitive season schedule like? What race(s) are you building towards peaking for? What has your record been with injuries? (What injuries have you had, what training were you doing when they occured, how long you were affected, etc.)

Then there are lifestyle factors, what is your schedule like for training? (Plenty of time for team scheduled runs/workouts or squeezed in whereever they can be fit in?) How much rest/recovery have you been getting or could you schedule in? What type of ancillary training/exercises are you doing? (Weights, stretching, drills, cross-training/other sports?)

No answer anyone provides on here without knowing this and likely more information about you, should not really be given much credance as there is no absolute right or wrong answer for how much mileage you should be doing (you can readily find examples of equally fast 800m guys who run 30 - 35 miles/week or 70 - 80). If anything, shouldn't this be something you discuss with your coach?

[archer]

I agree with Ian on that one--also, are you in the middle of your season or working on your base? The range could be huge. Some 800m athletes who are peaking might only be doing 25 miles a week. However, if you are just getting fit, then 60-70 miles is fine.

Mileage is only one aspect of your program. Although the volume is very variable, I would advise against junk miles that fatigue you.
;D

[Scobie]

Milage is a funny thing, it seems that every coach and every athlete has a different idea about what is right. I think it is more of a trail and error kinda thing. Then slowly build on what is comfortable. One thing i would advice on is don't go behind your coach's back and bump up your off days runs. It doesn't help at all. I tried it and i am sure i am not the first, but i thought i would make all my off days 15-30 minutes longer and I would get better faster. All that did was make my workout worse and it made things so much worse. So always give 100% effort into your program and then if it still doesn't work and you have given it your best try then find a different coach. But trying to modify a program behind your coach's back doesn't work. Find what works best and go with it.

- Scobie