The Running Thread - 2021

[DopeyBadger]

I have been curious about people’s experience with the Hanson plans. I have used several different plans over the last few years but most of them have 4 days a week of running. When I looked into the Hanson plans they are a significant uptick in running days and mileage compared to ones I have used. What was your experience changing to the Hanson plan? How many days a week and mileage were you averaging before making this switch? How are you liking it and will you continue to use them?

I cover my transition in the Fall of 2015 here in my much longer post of my history of running:

Now that Dopey #2 is behind me, it’s time to nail goal #2 – a sub 4-hour marathon

Suffice to say that the plan worked really well for me. I went from 4:50, 4:35, 4:20, 4:27, 4:58 marathon finishes to 3:38 in a span of 18 weeks. For a long time, my body tolerated the six days per week well and the pacing well. I think in the end it was a combination of things. I needed to stop doing a "PR the day" mindset and focus on appropriate training paces. And I needed to stop doing LRs that weren't supported by the rest of my training.

In the May 2015 race training plan that led to a 4:58 marathon finish, I did several 20 milers. I averaged 25.9 (4:04 hrs) miles per week in the 13 weeks prior to the race. My average training pace was 9:23 min/mile (during Winter/Spring).

In the Hansons plan that led to a 3:38, I topped out at 16 miles (which at the time was about 2.5 hrs for me). I averaged 49.5 miles (7:50 hrs) per week in the 13 weeks prior to the race. My average training pace was a 9:31 min/mile (during Summer/Fall).

I've since continued to use many of the Hansons philosophies in training (as well as a mix of others like Daniels, Fitzgerald, etc.) and continued to lower most all of my PRs far below where they were in 2015. HM PR has dropped from 1:49 to 1:28 for example.

The one thing that was most surprising during the transition from my previous plans was that despite more days per week and more mileage I actually felt better during the training. It didn't feel harder. And I think that was a function of buying into the mindset of train slow to race fast. Traditionally, my marathon tempo race pace ends up being 30-60 seconds faster than my average training pace. So I could run faster in training, but I don't.

ETA - More data

 

[GollyGadget]

I have been curious about people’s experience with the Hanson plans. I have used several different plans over the last few years but most of them have 4 days a week of running. When I looked into the Hanson plans they are a significant uptick in running days and mileage compared to ones I have used. What was your experience changing to the Hanson plan? How many days a week and mileage were you averaging before making this switch? How are you liking it and will you continue to use them?

I've used Hanson's in the past as well and likely will for my next marathon. I felt way more prepared using this plan and it was personally easier for me to find time to run 6 days/week vs running 20 miles at a time. There's three different options in the book: just finish, beginner, and advanced. The beginner is what I followed and starts with 20 miles weeks before working it's way up.

 

[CBMom01]

Hi all. I'm more of a slow 5k runner but have come to really love it over the last year. Staying in this thread is a way of keeping myself accountable. Don't know if it's mostly just more serious runners in here but if there are other tortoises like me: I'm in love with the Nike run club app guided runs. For someone like me who doesn't have a running group to bolster my motivation most of the time, that virtual coach in my air pods really helps.

 

[GreatLakes]

What’s a typical week?

This is a bit of a loaded question. There is no plan-wide typical week. I'm using their 20 week plan as opposed to their 18 because I was not a high mileage guy before and wanted the expanded plan to ease into the mileage more. My plan is also not one of the three in the book but the methodology is similar. Here is the breakdown of their 20 week plan:

Weeks 1-3: Base
Weeks 4-6: Transitional
Weeks 7-9: Threshold Intro
Weeks 10-17: Race Specific Work (I'm here now)
Weeks 18-19: Taper
Week 20: Race Week

Each of these have different "typical weeks" but until week 18 every week has 6 running days and one day off (Wednesday). The general breakdown is below but in some weeks it moves some stuff around, especially during the base and taper periods.

Sunday: Long Run. Some weeks it is at long run pace which is a little faster than "easy" pace, some weeks includes some marathon pace mileage between an easy warm up and cool down
Monday: Around 5 to 8 miles often with 10 second strides
Tuesday: A workout. Generally a warm up and repeats with a cool down
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: A workout or race pace run. Workouts are similar to Tuesday but generally the distances are longer for each repeat or include marathon pace runs that are a shorter distance than Sundays
Friday: 4 to 8 mile easy or recovery runs
Saturday: Similar to Monday but with 30 second build-ups s opposed to strides

The plan is much more periodized than the Hal Higdon plans I used previously. Even the Higdon advanced plans were generally long and medium runs with one track day built in.

In addition to the actual runs/workouts proper pacing is a big part of the Hanson plans. Like @DopeyBadger stated above you can't run every run as a PR. I decided to use the Daniel's VDOT system to map out my paces and then compared them to the Hanson conversion tables to make sure they were close. Here are the paces I use with a VDOT of 50.2:

Marathon goal pace: 7:15
Recovery Run Pace: 9:25
Easy Run Pace: 8:13 - 8:49
Long Run pace: 7:54
Tempo: 7:15 (equal to marathon pace)
Strength: 7:05
Half Marathon Pace: 6:58
10K speed: 6:39
5K speed: 6:23

I have been curious about people’s experience with the Hanson plans. I have used several different plans over the last few years but most of them have 4 days a week of running. When I looked into the Hanson plans they are a significant uptick in running days and mileage compared to ones I have used. What was your experience changing to the Hanson plan? How many days a week and mileage were you averaging before making this switch? How are you liking it and will you continue to use them?

This plan is much more running than I've historically done. Most weeks since the beginning of the pandemic I've been in the 20-30 range with a few above and a few below. I didn't hit 40 miles once between March 1 2020 and August 22, 2021. Here is a summary:



I am loving it so far. The plan concentrates more on cumulative miles than a long run. The plan I'm using does have four 18 mile runs but most Hanson plans top out at 16. They don't have a day off before or after the long runs so you keep fatigue in your legs. Their book will tell you they structure their plans so your 16 or 18 mile long runs simulates the last 16 or 18 miles of the race, not the first 16 or 18 miles.

At first I did feel a lot of fatigue in my legs but I generally ran that fatigue out in the first few miles and I don't have any real issues I can tell so far.

 

[kps7795]

Following this coming marathon in January I'm going to try to beat 2:00:00 for a HM in April. My goal is to get a better POT for the 30th Anniversary WDW marathon in 2023. Is there a particular training plan that someone could recommend that will help me get the fastest HM time that I am capable of getting? I ran 2:11:32 in August with inconsistent training for around five weeks, so I believe that I can get a much better result with more consistent training and that, for me, begins with a structured plan.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Following this coming marathon in January I'm going to try to beat 2:00:00 for a HM in April. My goal is to get a better POT for the 30th Anniversary WDW marathon in 2023. Is there a particular training plan that someone could recommend that will help me get the fastest HM time that I am capable of getting? I ran 2:11:32 in August with inconsistent training for around five weeks, so I believe that I can get a much better result with more consistent training and that, for me, begins with a structured plan.

Old post on a similar topic (link). The gist of it, there are a lot of variables to go through when choosing the right training plan for you. Ultimately, it needs to be something that isn't dramatically different than what you've been doing (don't go from 20 mpw to 100 mpw), needs to be specific to your race distance goal (HM in this case), and needs to be something you can commit to as written with as few changes as possible (if it's six days per week and 50 mpw, then do six days per week and 50 mpw. Don't cut out the Fri workout because you'd prefer a 5-day a week plan. If you want a 5-day a week plan, then find a 5-day a week plan).

A key to remember is that endurance gains are made over months and years of effort. So being consistent in training day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year will lead to the long term gains you seek.

With that all being said, when you have a specific goal, it's always good to evaluate your shorter distances to determine whether you currently have a speed issue or an endurance issue. So let's use 2 hours since that's your goal. These are the race equivalencies using the Daniels VDOT method:



If you can't currently run a 7:44 min/mile, then you lack the pre-requisite speed to run a sub-2. If you're in this boat, then I recommend a reasonably higher mileage 5k/10k training plan then you're currently doing. If you're doing 20 mpw, find a 5k plan with 40 mpw.

If you can run a 7:44, 26 min 5k, and 54 min 10k, but can't run a sub-2 HM, then you lack the pre-requisite endurance. If you're in this boat, then I believe you're ready for a sub-2 HM attempt and just don't have the necessary endurance yet. If you're doing 20 mpw, then find a HM plan with 40-50 mpw.

These mpw recommendations above are simply theoretical examples and may not be completely applicable to your specific situation.

With that being said, increasing from a low mileage training plan to a higher mileage training plan is likely to increase your speed and endurance concurrently. That's in the absence of injury. I went from 25 to 50 and saw great gains. I went from 50 to 70 and saw some gains, but also ended up injured more often despite going slow in training. There's a limit for all of us, some more than others. I've got a guy that consistently does 90-110 mpw and just doesn't get injured. He's consistently putting in 12-15hrs of running per week and he's always good to go. It's been a long process (years) for him from his 20 mpw days though.

 

[kps7795]

Old post on a similar topic (link). The gist of it, there are a lot of variables to go through when choosing the right training plan for you. Ultimately, it needs to be something that isn't dramatically different than what you've been doing (don't go from 20 mpw to 100 mpw), needs to be specific to your race distance goal (HM in this case), and needs to be something you can commit to as written with as few changes as possible (if it's six days per week and 50 mpw, then do six days per week and 50 mpw. Don't cut out the Fri workout because you'd prefer a 5-day a week plan. If you want a 5-day a week plan, then find a 5-day a week plan).

A key to remember is that endurance gains are made over months and years of effort. So being consistent in training day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year will lead to the long term gains you seek.

With that all being said, when you have a specific goal, it's always good to evaluate your shorter distances to determine whether you currently have a speed issue or an endurance issue. So let's use 2 hours since that's your goal. These are the race equivalencies using the Daniels VDOT method:

View attachment 619343

If you can't currently run a 7:44 min/mile, then you lack the pre-requisite speed to run a sub-2. If you're in this boat, then I recommend a reasonably higher mileage 5k/10k training plan then you're currently doing. If you're doing 20 mpw, find a 5k plan with 40 mpw.

If you can run a 7:44, 26 min 5k, and 54 min 10k, but can't run a sub-2 HM, then you lack the pre-requisite endurance. If you're in this boat, then I believe you're ready for a sub-2 HM attempt and just don't have the necessary endurance yet. If you're doing 20 mpw, then find a HM plan with 40-50 mpw.

These mpw recommendations above are simply theoretical examples and may not be completely applicable to your specific situation.

With that being said, increasing from a low mileage training plan to a higher mileage training plan is likely to increase your speed and endurance concurrently. That's in the absence of injury. I went from 25 to 50 and saw great gains. I went from 50 to 70 and saw some gains, but also ended up injured more often despite going slow in training. There's a limit for all of us, some more than others. I've got a guy that consistently does 90-110 mpw and just doesn't get injured. He's consistently putting in 12-15hrs of running per week and he's always good to go. It's been a long process (years) for him from his 20 mpw days though.

Thank you so much for your input. Unfortunately, I am quite afraid that I lack both the speed and endurance. The plan that I am following for the marathon is having me run in the 30s mpw. My focus is on the marathon for the time being wherein I'm trying to build endurance by doing low heart rate running. Come January, I'm going to figure out what the plan should be and give it a go.

 

[kps7795]

Old post on a similar topic (link). The gist of it, there are a lot of variables to go through when choosing the right training plan for you. Ultimately, it needs to be something that isn't dramatically different than what you've been doing (don't go from 20 mpw to 100 mpw), needs to be specific to your race distance goal (HM in this case), and needs to be something you can commit to as written with as few changes as possible (if it's six days per week and 50 mpw, then do six days per week and 50 mpw. Don't cut out the Fri workout because you'd prefer a 5-day a week plan. If you want a 5-day a week plan, then find a 5-day a week plan).

A key to remember is that endurance gains are made over months and years of effort. So being consistent in training day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year will lead to the long term gains you seek.

With that all being said, when you have a specific goal, it's always good to evaluate your shorter distances to determine whether you currently have a speed issue or an endurance issue. So let's use 2 hours since that's your goal. These are the race equivalencies using the Daniels VDOT method:

View attachment 619343

If you can't currently run a 7:44 min/mile, then you lack the pre-requisite speed to run a sub-2. If you're in this boat, then I recommend a reasonably higher mileage 5k/10k training plan then you're currently doing. If you're doing 20 mpw, find a 5k plan with 40 mpw.

If you can run a 7:44, 26 min 5k, and 54 min 10k, but can't run a sub-2 HM, then you lack the pre-requisite endurance. If you're in this boat, then I believe you're ready for a sub-2 HM attempt and just don't have the necessary endurance yet. If you're doing 20 mpw, then find a HM plan with 40-50 mpw.

These mpw recommendations above are simply theoretical examples and may not be completely applicable to your specific situation.

With that being said, increasing from a low mileage training plan to a higher mileage training plan is likely to increase your speed and endurance concurrently. That's in the absence of injury. I went from 25 to 50 and saw great gains. I went from 50 to 70 and saw some gains, but also ended up injured more often despite going slow in training. There's a limit for all of us, some more than others. I've got a guy that consistently does 90-110 mpw and just doesn't get injured. He's consistently putting in 12-15hrs of running per week and he's always good to go. It's been a long process (years) for him from his 20 mpw days though.

If you don't mind me picking your brain about something that I read in Jack Daniels' Running Formula book and that I've seen you mention previously, how is your body ready to run 26.2 miles if you limit yourself to a maximum of 2 1/2 hours running? I want to "trust the plan," but I am VERY nervous that I will seriously bonk if I don't run a greater distance. At this point, I am able to run 12 miles in 2:30. Mind you, I felt like I could continue running at that pace (12'29"), but how can one trust that I will be able to run more than double that number of miles if I don't train for a greater mileage which would take me longer than 2 1/2 hours? OY!

 

[GollyGadget]

Following this coming marathon in January I'm going to try to beat 2:00:00 for a HM in April. My goal is to get a better POT for the 30th Anniversary WDW marathon in 2023. Is there a particular training plan that someone could recommend that will help me get the fastest HM time that I am capable of getting? I ran 2:11:32 in August with inconsistent training for around five weeks, so I believe that I can get a much better result with more consistent training and that, for me, begins with a structured plan.

In addition to the advice above, if you're truly after a marathon POT you should aim for a 1:54 or faster half. That is the equivalent to a 4:00 marathon. This might seem nitpicky but I'd rather you think that some online stranger was too overzealous than you run your goal of 2:00 to find out it wasn't enough.

 

[DopeyBadger]

If you don't mind me picking your brain about something that I read in Jack Daniels' Running Formula book and that I've seen you mention previously, how is your body ready to run 26.2 miles if you limit yourself to a maximum of 2 1/2 hours running? I want to "trust the plan," but I am VERY nervous that I will seriously bonk if I don't run a greater distance. At this point, I am able to run 12 miles in 2:30. Mind you, I felt like I could continue running at that pace (12'29"), but how can one trust that I will be able to run more than double that number of miles if I don't train for a greater mileage which would take me longer than 2 1/2 hours? OY!

These two old posts should best answer your question.

Train slow to race fast: Why running more slowly and capping the long run at 2.5 hours may dramatically improve your performance
The Long Run Mindset: How to train at 16 miles but run a 26.2 mile race

The key is realizing that your current mindset is training for the long run. You're looking at one day per week. Instead, Daniels is asking you to look at all the days per week. The long run is simply another run. It's not the end all be all. Merely another piece to a much larger puzzle. If you prepare well throughout the week, then doing "only" 10, 11, 14, 16, 18 miles as your longest run will be enough.

At the end of the day, this is a major hurdle for almost ALL runners who attempt to do less than a 20 miler in preparation for a marathon. How can I possibly "only" do X distance and be prepared for a marathon? And for some, they can be convinced by the anecdotes of other's experiences. Some other people like to look at cold hard data that shows that a lower % LR of the total of training yields a better conversion from shorter distances (link). But the grand majority only have that light bulb click for themselves after they simply trust the training and do it for themselves. I was one of the group of the grand majority. I had to personally experience it myself before the idea truly took hold.

In addition to the advice above, if you're truly after a marathon POT you should aim for a 1:54 or faster half. That is the equivalent to a 4:00 marathon. This might seem nitpicky but I'd rather you think that some online stranger was too overzealous than you run your goal of 2:00 to find out it wasn't enough.

Good catch!

 

[Cabius]

Train slow to race fast: Why running more slowly and capping the long run at 2.5 hours may dramatically improve your performance

This is fascinating to me. I'm still basically a slow jogger -- my long-run pace is about 15:00 so my 15-mile LR this weekend took almost 4 hours, and the upcoming 20-mile LR will take 5 hours. It's not that it's too tiring per se -- I could've kept going and maybe even done the full 26.2 at a slightly slower pace -- but it's just so time-consuming!

Everything about this will be easier when I am thinner/faster, which will be my focus after this marathon.

 

[camaker]

If you don't mind me picking your brain about something that I read in Jack Daniels' Running Formula book and that I've seen you mention previously, how is your body ready to run 26.2 miles if you limit yourself to a maximum of 2 1/2 hours running? I want to "trust the plan," but I am VERY nervous that I will seriously bonk if I don't run a greater distance. At this point, I am able to run 12 miles in 2:30. Mind you, I felt like I could continue running at that pace (12'29"), but how can one trust that I will be able to run more than double that number of miles if I don't train for a greater mileage which would take me longer than 2 1/2 hours? OY!

I know you addressed the question to @DopeyBadger, but I’d like to chime in here. One thing to keep in mind is that these plans rely on the concept of cumulative fatigue and multiple short slower runs to establish your endurance. While you don’t go past that 2 1/2 hour mark in training, you‘re running those 2 1/2 hours on legs already tired from training runs the previous days, enhancing the benefits.

Stepping from the theoretical into the experiential, I have been training using @DopeyBadger Hanson’s-based training plans for ~5 years now. My maximum long runs have ranged from 14 to 16 miles and I’ve never felt undertrained going into, or more importantly, during a marathon. After an initial marathon of ~5:48, I’ve used those plans exclusively to the point that I finally broke 4:00 in my most recent marathon. The plans work, if you trust and follow them. I’m sure there are many others here that can provide similar testimony to that, as well. Good luck!

 

[Herding_Cats]

If you don't mind me picking your brain about something that I read in Jack Daniels' Running Formula book and that I've seen you mention previously, how is your body ready to run 26.2 miles if you limit yourself to a maximum of 2 1/2 hours running? I want to "trust the plan," but I am VERY nervous that I will seriously bonk if I don't run a greater distance. At this point, I am able to run 12 miles in 2:30.

I'm gonna pop in here real quick and say that @DopeyBadger made me a plan for my first full marathon that I ran in the beginning of October. My longest training run was a half marathon I asked him to put in the plan for early August. I think we are kind of similar speed/pace (I'm a little slower than you.) That was it. My longest run ever leading up to my full marathon was 13.1 miles. All runs were under 3 hours because the risk/reward of injury/improvement goes in the wrong direction after that point (for continuous running.) And yeah, it made me bonkers when I would think about "but I'll be running TWICE AS FAR." But your training WILL prepare you for it if you DO THE TRAINING.

ETA: @camaker I wanna be like you when I grow up and take almost 2 hours off my marathon time. WOWZA!

 

[DopeyBadger]

This is fascinating to me. I'm still basically a slow jogger -- my long-run pace is about 15:00 so my 15-mile LR this weekend took almost 4 hours, and the upcoming 20-mile LR will take 5 hours. It's not that it's too tiring per se -- I could've kept going and maybe even done the full 26.2 at a slightly slower pace -- but it's just so time-consuming!

Everything about this will be easier when I am thinner/faster, which will be my focus after this marathon.

I went through and found some old plans that reflect people of a similar fitness level to a 15 min/mile LR. They all had different availabilities and goals, but to my best recollection where each successful on the plans despite limiting their LRs. I'm not advocating you use any of these plans. Rather they are just to show real world examples of people doing less than a 20 mile LR and still being successful on race day. And I just pulled Dopey plans because it was quicker for me to search through my database of over 560 different plans written.

 

[GreatLakes]

These two old posts should best answer your question.

Train slow to race fast: Why running more slowly and capping the long run at 2.5 hours may dramatically improve your performance
The Long Run Mindset: How to train at 16 miles but run a 26.2 mile race

The key is realizing that your current mindset is training for the long run. You're looking at one day per week. Instead, Daniels is asking you to look at all the days per week. The long run is simply another run. It's not the end all be all. Merely another piece to a much larger puzzle. If you prepare well throughout the week, then doing "only" 10, 11, 14, 16, 18 miles as your longest run will be enough.

At the end of the day, this is a major hurdle for almost ALL runners who attempt to do less than a 20 miler in preparation for a marathon. How can I possibly "only" do X distance and be prepared for a marathon? And for some, they can be convinced by the anecdotes of other's experiences. Some other people like to look at cold hard data that shows that a lower % LR of the total of training yields a better conversion from shorter distances (link). But the grand majority only have that light bulb click for themselves after they simply trust the training and do it for themselves. I was one of the group of the grand majority. I had to personally experience it myself before the idea truly took hold.

To piggy back on the post above I really recommend reading Hanson's book even if you don't use their plan. They do a good job of laying out their methodology and their reasoning. They also look at the mileage as cumulative like Daniels. I think some people have a psychological reliance on the long run to "feel prepared" but they and others have used research to show that physiologically you should be fine if you do the cumulative work in training.

A 20 miler is about 77% of the full race distance but people training for 100 mile ultras aren't running a 77 mile training run. Most 100 mile training plans will top out on 70 miles a week. Here is a good quote from Trainright on the topic:

In my experience, ultrarunners put far too much pressure and emphasis on the one single longest long run. They feel like they ‘have’ to do a 50-miler in advance of a 100-miler or 20 miles in advance of a 50k. The fact of the matter is that from a physical standpoint, the singular longest long run matters very little. This is because the amount of training you can do on one single day, even if it’s a really big day, gets drowned out by the weeks and months of training you accumulate during the entire training process.

 

[kps7795]

I'm gonna pop in here real quick and say that @DopeyBadger made me a plan for my first full marathon that I ran in the beginning of October. My longest training run was a half marathon I asked him to put in the plan for early August. I think we are kind of similar speed/pace (I'm a little slower than you.) That was it. My longest run ever leading up to my full marathon was 13.1 miles. All runs were under 3 hours because the risk/reward of injury/improvement goes in the wrong direction after that point (for continuous running.) And yeah, it made me bonkers when I would think about "but I'll be running TWICE AS FAR." But your training WILL prepare you for it if you DO THE TRAINING.

ETA: @camaker I wanna be like you when I grow up and take almost 2 hours off my marathon time. WOWZA!

I know....I started reading Jack Daniels' book the night before my long run (12 miles) and at around 10 miles I started thinking to myself that it's impossible to run more than twice this distance if I don't train my body. You just have to trust the process and people who are vastly more experienced than yourself.

 

[steph0808]

I just want to say that I've run the Disney marathon with a max long run of 14 miles and will run the upcoming Disney marathon with a max of 13 miles.

I have run 7 marathons and only did one 20-mile long run during training with a Higdon plan during my first marathon. Since then, I've followed DopeyBadger plans with mixed results but that's more my body's problem. Haha! I do keep getting faster (usually) and definitely have more endurance.

 

[The Expert]

This is fascinating to me. I'm still basically a slow jogger -- my long-run pace is about 15:00 so my 15-mile LR this weekend took almost 4 hours, and the upcoming 20-mile LR will take 5 hours. It's not that it's too tiring per se -- I could've kept going and maybe even done the full 26.2 at a slightly slower pace -- but it's just so time-consuming!

Everything about this will be easier when I am thinner/faster, which will be my focus after this marathon.

I'm about your speed and am following a @DopeyBadger plan right now for my first Dopey this January. This is my second full marathon, but I used a different training plan last time and found myself cutting the LRs short because I just didn't have time to spend 4-6 hours every weekend doing them. I felt pretty well trained, but I feel even better now because I have more cumulative mileage. And for Dopey, it's all about running on tired legs, so this is great practice for that.

 

[HangWithMerida]

@GreatLakes @DopeyBadger Thanks for the insight on the Hanson plans. I think the analogy of the ultra runner not doing a 77 mile training run really helps put that theory into perspective. I am definitely one of those people that likes the longer long run to feel mentally prepared. One of my favorite HM plans is a Higdon plan with a 12 mile LR. It makes me feel better. Whether it’s necessary or not is another conversation.
I can see the real benefit to the 16-18 mile LR plans from a time perspective. It is hard to find huge chunks of time several weeks in a row to make a traditional marathon plan work. But the Hanson plans do look like the time commitment on each individual day would be more doable around a normal job, kid commitments, etc even if the number of days is more. It will require some alteration of my other activities because I know I can’t maintain other sports to the same degree AND run 6 days a week.
I am going to seriously evaluate the Hanson plans and give one a try. I think part of this experiment is figuring out what my body can handle. My highest mileage months have barely been over 100 miles and I only have those maybe 2 months a year. I run maybe 45-50 miles a month during the summer, ramp up to a HM in Dec-Jan and a second HM in Feb or so. I will keep closer to 80 miles until May or so where I cut back to me hot weather routine. Rinse-repeat. This year my ramp up was a little earlier due to W&D HM in November so I will be at a higher mileage for a couple more months than normal.

 

[HangWithMerida]

I'm still basically a slow jogger

A run group I am in jokes that you only get called a jogger if you find a dead body. As in newspaper headlines like “Jogger finds body along local trail”. Otherwise, you’re a runner no matter how slowly you go. So whenever I see the word “jogger” it makes me laugh a little. Every now and then someone will come in with a story that starts with “I thought I was going to be a jogger today…”