Can we have a team collaboration meeting right now? I need your thoughts.

(Tank, shorts ((I wear these a lot ha)) and shoes I wear everywhere)

30-minute Tabata ride and upper body strength with Andrew yesterday.

The last month has made me think a lot about what I want from fitness, so I figured I’d ask you your thoughts.

I have big running goals, but I’ve also really loved the last month of having days where 20-30 minutes is all I’m doing for my cardio.  This last month I feel like I have more energy throughout the day and I’m feeling stronger (and my posture is better too wahooo) from doing more strength training. I’m not sure 80-mile weeks are going to happen again anytime soon <— the mileage I was doing in 2019 to get new PRs.  Now that I’ve fallen in love with these Peloton rides, I have less time than I did in 2019 to run super high mileage (another child + Andrew is busier with school/work now compared to then) and feeling nervous about overuse injuries… lower mileage sounds really good.

What do you think?  Is it possible to hit big goals (new PRs in the half and full) with half the mileage along with the Peloton and strength training, or do you think the high mileage is part of the deal when it comes to getting new PRs?  Share your experience with me, please!  I’m also happy to be in the test group with this experiment ha… I feel my happy place is going to be running 3-4 days a week with some biking and strength when I’m up and training again.   But who knows, maybe if I build back up to high mileage, it will feel right again?

IMG 4707

My foot is feeling a million times better, and Erik worked more magic with scraping and massage.

IMG 4732

I need to record Skye’s conversation whenever I pick her up from school.  The girl has ALLLLLL of the stories and information about her classmates.

IMG 4728

(PS obsessed with this Marine Layer button up top… it is so soft and perfect with this jean jacket)and these black jeans)

One of Skye’s friends brought her a necklace to school that she had made at home, so Skye made one for her when she got home.

IMG 4738

Too soon or no such thing???

IMG 4742

How Skye prefers to tour Target.

IMG 4746

We were out and about later than planned, which meant we needed dinner, so we went to one of our favorite places.

IMG 4747

Pure heaven.

IMG 4753

A few random things before we part ways…

*Nothing teaches us patience quite like playing Yahtzee with Skye.  I find myself counting to ten in my head calmly whenever it is her turn.  And for some reason, she rolls Yahtzee MULTIPLE times in each game, so maybe I need to adopt her ‘shaking the dice for 120 seconds before rolling’ each time thing too.

IMG 4699

*We decided for his birthday, we are going to let him get as dirty as he wants all day and never wipe his face (<— wiping his face is his least favorite thing on the planet).

IMG 4679

*She told me her dog was barking to go on a walk.

IMG 4357

*She was giving me a foam rolling tutorial in this picture.

IMG 3300

——————————————————————————————————-

Too soon or not soon enough for Christmas items to be out in stores?

What do you think… possible for future running PRs with lower mileage but more biking and strength?

What is your happy mileage per week?

Last game you played?

You May Also Like

65 comments

Reply

As a triathlete, there is nothing better for your running that cycling. I spent a lot of time on my bike (indoors, because, ya know, kids) and my running benefitted a TON for it!

Reply

This makes me SO happy to read. So so happy. Hope you are having an amazing morning and way to go on your triathlons, you are amazing.

Reply

Team too soon for Christmas stuff to be out!

I feel like you won’t know what will work for you specifically until you try a training cycle where you run less mileage and incorporate Peloton rides and strength training into your routine! Some people swear by high mileage while others swear by adding in cross training a lot.

The last game I played was Mario Kart on Nintendo 64 and it was so fun since I love racing games

Reply

I feel like it is a bit too soon too… I just want to celebrate Halloween first. It will be so interesting to see what it does… I’ll keep everyone posted. I LOVE MARIO KART. I hope you play again soon. Have a wonderful day, Maureen!

Reply

I spent most of the training cycle prior to CIM 2019 injured. The smart thing to do would be DNS but I already had a cross country flight booked and didn’t want my running friend to go alone, so I was running it. I did hard workouts on the bike and then recovery on the elliptical. I ran as much as my body would allow (I averaged a whopping 20 miles per week). I expected nothing at the race (just to hopefully finish!) but managed a PR and BQ. So yes, I absolutely think you can be successful on low mileage and lots of cycling!

Reply

Anne, this is seriously amazing!! Thanks for sharing,and congratulations!!

Reply

Hi Janae! I think it’s all very individual and you are much faster than me and likely know yourself better, but I had my first BQ in the full at the end of the year I became a spin instructor — I wouldn’t say my mileage was low, but I think supplementing some of the running with spin made a huge difference! BUT I bought a Peloton during the pandemic, and wound up subbing even more running time with spin — and I found that when I ran a marathon just over a month ago, I was hurting a ton toward the end and my time was a lot slower. However, that might’ve just been pandemic fatigue (I found it harder to motivate myself to train this past year plus, moved to a city where runs are less pleasant…). Looking forward to reading about how you approach this and wishing you the best as always!

Reply

That is so true, it’s probably different for everyone. Ummmm amazing job on your BQ and I would love to come to one of your spin classes. So it looks like there is definitely a fine line where you still have some good mileage in there while using spin to help with speed?! I can also see how pandemic fatigue could absolutely make a difference on your training. Thanks Jen, please keep in touch and I so appreciate you sharing your story with me. Hope your Wednesday is a beautiful one!

Reply

I’ve set some PRs since running only four days a week. I added walking, weights, and the rowing machine for cross training. You’re making me really want a bike, though. I need to figure out where to put it. I have an elliptical I don’t really use that I could get rid of. I would need to convince my husband.
Christmas stuff shouldn’t be out until 11/1. I went to the market on Christmas Eve several years ago and saw Valentine and Easter candy out. That’s ridiculous. Wait until 1/1 for that.
My son and I played extreme tic tac toe last week. He draws a huge grid on an entire sheet of paper and we have to see who can get the most tic tac toes. we can never tell who wins because the paper ends up being a mess. it’s playing for fun instead of winning.
have a great Wednesday!

Reply

Hey Lee! THIS IS SO GOOD TO READ. Way to go on those prs with four days of running and cross training. I think you need a bike, it really takes up very little room. I am completely urging you to sell the elliptical and get one… Keep me updated on what your husband says. ON CHRISTMAS EVE that stuff was out?! Okay, that is crazy. I have never heard of extreme tic tac toe but I will be playing this with Brooke when she gets home, thanks Lee. I hope your Wednesday is a great one!

Reply

Oh my goodness I do not think do you have to do high mileage to get PR. It is about quality sessions. I think 1 to 2 speed workouts, long run and an easy run is all you need. You will be better for it the other three days that you were running we’re just easy runs and basically those are the workouts and those are the days that you get overuse.

Now I am in marathon training My days of running are high Not hire but my workouts are longer and therefore my mileage is higher but it’s only for a season.

The last game that I play was pick up sticks with my kids. We’re not very strict with the rules but it’s still fun.

Reply

QUALITY sessions… oh I like that a lot. Thank you thank you for the help… I like that plan. Keep me updated with your marathon training, I’m excited for you. Which marathon? Hope your day is a great one, thanks Liza!

Reply

Too soon for Christmas! Let’s enjoy Halloween and fall first.

I think it’s possible to hit PRs with less running and more cross training/strength! When I was doing strength and HIIT classes 2-3 times a week, I felt my strongest running! I’m excited to see how it works for you!!

Reply

I’m with you… I want to enjoy this season first! That is so cool to read about when you felt your strongest with running. It is making me excited to see what it does for mine. Thanks Mariah, I hope your day is a great one!

Reply

I am so ready for Christmas this year! We are even putting up a tree in our home from Thanksgiving to mid December (then taking it down so it doesnt dry out and become a fire hazard) before we head to my family’s home in Virginia for 2.5 weeks to celebrate Christmas (and decorate again there!). It has been a hard season of life with pandemic, work, school being remote or flipping back and forth and then waiting for the vaccine for the kiddos ….This year I just want to celebrate the season with my healthy (I pray) and vaccinated family. Also, with all the delays and shortages I have been extra active in doing Christmas shopping early. When I see something I know I want to buy for someone- I don’t wait- I just get it and hide it away because I want to be ready for the holidays. I just need to not forget where i have hidden everything, hahaha!

Also, I can’t speak to PRs but I do think our bodies need more weight bearing strength exercises as we get older and shifting goals to strength/posture/carriage of self may become a bigger priority than speed for good reason. I got myself that posture brace you got a while back to wear when I work at the computer and I honestly had no idea how slouchy and tech necky I had become!
I definitely have to work at it to maintain strength and posture these days! It isnt like my 20s or early 30s anymore.

Reply

NADYA!! I love hearing from you:). I love that you are still putting up a tree even though you’ll be gone for Christmas. And so smart to take it down before you leave! Way to get in the shopping already, I haven’t even started! I’m stressed out…. help! You inspired me to start. You are so right about that shift and I’m enjoying that change for me and know how important it is at this time in my life. SO happy that the posture brace is helping so much, I’m right there with you and it is a challenge every day. So happy that you guys will have the happy, healthy and safe holidays all together this year!

Reply

Good morning Janae!
It is wild to me that it nearly November. Did the stores skip Halloween and just head straight to Christmas? Considering supply constraints and the shipping challenges I can’t say I blame them in an effort to hit sales plans. Going to be an interesting 9 months I think.
I love your idea; personally I would lay money down you’ll see some really positive surprises in your running by incorporating the bike and strength training. PR city full steam ahead!
Happy mileage…does peloton miles and surf paddling miles count? :-) I have taken a bit of a break from running for a few months but have some new kicks arriving today so my plan is to hit the streets for a few and see how I feel.
I would love to have little ones to play games with; it looks like you all are having a blast!

Reply

Hey Amanda! I seriously have no idea how in the world we are already to November in just a few days. Our Target only had one aisle of Halloween and like 5 of Christmas?! I seriously need to start shopping! Lay money down… okay, that made me really excited to see what could happen! Ummm surf paddling miles and peloton miles absolutely count. You are amazing. Enjoy that first run back and your body is so grateful for the time off, cross-training and new shoes;). Hahah I need to film it next time. Thanks Amanda and happy Wednesday!

Reply

Hi Janae,, I haven’t commented in a long time but this post kind of struck me because I often think about my workout programs and goals perhaps not in terms of long-distance running and PR‘s but in feasibility with a very demanding job. I think this might be a refreshing change for you so that you don’t get burnt out and I appreciate learning how you transition and make changes so that I can too.

Reply

Hey Christina… you are absolutely amazing getting in your workouts with a very demanding job. That takes so much discipline and strength. I think you are right and I’m excited to see what’s up ahead. PLEASE keep me updated with what you are up to (if you get a chance with your busy days). Thanks, Christina!

Reply

Christina, this is exactly why Janae’s question is intriguing to me, too. I am in a season of needing to prioritize several things in life but still want to get the most out of my time, fitness wise. It’s exciting to think that a new workout plan, a different schedule than several long weeks of high mileage, might yield new results.
Janae, thanks for posing this question! I saved this post to read again as I tackle a new schedule. Very best wishes to you as you find your balance too!!
PS, we are 100% into each holiday and season here at our farm! After Halloween Monsters and cobwebs come down, I’ll deep clean then put up a “Winter Tree” for the Thanksgiving week fun, haha, just not add Christmas colors till December. ? I write my own rules LOL

Reply

Oh boy. This is funny when I was closer to the end of my pushing hard/running lots of miles and speed/working with a coach, I knew in my heart that my happy place was going to be somewhere else—-more like a happy balance of running/strength/yoga/other stuff, for happiness/longevity/and health/avoiding injuries. Fast forward and a weird knee thing last Feb forced me to make this shift. I now run 4 days a week—a longer run, a super duper Kenyan recovery paced run, a moderate run, and some kind of speed run. I do yoga once a week and 3-4 strength workouts. And, I’m happy and, knock on wood, happy.
I can’t really speak to the racing/PRs thing because since Feb I just haven’t had any desire to run any races. Maybe I am afraid to just “run” a race for fun or to try to race and end up bombing it. I just started following ultra runner Courtney Dauwalter this past summer, and she reminds me of Des Linden (another fav) in her mindset. She posted something the other day about the importance of HAVING FUN with your running–“Enjoy the simplicity of moving your feet.” I love that. So, it will all work out :)
Sometimes I even do ponder running even less and amping up the strength a bit more just to see what type of body composition changes I’d see. Sometimes I have like I have a foot equally in each camp now—cardio vs strength and if I put it deeper into strength I might see different changes.
But, I’m happy. And, I kinda always knew I would be this way. Trust and go with your gut!!!!!!

Reply

Christmas stuff means more mint chocolate out so bring it anytime.

I’ve done my best times in running with lower running mileage and triathlon training with swimming and biking, and had an awful marathon when I hit 60 miles per week of running with less swimming and biking. BUT…that might be because I’m not really a natural runner so my body just cannot deal well with high mileage so I do better with higher total workout volume and a smaller fraction of it being running. You’re probably more of a natural runner than I am (jk definitely, not probably) so it may not work out the same. It’s hard to say but could be worth experimenting with for a training cycle.

Reply

Yes!!! You 100% can get PRs from lower mileage. I’m a triathlete and used to be injured all the time when I was a pure runner. Now I run 3-4 days a week (3 usually then 4 days when getting closer to a race) and most of my volume is swimming and biking. The bike can work wonders for your run strength – I think you’ll really be surprised!

Reply

I think…you won’t know until you try running less mileage! I do know that the higher my mileage is the better my marathon, but I don’t actually think I have a lot of data to go on and I really don’t have a lot to compare. I also think there’s a sweet spot–I’ve seen friends that HAD to go for huge mileage goals and they end up injured and burned out. When you’re not a professional runner with access to a whole team to keep you healthy, it seems really risky. Plus, you could probably hit a couple really high mileage weeks without having a consistent running build up since you’re cross training so much and you have years of time on your feet. Excited to see where it goes–I think you’ll do great if you believe you’ll do great!!! :)

Reply

I have no doubt you’ll figure out the best training plan to reach your next goal. It’s been years, but my last marathon was my fastest and I followed a high intensity but lower mileage plan. Not only did I PR in the marathon, but I ran some of my fastest times in other distances too, including the 10K. The plan centered around 3 quality workouts each week: 1 speed workout, 1 tempo run, and 1 long run at planned marathon pace. There was one complete rest day built into the plan, and I usually swam laps for cross training on the other days. Some weeks I did a fourth day of easy running. Even though I haven’t trained for a marathon in years, 3-4 days of running is still my sweet spot. I do almost all of my runs on the trails and then strength train 2-3 days a week. Adding strength training consistently to my routine has kept me injury free and on the trails.

Reply

Let’s see what happens with you running 3-4 days only. Isn’t one of the big questions the long run? I’m leaning towards 4 days of running with one being the long run.

As I recall you scraped before. I wonder if you were more proactive with it in the past and it kept fasciitis away?

Seeing you gathered around the table for Yahtzee shows the cozy times you create at home. Everyone is being themselves and authentic relationships are building. Seems like the question to ask ourselves when we get triggered by another’s actions is, what is triggering me? And what does this say about me? In this case looks like you’re spot on – Skye is showing you all how to win more. She’s following your lead! :-) So, do you say to yourself, “Andrew and I did this! Yes!” What a perspective it can be.

Reply

WAY too soon for the Christmas stuff!

Reply

If you give it a try, I would DEFINITELY do PowerZone training on the Peloton rather than just random classes. I cut back on running days, incorporated 4 PZ rides a week, and saw huge gains in my running without injury (which has always been an issue for me).

Reply

I have to say that becoming more obsessed with triathlons has been so good for me. I love training the discipline of each sport and “mixing it up”. I feel so much stronger and I am running faster than I ever have. I still average 30-40 running miles a week, but that is because I need it for my sanity and to clear my mind. I also strength train 4-5 days a week at the gym. I am in the best shape ever at 45 and feel 35.

Reply

Ooooo I have so many thoughts on this topic…take this all with a grain of salt because I have not fully implemented my own ‘training program’ and I am not competitive like you, at all! However, I can relate in so many ways because I LOVE running high mileage. It is the only ‘me’ time I ever have during the day. However, in March I started to pay attention to how I actually “feel” throughout they day–mood, how I handle stress, hormones (period, libido, etc), energy levels throughout the day, etc. I noticed was feeling crummy in nearly every one of those areas. I met with a functional medicine doctor and she ran a bunch of labs–hormones, cortisol, full blood panel, vitamin D, iron. It turns out my cortisol was way out of sync, my iron, vitamin D, and testosterone were tanking, my liver and kidney enzymes were elevated, etc. She told me to back off running (cut from 60+mpw to 20, which I negotiated to 25-30;-)). I started to do shorter/intense bike rides 1-2 days/week, strength train 3x/week (non-negotiable) and run 4 days per week or so. Plus, she told me to never skimp on sleep in order to get in a workout. I followed her advice (mostly), along with some supplements and nutrition advice.

I met with her yesterday to go over my 6 month lab results. Almost all my lab work came back normal:-) I was training for a half marathon and triathlons during this time as well and my performance did not suffer. However, I think my lab results would have come back completely normal had I stuck to her suggestions to a T. Moving forward and since we are going into winter, I committed to biking 2-3 days/week as she said this is not as taxing on my body as long runs, strength training 3x/week and running 3 days/week and nothing over 10 miles AND always pick sleep over waking up early to get in a workout.

It helps that I saw the positive effect on my labs with doing less workouts. Most importantly, I FEEL so much better! I have more patience with my kids, I don’t need/want to take a nap at 2 p.m. every day, I can stay up later with my husband and watch a movie, we go to school football/volleyball games that typically started past my bedtime! I no longer hunch over because I am doing proper strength training. I used to feel I had to be on the “go” all the time before, now I can sit and relax/read/watch tv with out guilt (I think this has to do with cortisol being more regulated) I truly look at this as finally having balance in my life. I found I struggle with people identifying me “as a runner who runs all the time” However, there is so much more to me! I am still fit, I am doing MORE activities I enjoy and am being a better mom/wife/daughter/employee.

Sorry for the long ramble, but it has been on my mind a lot lately:-)

Happy Wednesday, Janae!

Reply

I know two, strong amazing runners. Dudes that ran in the 100s (mpw). in college. One runs in the 130s, hits 2:15. The other runs 70-80s (so less than his max) with hiking, skiing, etc, and runs 2:15.
The question isn’t whether you can hit your goals with different training. We know that is true, with case study after case study of folks making goals with a myriad of different training styles (remember when group training was all the rage and Des was like “nah”)?
The question is okay, so I am happier and feel better doing this. And I am still working really hard. So what is it about this one goal, and my idea of what it takes to get to this one goal, putting my mind in a place where I feel like I have to choose. And if I have to choose, like if a genie sat me down and said “straight up, if you don’t run 100 mile weeks, you won’t make the trials.” am I willing and happy to do that? And, am I okay with myself if the answer is no?
I think you can hit your goals however the heck you want to, really. I have seen people do it. Seems like the defining factor is happiness in the process and liking the training, as well as talent, how you feel on the day, and lifestyle factors (access to healthcare, family support, etc). The question really is, which is more important to you, the process or the result?

Reply

I got plantar fasciitis really bad in both feet when I was training for NYC full in 2016. It got so bad that I could barely walk before I pulled the plug on training about 5 weeks before the race. It took 6 months of rest, constantly wearing only supportive shoes (Vionics or running shoes with custom insoles, and NEVER going barefoot/always wearing oofos in the house) before I could run again. Even then, I started sleeping in the foot boot about 2 months into recovery and kept that up for 1 year (yes, really). I found BodyPump while I was injured and started going 2-3 times a week. I’ve had a bad PF flare-up once since I recovered (too much barefoot walking at the beach + new walking shoes that my feet didn’t like), but I knew what to do (slept in the boot for 2 weeks + constant massage with knobbly ball) and calmed it back down quickly.

Now I’ve been teaching BP 2 times a week for the last 2.5 years. Sometimes I add a third lifting session too. I feel the strength in my legs, glutes, and back when I do long runs more than I used to (particularly up hills), but I am also almost always running on v tired or sore legs. I haven’t run any PRs since I incorporated more strength training…but I also haven’t done any speed work and haven’t made getting a PR a priority.

Also I’ve done several triathlons and a 50-mile ride in the last couple of years while still running. I think cycling helps cardio fitness overall, but for me, it doesn’t translate much to running. Running absolutely doesn’t translate whatsoever to cycling fitness for me!

Reply

I found this article interesting. Elite runners who do a ton of cross training. I say it depends on you, but definitely achievable to PR with a lot of biking. https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a36301124/two-british-runners-used-cross-training-for-wins/

Reply

Hi Janae! I haven’t commented in forever but I recently got a Peloton over the summer on Facebook marketplace after having hammy-down bike from my aunt over the spring. I loved the efficient workouts I was getting in shorter time. I also struggle so much in the summer with running and felt so great to be able to spin instead of making myself run and not enjoying it. I am in a busy season of life as I just started my doctorate and I have three jobs and feel the Peloton has been a life changer! I feel like as runners we get stuck thinking we SHOULD be running all the time but I am learning as I get older that there is a season for everything and now it is not the season to run long and have high mileage. It doesn’t mean for good but enjoying different fitness is important to. I just wanted to share because I can relate and it makes me feel less alone! Have a great Wednesday and I will see you on the leaderboards!

Reply

I found this article interesting. Two elite runners who do a ton of cross training. It depends on you, but I say achieving PRs while biking is definitely possible. https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a36301124/two-british-runners-used-cross-training-for-wins/

Reply

Look up the Runner’s World article titled “Two British Runners Scored Big Wins With Cross-Training.” (I couldn’t seem to post the link). They run very low mileage with a lot of cross training and it worked extremely well for them. I think it depends on you, but achieving a PR with a lot of cross training seems doable. Good luck and I can’t wait to hear about your results.

Reply

Hi Janae, I know you are already familiar with my story, but yes – I do think you can hit PR’s with less mileage and more cross training.

I brought my 5K time down from 24 to 21 minutes running 4 miles twice a week at age 54.

I trained for my half marathon running 12-20 miles per week and could have easily run a 1:45 or faster at age 55 if it weren’t for my knee. I ended hobbling through a 2:05 instead. (I ran a 10 mile long run a few weeks prior at low 8 minutes miles).

Cross training is da bomb and makes running so much funner I think.

Reply

I’m excited to hear about your changed perspective with training!! You used to teach cycling, right? So it makes sense to me that you would love the peloton. I personally love running and run some every day but over the years I’ve reduced my weekly mileage and focused on strength and hiit because I feel that way I am able to work on strengthening every muscle in my body where as running repetitively is the same muscle group over and over. I personally believe strength is essential to being your best runner. It also keeps things exciting and I enjoy doing something different every day!

IMO … never too soon for Christmas!!!

Reply

In 2019 I had just come back from a stress fracture when I started training for CIM. My training plan was far less running than I was used to and I was so nervous about that! I ran 4 days per week, biked 2, did my typical strength training which is about 3 days per week (I have been doing this for years and years) and I completely surprised myself with a PR of over a minute at CIM. And my post-race recovery was really good! Since then, I have really dialed back and mixed things up with cross training. I vary my workouts and do lots of bilateral strength in addition to heavy upper body lifting. I don’t get injured anymore! I will never go back to high mileage training. I think my max during marathon training for the last 2 cycles has been about 50 miles, and that’s with a 22 mile long run. For me, less it definitely more!
My advice is to keep changing things up and you’ll find what works best for you ?
So happy to hear you are healing up! Have a great day, Janae!

Reply

Oooo… Such a good question!
I think it definitely depends on the person, but I also think it’s doable. And you’ll never know until you try. As you get older ( and I think I have a good 10+ years on you ?), cross training, strength training, and taking time to recover are so important in staying injury free! I have become a huge fan of listening to my body and doing what is right for my body and my mind. I really liked reading the comments from the triathletes in the group…. Perfect examples of mixing in cross training.
I love Christmas, but yes… Too soon to bring out the Christmas stuff. Let’s enjoy Halloween, fall, and Thanksgiving.
Ha ha ha… Skye’s dog! She’s a crack up! And the look on Beck’s face at the table ❤️. Always entertaining over there!
I did get out for a run early this morning, and it felt good! Happy even! Maybe I did just need a few days away from running.
Have a great day Janae ?

Reply

I’m just here for the comments :) I have been looooving lifting heavy weights lately. I just signed up for a marathon in April. Makes me a little sad to give up my lifting time for more running time when my training starts. But it’s a season. I am anxious to hear what others think and try to keep a balance of both? Always fun and excited to try new combos of things to reach some goals. Or just to switch it up to keep the boredom away.

Reply

I think you can totally PR with less running. Hilary trained with Hawk for Utah Valley and only ran 4 days a week with swimming and spinning the other two days and she ran a 2:59 for her first trained for marathon. I think there’s a female Olympic marathoner from Great Britain who trains on lower mileage with lots of cross training.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/olympics.com/en/news/steph-davis-from-first-marathon-to-olympic-marathon-in-three-short-ye-tokyo-2020

Reply

I had my fourth baby this year, and switching to lower mileage has been essential for my body and my schedule . Running high mileage is fun, but my body feels stronger and more balanced when I have a mix of strength and cross training too! I think as we get older, learning to adjust our training like this is essential! Thanks for always writing fun posts :)

Reply

Not too early lol. I love Christmas!

I have probably run 2 x 80 mile weeks in my life when I was training for longer ultras. I have a friend who swears by strength training..she is the only person I know who isn’t ever injured lol

I think every person is different..right now is off season and I hit maybe 55km or roughly 30 miles a week and is sweet spot for me when I don’t have a race. I haven’t had an injury in a long while touch wood. I haven’t ever been a high mileage runner. Any where from 50-60 miles when I am training for a specific race. I don’t have a coach but am thinking of one maybe next year.

Happy Wed Janae!

Reply

This post is hilarious. I don’t know which I laughed harder at: counting to 10 or the dog walking.

As for me after marathon training, I’m enjoying the shorter runs and Pilates. Our bodies and minds need a break before they are reading to take another deep dive.

Reply

You can definitely still pr. In fact the change is important. I can’t stress enough how much women need strength. Not just for bones but also power and explosiveness. I tried for a half pr for years and finally got it with running 3x a week and lots of lifting. I just made those runs count. Lots of hills, speed work, etc.

Reply

Yes yes yes! Strength training is a fantastic way to get stronger and enhance your running. I took a whole minute off my mile time when I started mixing the two (My times are MUCH slower than yours, but I think the principal is the same). I think the combo of strengthening your core, back, and flutes paired with running leads to an overall stronger body. GOOD LUCK!

Reply

Janae:

Please take a before and after of Beck’s great day of no face washing. What a great way to honor his day!

Plus you always say so I will remind you, running and then also training plans and PRs will be there when you are ready for them again. Running is supposed to serve the runner. The runner does not serve running.

Do what makes you happy and fulfilled in this season. I wonder if the PRs will even matter so much to you after a bit more time away. They might be ready to be good memories now.

On the other hand, if anyone can PR with a 4 day running plan, it will most definitely be you!

Reply

I think it is really cool and brave of you to try a new approach! It is funny, often for things we get so used to a routine and are terrified from deviating from it, but what is the worst that happens? This other method does not work out as well, and one can go back to the previous approach. I personally have always found when this happens, the new approach is usually the way to go hah.

Also I am thinking you have read this, but I read the Gratitude Diaries recently and it made me think about all of your positive mental approaches and what you tell yourself. I have started the Gratitude mindset and found it really makes me enjoy everything more! It isn’t about diminishing hard things, etc., it is simply recording a few things you are grateful for at the beginning of the day, and then your brain picks up on it, pretty amazing what a few minutes can do to your whole brain!

Reply

I recently ran a 100 miler. During my training for the 100 miler I ran a marathon. My biggest weekly mileage was 65. I supplemented in cycling for cross training to help prevent injuries. My marathon time was only seconds off of my PR which I was excited about because my training wasn’t exactly for a marathon. I also finished my 100 miler in 23 hours which was faster than I was expecting for my first one. Again without super high mileage and letting my body recover with cycling and adding in strength training. I think the only way to know if it will work for you though is to try it! Good luck!!

Reply

I’m definitely team cross training! That use to mean cycling instead of running, but this year I finally added strength training and it has made a huge difference. It’s weird to not go out and run or ride, but when I do run or ride I’m faster and stronger. I thought my faster paces were behind me, but my body has surprised me!

Reply

Spicy Thai! My favorite place! THE SWEET MANGO STICKY RICE!!! Now I’m craving it.

A little soon for Christmas. But right after Halloween, bam, I’m there. I’m not ignoring Thanksgiving, I just like combing them both as part of “The Holidays”.

Reply

Okay, so I may be in the minority group but I totally think you’d still be able to tackle a PR adding in more strength/peloton workouts to your running mix! Whatever brings on more strength and less injuries is best which is so different for everyone—so I say you do what makes you happiest girlfriend! ? Also, I haven’t played Yahtzee in years but it’s so fun!!!

Have a fabulous Wednesday, Janae!!

Reply

Too soon for Christmas, at least get through Halloween and I’m good.

So for future PRs, as I am also re-evaluating that myself now with 2 kids, where my last PR was pre-kids but I know I can PR again! Along with the part I am thing postpartum PR vs pre-kid PRs, I am trying not to compare as I have less time to recover, less sleep as lately we’ve had more night wake ups with colds plus going back into the office soon I’ll need to get up even earlier, and not as much time to sit down. Pre-kids I did PR only doing 50 mile weeks though running 5-6 days/week. This time around I plan to run 4-5 days/week with at least 2 workout quality runs/week. Along with a long run which may or may not have a workout included. I will max at 50 miles for peak week though. I plan to ride on my bike trainer at least one day and actually take rest days (kid willingly). I will strength train 3-4 days/week as well. I feel doing that has caused less injuring as long as I make sure I change my shoes out (I swear they don’t last past 200 miles). I just started my marathon training for a marathon in January (Charleston, SC). We shall see what happens and I can follow up if it worked ha.

My happy miles is 30 miles/week.

Last game I played was Euchre this summer. Can’t wait until my kids can play games. I feel like they are like Skye right now (age 4 and almost 2).

Reply

I think it is completely reasonable to not run 6 days a week, 3, 4, or 5 works for many people. I think that 4 days a week with cross training would be worth a try. I think the key too is to really make sure 80% of your runs are easy. I run 4-5 days a week but if I only get in 3 it’s fine. But I am not that fast and it isn’t because of my running schedule, it’s my age and ability. It’s important though to find a balance in which you are not tired and not getting injured. There are many studies that high mileage doesn’t equal better times. But it also sounds like maybe you should consider a coach that would create a plan for you (or create your own). My marathon training plan was only 4 days running a week with strength and cross training. My strength is my cross training, I use Kira Stokes which offers more then just strength in a work out. I am in my 40s but this is so important as you get older. I think it isn’t always just your age, it is life in general. If I was in my 40s and single and without kids, I 100% could be doing more.

Reply

Omg I could literally talk about this for days! Finding the balance of different workouts to be your most fit is so fascinating and fun! I personally got faster and had less injuries when I was strength training and doing triathlons. But the best part is, you know what you can do when you run 80 miles a week. What you can do with strength and cross training is still a mystery you get to solve. And you have nothing to lose! If it isn’t the better strategy, go back to the high mileage! What a fun experiment!

Reply

– WAY TOO SOON for Christmas decorations! Nothing should be in the stores until the week before Thanksgiving and nothing out on display at homes until the day after Thanksgiving.
– I’m not sure if half mileage would work (maybe yes, maybe no) but I’m pretty positive that less (60% of old mileage?) will work with biking and strength. Rehabbing my ankle was 5 weeks of very limited leg strength work with lots of core/upper body strength work; followed by 3 weeks of build-back-up leg strength with lots of core/upper body, and lots of walking; week 8 I started adding run intervals to strength/walking and after the first couple “runs”, my interval speed was back up to my training speed pre-crunched-ankle by week 9 (still short intervals but I can keep up for however long they are).
– Happy not-training-for-racing mileage with healthy body parts is 25-30 running with another 20-25 walking and 6 days of strength/week.

Reply

I just ran a marathon pr on 30-40 miles a week at age 42. And I’ve been doing marathons for 15 years. I was also training for an ironman but when it got cancelled 3 months before the race I put more emphasis on the marathon but kept cycling. It also helped that I coach high school cross country and run with my girls. A little speed with them is always good.

Reply

I have run all my PRs, including my fastest marathon (3:10) on approx 50 km/week (so…30ish miles?) supplemented with two spin classes a week, a swim, and strength training! As a political journalist I just didn’t have the time in the last 6ish years to devote to long mileage, and my body definitely didn’t like all the accompanying injuries overuse would bring me. You can definitely do it! And we’ll be cheering you on!

Reply

I actually literally just reached a running-based goal on exceptionally limited mileage.

(https://fullcircleendurance.com/four-minutes-at-a-time-the-long-haul-to-my-tenth-mountain-goat-run/)

I hadn’t run in about 17 months, and I only started running/walking about three weeks before my goal race. I ran/walked twice a week for three weeks and logged a total of about 40 miles before my 10-mile race.

I’m not nearly as fast as you, but the premise is solid:. I focused on strength training, used cycling for cardio, and honestly had one of the best race experiences of my endurance career. I felt the same in Mile 9 as I had in Mile 1, recovered exceptionally well and didn’t incur any injuries in the race. It was remarkable (and wonderful).

So yes, I think it can be done, as long as you’re being thoughtful in how you’re planning it!

Reply

For me, I didn’t get faster but stayed the exact same with my half marathon PR when I cut back to 3-4 days of running and use the peloton/strength training on other days. And I got the huge benefit of a lot more energy during the days and time when I was in medical school/residency and wayyy less injuries!

Reply

Skye’s spunk is my favorite.
Did Andrew tell you that Ross and I went to Spicy Thai the weekend you were in New York. It felt weird to be there without you guys. Weird. But still delicious ;) We need a double date soon!

Reply

Super late to the thread but just wanted to comment that I trained for an ultra (100 miler) with only 5 days of running per week and I never went over 70 miles in a week (and only did 70 miles once). Also 1-2 of those ‘running’ days were usually playing soccer, so cross-training I guess? I’m definitely not the fastest but I still think it is cool how many different ways there are to train for a big goal!

Reply

I’ve never run more than 3-4x a week and saw big improvements when I added cross-training in the form of cycling and strength training, so yes, I think it’s possible ).
I’ve only been a runner for 6+ years and I am not as fast as you, but I did see new PRs with this approach.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *