Becoming a great runner is no easy feat, but through consistency and commitment one can acheive their own level of greatness within their capabilities. I was thinking about this today while running and I think I have solved it!
It takes commitment, 100% commitment to the act and practice of running. Many people may say they are committed to running. I know I have said the same. The truth of the matter is that I have never truely been 100% committed to a training. Nor do I thinkg that will I ever be able to for a consistent period of time. TAs a result of this 'Theory" I was compelled to relate commitment to running to one's mileage. I'm not talking about taper mileage or injured mileage, I am talking about week over week base mileage. The kind of mileage that results in THE running transformation. It's as simple as that.
Knowing that one's life will sometimes interfere with training/running, that person is in my book not 100% committed to running. Since Commitment by definition - the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose.
Mileage
100+ MPW - This is 100% commitment, and will likely lead to great results and great running. I don't distinguish between 100-120 because at the moment I don't see any benefit from going over 100 or esp 120 for that matter. Kind of like living/training at elevation, 5-6k' is great, but over 6k' has litte extended benefit. The 100mpw runner almost always trumps those who run less mileage.
90-100MPW - A really good runner. Trains alot, but still can't quite call themself 100% committed to running for whatever reason there is a barrier in the routine or lifestyle that prevents reaching 100+. Maybe just not enough experience to handle the mileage and constant pounding.
80-90MPW - The good runner who shows up, does the work, but has other things going on to prevent hitting the "big" miles. May be one of those 6 - 6.5 day a weekers.
70-80MPW - A dedicated runner but not truely committed to attaining the best that there is to offer from running. Lets face it this is running 10 miles a day and then a long run one day a week. I hear lots of people say that this is where they feel the best during there training, I am guilty of that myself. the truth is that getting past 80 is hard, and staying ontop of 80 is even harder. I know because I haven't been able to do this yet! Yet is the key work. This is where I found myself much of the last training season.
60-70MPW -Doing just enough to make slight improvements..
I wish I had the time to break this dowm in more detail. But I am not 100% committed to this blog either.
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I like this as a whole, but I cannot agree with this part: "90-100MPW - but still can't quite call themself 100% committed to running"
ReplyDeleteUnless you don't have a meaningful day job, anyone who can put in 40hrs/week at a job, has some sort of family/social life and run 90 miles a week, can DEFINITELY call themselves a runner in my book.
On another note...
I'll try and find the source, but the levels I've read about that make big differences are 60+, running 80to90, then 120+. I read there was no significant gains going pushing up from 90 to 100, as the next substantial gains level is 120.
Then again, it's not an exact science, everyone has their opinion!
Yes they can call themselves a runner, but they can not say they are 100% committed to running. And that is OK. Only a complete lunatic would neglect family, friends and life just for running commitment.
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