Forums >Racing>How much mileage for competitive 5k?
I've got a fever...
On your deathbed, you won't wish that you'd spent more time at the office. But you will wish that you'd spent more time running. Because if you had, you wouldn't be on your deathbed.
keep running.
I have no idea but I am close to 50 miles a week sometimes and I can't touch a 16 minute 5k for the life of me. Then again I haven't run a 5k in about 10 months
Runners run
do you need to 50~60 mpw to run your fastest possible 5k, or can you do the same speedwork and run less miles?
I am 37. I would need to run at least that much to run sub-17 5K, a feat I could easily accomplish on 30 mpw as a 17 year old. Actually that is one of my goals for 2008 as well, but then I could probably run 17:45-ish right now. You may be one of those genetic freaks who can improve really fast but based on where you're at now, 16 minutes in 2008 seems a bit aggressive. How long has it been since you ran a 16-ish minute 5K?
For you and I the 5K is even more than 93% aerobic. 10 and 12 milers help you maximize your aerobic fitness, which by the way, makes you better able to get value from the speedwork. You would have better results from doing higher mileage and NO speedwork than from doing lower mileage and more speedwork.
Prophet!
IBut doing VO2max interval type stuff right now is like buying curtains for your master bedroom before you've even poured the foundation for the house.