Higher mileage feels easier? (Read 1118 times)

I'm about to go over 30 mpw for the third week straight and this is the highest mileage I've ever run. I even hit 35 miles in a 7 day period counting backwards from yesterday. What I find strange is that it feels much easier than running 20-25 mpw. Has anyone else experienced this? Even 40 mpw doesn't seem like it's going to be much harder.

Yes. A thousand times yes. "Run more" is the answer to just about everything. It's the '42' of running. Like you, I feel better at 50 mpw than at 25, I run better, I run easier, eat better, avoid injury better, stay healthier, and feel better about just about everything. My legs feel stronger, my races are faster. It may seem counter-intuitive, but its true. There's a point at which you'll find diminishing returns, of course. For me its around 70 mpw. But I am now convinced that staying at the 40-60 range most of the time is better for everything. You'll find your own perfect range, obviously, but its there - and its probably higher than you think. I don't even taper much anymore. Running a 90 mile week the week before a marathon didn't bother me a bit (not that I'm exactly advising it). Bump this thread up in a few months when you're doing 40 or 50 mpw. I want to see if you're feeling even better. As long as you're careful, I'll bet you will be.

I agree as well. I have been steadily increasing my base for the last couple of months (since recovering from an injury) and feel better than ever. In fact I'm thinking about adding a 6th day in the next couple of weeks. Just an easy couple of miles maybe the night before my long run. Of course for me, running slower has been the most beneficial change in my running. I feel like I could run everyday if I am just willing to make a few of those runs really SLOW! Now, If I can just get my family to understand that I 'll be better off if I run more

I don't even taper much anymore. Running a 90 mile week the week before a marathon didn't bother me a bit (not that I'm exactly advising it).

Although I can't say for sure that 100 mpw would feel easier than 55-60 since I've never done it, I can say without question that my runs feel better and I recover quicker on 55-60 than 30. It is actually more logical than it might seem; when you run more you become more fit, and when you become more fit running is easier!

i feel like crap when i hit 50, but hopefully someday it will be easier.

One more with the exact same feeling. Ever since I went from 20-25 MPW to 30-35 MPW, been noticing my easy run paces have dropped from 10:30-11:00 min to 10:00-10:20 in the last month. I think this might be due to running 5-6 days as opposed to 4 times a week earlier (or is it the nice spring weather?). This is the biggest improvement I have seen in my 2 years running and has given me the motivation to go for 40 Miles this week.

I find I also feel more motivation to run and that the workouts become exciting to do. Its fun to be building mileage, rather than trying to "just" get in the minimum weekly mileage. I also eat better, feel better, am more rejuvinated, and become more inspired to get out and run!

That is exactly where I am now--"just trying to get in the mileage". Oh, and I am not even at the 30 mpw range yet. I was just thinking about this the other day...it seemed that when I was running alot, about 9 years ago, I had no problems running, or even thinking about running. It had become a part of my day, and nothing would be allowed to get in the way of my noon time run. I could run longer/faster (for me), and looked forward to it. Long story short (layoff from running), I am back on the path, and the low miles that I put in seem to be drudgery--just those miles I have to put in to get back to where I once was.