Run-Down Forums

[Guest]

How many days a week should a High School distance runner do..? And is it good to run everyday of the week without a break..?

And how many miles a week should a runner do.. ?

[Dan]

A lot of people prefer 7 days a week, but I'm more in favor of 6, or alternating weeks of 6 to 7. I think you get more benefit from cross training one day a week and resting your legs to prepare better for the hard workouts to come.

As far as mileage, the perfect amount varies greatly by the individual. Some people excel on low mileage, others on high mileage. You need to weigh your goals (track or cross country), the distance you race (3k or 5k?), what your strengths and weaknesses are, etc.

Dan

[Guest]

7 days a week is pretty standard, and late in HS, occasional 2 a days (where you run 3 miles before school a couple of times a week) will get you ahead of the competition. Mileage should be between 35 and 50 miles a week in your junior and senior years (for boys). However, the key is to build gradually. If you are just joining the team next fall, and have done very little up to now, you'd want to start running 2 to 3 miles every other day, then add 10% every 3rd week until fall arrives, then just workout with the team. Going from nothing to 35 miles a week immediately would be disastrous.

[Anonymously Posted by: 'Donk']