How Many Miles A Week Should I Run?  How to determine the number
of weekly miles you need to run to reach any goal  July 24, 2007
I once asked a colleague who has coached many runners to
collegiate and Olympic glory what he considered the proper
mileage totals to succeed in distances from the 5-K to the
marathon. "That's easy," he said. "You want to run as few miles
as you can and still win."  Runners too often get caught in the
mileage trap, thinking more is better. The truth is, more
mileage is better only up to the point where you can achieve
your potential. After that, each additional mile only increases
your injury risk. The following six rules informed the mileage
ranges in Target Totals, at right, and can help you find your
magic number.  Rule #1 The longer the race, the higher the
mileage. Not surprisingly, a marathoner needs to run more than a
5-K specialist.  Rule #2 Mileage requirements increase as
performance goals increase. If your goal is simply to finish a
race, you can run fewer miles than if