Let’s talk about marathon training and what weekly volume you can expect to be hitting during a training cycle.

Weekly Volume

First, let us define weekly volume. Your weekly volume is the number of miles or the amount of time spent training each week. Typically during a marathon block, we are referring to mileage when discussing weekly volume.

Weekly volume will increase progressively as you near race day until your taper begins. 

How many miles to expect?

At the start of a marathon build you should be running anywhere between 20-30 miles per week. This is your base mileage. Weekly volume can vary drastically from runner to runner based on running experience, time to train, and ability to recover. But for most of the general population, you’re going to be probably be looking at a maximum of 45-60 miles per week. 

Elite runners

You might be thinking that sounds low if you follow a lot of elite athletes on social media and see them posting their weekly mileage numbers. Elite athletes often run upwards of 100 miles per week. But that doesn’t mean that’s a good idea for most individuals. Elite athletes have trained for YEARS to be able to handle that kind of volume. You also have to remember that this is their job so they have plenty of time to recover, prepare the best meals to intake adequate nutrition, and have an entire team of coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, etc. to ensure they can handle that level of volume.

Have you trained for a marathon before? What was your highest mileage week?

Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.