Am I over doing it?

(Disclaimer - I am no coach....)   But as long as you are not injured, lots of (fast) folks swear by a running intensiive program.  That other board hosted an informal 100 in 100 challenge, 100 runs in 100 days, as a way to increase consistency and base.

Whether you get burnt out is another issue, but I think maybe the 100 in 100 style might help as there is a light at the end of the tunnel

3 miles every day is not really optimal.

If you start doing the 3 at lunch on top of another run each of those days, now we're talking.

It is certainly not overdoing it.  If it were, then I'm way overdoing it, and I don't think that's the case.

Are you still planning on getting a long run in at some point during the week?  I think if you want to get faster, frequency helps, but your long run and one tempo session at least every other week works pretty nice.  I did strictly slower pace running for Vegas mary in 06 and mixed things up more for Fox Cities this year and knocked 25 mins off.  That is a mix of nailing hydration, increased vol and frequency and tempo every week or two.  Depends on what distance you want to race, but if you can fit in at least one 10 miler a week, you will see that pay off big dividends.  Obviously if racing the longer stuff, you will need to bump up that long. 

(not a coach either) Foolish?  Depends on the person.  If you body is adapted enough to running to take some pounding every day, then not foolish.  It will build miles, but I'd say it's only good for training if they are quality miles (doing a slow, easy 3 everyday doesn't sound like it would add much).  Why only 3?  What about runs of different lengths - like a mid-week 5 miler?  As far as injury/burn-out... listen to your body.

For me, longer runs was a more effective way to build base than frequent short runs, but everyone is different.

As others have said, 3 miles a day won't kill you, but you'll need to do more to build a good base. Long runs will help with that.

Thanks everybody.  To answer a few questions:

(1) Why only 3 miles? I should have said a 30 minute lunch run (the last 2 days have been 3 milers because I did not want to press too hard after my race last sunday).  For me my comfort pace is between 8:30-9 min mile right now.  Not all of the runs will be easy, most will, frankly be fairly hard as slogging through 30 minutes on the dreadmill is boring.  I am a big fan of mixing it up, like: 10 min easy warm up with 20 mins alternating between hard (faster than 1 mile pace (for me about 7:30-8) with a 1 min. recover jog, cranking up the incline, etc. 

(2) Long run? Yes, weekend long run of 10+ miles will be maintained, so long as I don't have to do it on the 'mill.  Otherwise long run will be about 1 hour as that is all I can stomach on said instrument of torture.

(3) 1-2x week the lunch run will be 1 of 2 runs for that day.  That will depend on family and work obligations.

Understood.  Thanks for your input and help.  

100 in 100 is a bit extreme, even in my peer group.  Here is a blog post by a friend on 30 in 30...

 http://mdotdoc.blogspot.com/2007/10/30-runs-in-30-days.html

Streaking is a good objective, but realizing when to back off is equally important.  Consistency is most important but don't be too rigid about it that you do not take days off.  If you find that you have substantial tighness or pain that causes you to compromise your natural running gait - at such a point break the streak without hesitation.

Thanks for the post.  Read the blog.  Think I'll try to run daily through Thanksgiving, of course, paying attention to my body. 

You could go for the triple 100.

100 Miles

100 Beers

100 Hours

 That's a letsrun favorite.

My adult BEvERage consumption has really suffered over the last few years and do need to focus a bit on it..... your avatar is looking delicious right now. 

I know people have done a double century (100 miles 100 beers) in a week.

People have talked about the triple, but I don't know if anyone did it.

That would be epic!

Yet my performance at the ONLY beer mile I've ever done would steer me away from the "Century" path!

To sum it up, I got beaten by a 63 year old woman!  She was a tank!!

 But back on track, I would try and run 5-6 times a week, with varying distances (long run on the weekend etc.) just to train your body to adapt to different situations.  Play around with pace a little too, so if you do your 5 mile run at 9:00/mile pace, run a 5 miler at 9:15/mile pace etc.!

 Good luck!!!

It's easy for us to give you advice, but you know your body better than anyone responding to your post. The only advice I'd offer is to closely monitor your training/rest ratio.  You won't gain if you don't recover, whether your doing long-slow or short-intensive workouts.

Matt Cazalas
Technical Writer

Network Cables

I could do the beer part in college, the 100 miles of running part, not so much.  These days, all bets are off.  Maybe 100 cups of green tea?  But that;'s not very macho