Weekly Wrap.....What Junk?




This is how my week wrapped up.  I was surprised that even with my busy schedule I was still able to get my workouts in through either running or teaching class.

Sun- I was able to get off work early so I did 6 hot and sweaty miles at 8 pm and it was still in the 90's with real feel being 100. 

Mon- Still really hot and humid, I still managed to complete three miles.   

Tues- 4 miles 

Wed- Taught Body Pump then had to work, no run. 

Thursday- Ran 6 miles in the morning with my running buddy, then another 5 in the evening with each other. 

Friday- It rained the majority of the day, but when it did stop I was able to get another three miles in. 

Saturday- Ran 11 miles in the morning. That was one of my longest runs in a while. Wasn’t the easiest run for me, but I did complete it.

This week has been one of my higher mileage weeks in quite a while. It made me thinking about when runners talk about junk miles. What constitutes a junk mile? Is it a short run, a run that doesn’t feel good, but you're still out there getting it done? Or one that is not on the schedule, but you end up doing it anyway? To me, I think all miles are created equal, and you never come back from a run and say, “I wish I would not have done that.” Regardless of your pace or distance, a mile is a mile. At least you are out there doing it. 

So tell me, what do people (or you) mean when they talk about "junk miles"? L

                       We will be linking up with HoHo and MissSippiPiddlin for the weekly wrap.

39 comments:

  1. Seriously impressive week Lacey, especially that running two-a-day! I haven't done one of those in a long time - you must be seriously strong and conditioned. For me, "junk miles" are my fault - just going through the motions and not having a goal or intention for the run. Long runs have a purpose (preparing you for a longer distance race), speed work has a purpose, hills have a purpose, but then there are those filler runs between your hard efforts that if you don't give them a reason for being, can feel like "junk." I agree with you though, I have never regretted a single one, even if someone could classify it as "junk."

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  2. Wow, you had a really strong week of mileage! I guess I think of junk miles as something that has no real purpose- whether its pushing you over where you should be in training or putting you at risk for an injury. But I agree, I don't think i have ever regretted a run!

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  3. I ponder the whole junk miles thing all the time. I don't think any miles are junk miles, personally. As I always say, we aren't elite runners. We can do whatever we want.

    Great week of training!

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  4. To me, junk miles are when I am running for a not healthy reason. If it is time for a rest day and I "feel fat" and I decide to run, those are junk miles.

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  5. I don't call any of my miles junk miles. Even the slow, short, or unscheduled runs have a purpose to me. You had a great running week! I've never doubled up on a single day either. I should try that. Thanks for linking, Lacey!

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    1. My second run felt so much better than my first run that day.

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  6. Wow, congrats on that 11-miler! I think some people call junk miles runs that don't have a specific purpose, but it doesn't make sense to me! Even "easy" runs serve an important purpose.

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  7. That's a great point Lacey, every run is good unless you get hurt during that particular one then it would not be good. But I get your point. I think whatever I'm doing is good for me. I am not one to focus on speed miles or intervals, maybe I should but 9/10 times I have a distance or time frame in mind and I just run by feel.
    You did have a very active week, thanks for linking up with us.

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    1. I never focus on speed nor intervals either. I probably should

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  8. Junk runs for me are when I have eaten too much 'junk' and go run anyway...then I feel like 'junk'! Just kidding... I have done that and still didn't regret the run! You put in some serious miles this week, congratulations! I've done a 'two-a-day' run twice and actually felt really good. Once I did 6 in the morning and 6 that evening. I should probably incorporate those more now that I'm older...it's easier on the old body than 12 all at once. Have a great week!

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    1. I always find the second run easier than the first one in. Maybe I am just not a morning person.

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  9. You seriously ran 38 miles (if my math is correct)??? YIKES! That's way more than I can handle LOL Junk miles.....I agree that every mile has merit, but some definitely don't benefit us...especially if we're already injured (or on the verge of injury) and we try to sneak in an extra mile (or several) on a quest to a mileage goal. That said, even if the excess miles cause injury, there's usually a lesson learned.

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    1. Luckily I have not had an injury in quite some time. knock on wood.

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  10. Great job running all those miles! I'm not sure what junk miles really means. I guess it's the extra miles that aren't a specific workout. But I'm with you on all miles are created equal. :)

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  11. Wow, lots of running ! Congrats on the mileage.
    I think junk miles are running because we feel we have to, not because we want to. I think I had a lot in the past which lead to injury. For me, too much running can be a bad thing.

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    1. I never thought of it like that but you make a good point.

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  12. I think as you get older, you have to be more careful with your miles -- recovery becomes harder. I also think streaks are often junk miles. I guess for me, junk miles are miles without purpose -- even a easy run has a purpose!

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    1. I guess I was on a running streak last wk. I won't get to run near as much this wk.

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  13. Great week! I don't think I run enough to have junk miles for the most part. I run 4 days a week, sometimes 5. Maybe the 5th day is junk miles for me since they aren't scheduled? But since I love them all I don't call them junk. They are serve the purpose of making me happy. I do try to keep extra runs shorter though.

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  14. I think I call junk miles when I spend most of the time walking... like more than 50% of the run.

    great week for you!

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  15. I think miles are miles, but junk miles to me could be when I'm feeling crappy or my head's not in the game. They're not great miles, but they still count.

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    1. I hear ya. You just do them to put them down in the books. I have had a few myself.

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  16. Wow, sounds like you had a great week with a lot of miles!

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  17. My plan defines junk miles as runs where you don't get physiological benefits. So, truly easy runs have physiological benefits as do speed work & long runs--all based on pace. But if you run at a pace that doesn't fit in to those types of workouts, you don't improve physiologically. That's why I always try to hit my paces--I want all the benefits!

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  18. Great mileage! Junk miles are as others have said: miles that have no purpose or reason.

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  19. I'm kinda with you on the "junk" miles.
    Granted I guess if I was training for a marathon but only going out and running 1-2 miles on days I should have been running 5-8, I guess they could be junk miles because they probably wouldn't be enough to help. But in the sense that any mile is better than zero in the fitness aspect I can't really bring myself to call them junk miles, LOL
    Great job on your mileage this past week!

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  20. When I first starting reading blogs, I discovered the term "junk miles." I guess they refer to miles when you are training. Even when I was/am training for races, I never think of miles as junk. I am grateful that I am able to get out and run when I can and because other people can't. Even when my runs are bad, I am still grateful because I was out there!

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  21. I have heard that term before too- I hope I am not running any junk miles- life is too short for that nonsense! :)

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