Running Experience Levels
Before we develop your training plan, we will share information about you, including your current and historical running experience, any medical restrictions, injury history, time available to train, other activities you are involved in and current training tools (i.e. GPS watch, heart rate monitor, smartphone apps). If you are not sure what your running experience level is, the following categories can you used for a guide. This list is not an exhaustive list, but includes the most common types of runners.
Novice Runner: you can generally be characterized as a novice runner if you are running less than 15 miles per week and/or are brand new to running.
Novice Marathoner: you can generally be characterized as a novice marathoner if you are running between 15 and 25 miles per week and have set a goal to run a marathon or ultra.
Experienced Runner: you can generally be characterized as an experienced runner if you are running 15-40 miles per week and have been running for several years.
Competitive Runner: you can generally be characterized as a competitive runner if you are running more than 30 hours per week and emphasize competition in races from 5k up to half-marathons.
Do not worry if you don't think you fit squarely within one of these categories. They are just for guidance. You do not have to want to run races to be a runner. You don't have to be training for a time goal to be a runner. You just have to get out there and run!
Novice Runner: you can generally be characterized as a novice runner if you are running less than 15 miles per week and/or are brand new to running.
Novice Marathoner: you can generally be characterized as a novice marathoner if you are running between 15 and 25 miles per week and have set a goal to run a marathon or ultra.
Experienced Runner: you can generally be characterized as an experienced runner if you are running 15-40 miles per week and have been running for several years.
Competitive Runner: you can generally be characterized as a competitive runner if you are running more than 30 hours per week and emphasize competition in races from 5k up to half-marathons.
Do not worry if you don't think you fit squarely within one of these categories. They are just for guidance. You do not have to want to run races to be a runner. You don't have to be training for a time goal to be a runner. You just have to get out there and run!