Junk miles are a common topic of discussion among runners, but what are they, and why should you avoid them? In this article, we’ll explore what junk miles are and how they can hinder your progress.
What are Junk Miles?
Junk miles are running workouts that provide little or no benefit to your overall training goals. These are typically easy, low-intensity runs that don’t challenge your body or improve your fitness level. While it’s important to have some easy runs in your training, too many of these types of runs can lead to a plateau in your progress.
How to Identify Junk Miles
One way to identify junk miles is to evaluate your overall training plan. Are you incorporating enough speed work, hills, and other challenging workouts? Or are you spending most of your time running easy, low-intensity miles? If the majority of your training is focused on low-intensity runs, you may be running junk miles.