How to Use and Manage Your Target Mileage Settings on a Run to Maintain Plan

The target mileage on a Run to Maintain Plan is your steady-state weekly volume—the distance you want to sustain throughout your plan. By entering one consistent mileage figure, you help Runna keep you fit and strong between training blocks, avoiding spikes or drops that can lead to fatigue or injury.

Runna uses your target mileage as the core volume each week, allowing workouts to fluctuate by a small percentage (up or down) to introduce variety while holding you near your chosen level. Rather than building toward a new peak, your plan focuses on maintaining fitness, reinforcing your aerobic base, and sharpening speed or endurance at your current capability.

Weekly mileage is the total distance you cover in seven days (usually Monday–Sunday). Your longest run is the single most extended session within that same period and contributes directly to your weekly total. In a Run to Maintain Plan, Runna uses both of these inputs to design each week’s volume and the length of your long run.

If you’re unsure what to put as your target mileage you can use the default options that Runna recommends or use your average from the last four weeks for both weekly mileage and longest run. Being honest ensures your plan challenges you without overreaching.

If you need to tweak your target mileage—because your schedule changes, you’re feeling stronger, or you simply want to maintain a different volume—you can update this under ‘Manage Plan’ with the new weekly and long-run values. Runna will adjust your weekly targets while preserving the same deload structure.

If you see an error message indicating that your target mileage is above or below the allowable range, you’ll need to update your ability level or the number of days you run per week. Runna uses those settings to cap safe progression and ensure your plan remains sustainable and injury-free.