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I've come down with a stinker of a cold 3 weeks before the big day, right when I was meant to do my schedule's longest run of 20 miles then start tapering down. I got a 16 miler in 4 weeks before the event, I may not be back running again until 2 weeks to go. There is the tension between wanting to get my legs used to long distances while tapering to keep them fresh.
I am thinking of skipping the 20-miler and just following the remainder of my schedule which is a hard-ish week of 15 slow (7:30) miles, a fast run & intervals, then a 10-miler and easy runs with light sprints. Sounds sensible?
As an aside, I do [s]alot[/s] not very much for charity but I don't like to talk about it.
Some here were extremely generous 2 years ago when I ran Edinburgh marathon in drag, this year it's Belfast's turn on the 6 May.
I thought I'd give you the chance to get me to make a fool of myself (even moreso than on here) as the more you donate, the more complete my cross-dressing for the event will be.
Details and pics here, updates to follow!
http://www.justgiving.com/Alan-Cole1
sound sensible?
Yes, very. Bin the long one, recover, follow the plan.
Tapering for more than a week seems excessive IMO.
Unless you've got a specific target that you want to achieve in this event I'd just do your long one as soon as you feel up to it. Are you not doing something like a 70+ in a few weeks time? If you are you must have a very solid base fitness.
You're unlikely to lose much fitness from a few weeks off unless you are aiming to achieve a PB or something.
I was looking for a pb, the 70.3 is 3 weeks after and I'm just looking to finish that comfortably - my first tri.
I get pretty paranoid about colds and want to recover properly - build up a bit before my 1st long one.
2 opposing views, stw delivers yet again!
Anyway:
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My thinking based on your post:
You've 3 weeks to race day, we've written off one for a cold/recovery time, leaving you two weeks of training including taper.
Last week before the event is, as you say, a couple of easy runs with strides to open up the legs in the week, with the previous weekend including a tem mile effort, (at race pace I guess).
Two weeks out is normal training with the long run of 15 miles at 7:30 pace.
I see little advantage of increasing the 15 mile run to 20, unless you've either a good base and know your body would recover, or you've never gone that long before and need the mental boost.
Cheers - that's my thinking also. My previous 15 milers have been fine so I'd probably be OK with a 20 but I'd want to be recovered first - and prefer to err on the cautious side.
*bump*
OK so I had my first run for 3 weeks on Sunday, 8 days before the race. Jogged 4 miles at 7:20, was easy but I felt sluggish.
Best way to use remaining 5 days? I am thinking a 10 mile run not too sluggish, and some wee or varied intervals.
I've gived you some money, I want to see some suffering.
If it helps any, I ran 3:09 in my first marathon this weekend. And you will suffer 🙂
My last week was a 5K run on Tuesday, a tempo (2K warm up / 6K at race pace / 2K cool down) run on Thursday, and another 5K slow on Friday. Had a couple of beers on Friday, dry Saturday, and beat my planned time by 5 minutes on Sunday 🙂
Should also point out yesterday I could hardly walk, and going downstairs was particularly unpleasant.
crikey...eh? I don't see it.
Great time mogrim, I'm teetotal for a whole week before (meant to be 6 😐 ) - it's my third, I know the suffering 😛