re: Official Running Log/Marathon Training Thread

Just be careful you're not trying to bank too much time. I admittedly don't know much about running hills but in a race like a 5k you're flying very close to the sun already and you can easily redline. Feel it out while you're racing and adjust

Marathon in 10 days... I've been training hard, but a bit different this year. Last year I began training in late October with an 18 week plan capping out at 70 miles per week some weeks, going all in and barely doing any biking or swimming.

This year because I did Ironman Florida in November, Ironman 70.3 Florida in December, and didn't want to neglect my bike/swim because I am doing Ironman Texas in April, I did a shortened 9 week plan capping out at 55 miles most weeks (with one 62 mile week).

I went 2:59 last year on a hot day, the weather will be better this year looking at the early forecasts but I am not sure if I will come in as prepared as I was last year. I am in better shape overall than a year ago, but I don't think I have responded to training as well as I did last year with the shortened schedule and lower mileage. A good marathon is all about strong legs, and while I know I am more fit aerobically, I am not sure if the leg strength is there. Plus I trained in Miami this year where its always warm and humid and makes it tough to run at faster paces so I am not getting as much of a benefit from harder runs to further strengthen my legs. I've tried to compensate by doing lots of bridge repeats but even then its always 80+ degrees and humid meaning I can't run up the bridge as hard as I could if it were 40 degrees.

Last year I came in woefully unprepared for Ironman Texas last year due to neglecting my biking and swimming, which is why I am willing to make the sacrifice, but it could come at the expense of a solid stand alone marathon.

I typically find i can get up the hill okay it's what it takes out of me after where i struggle. The hills I'm used to running in my normal route are much much more difficult and numerous than in this race so I'm hoping it won't have too much of a negative impact

It's next Sunday, wish it was today I'm ready to see what happens and hopefully be done with it

All good, it's the War Eagle run fest, pretty sure aub will be there running the half

Make sure you take it easy this week. Hard to resist doing your normal runs after training so long, but recovery during taper is crucial.

Personally, I’d cut back on the workouts. Maybe drop a day totally and make one of those runs an easy run. You don’t want tired legs going into your race. Do one or two easy workouts to keep the legs fresh, but the active recovery is what you really need.

Maybe someone else faster than me can chime in. I’m coming at this from a 10k/half training perspective.

Yeah, from what I've gathered it's a lot different than a marathon taper. Most things I saw said to cut down to around 60% of normal mileage.

My thing is I need to constantly prove to myself that I can run at those speeds or I start doubting myself during my slower runs. I don't have the experience to overcome that mental barrier.

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My thing is I need to constantly prove to myself that I can run at those speeds or I start doubting myself during my slower runs. I don't have the experience to overcome that mental barrier.

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That's a big part of racing and even the pros have to deal with it. During my half block I wasn't able to go faster than 7:15 pace for a single one of my tempo miles at the end of a progression long run. My pace for the whole race ended up being 10 seconds per mile faster than that, the last mile 35 seconds faster than the pace I couldn't hit in training. Trust that you've got the fitness. "The hay is in the barn" as they say

Alright so here my unasked for 2 cents.

That’s a heck of a week leading up to a culminating race. There’s really not much you can do to help your case inside of two weeks from what you’ve been training for. Only thing you can do is keep your body sharp and work on some turnover/some mental things.

I’d go something like this

Tomorrow normal run (4-5ish miles)
Tuesday: 10-15 min warmup, 1k, 800, 600, 400, 200: 1k at goal pace, 800 at 2 mile effort, 600 at mile effort, 400 slightly harder than that, 200 near all out to practice the finishing kick. 5 min - mile cool down.
Wednesday: recovery
Thursday: 3-4 miles with some 200s/hill sprints
Friday: 4 miles
Saturday: 2-3 miles light jog and some strides.

Obviously do what you want but you’re opening the door for crap to hit the fan on race day with the workouts you have planned. It may work but the odds are much greater you get to raced day gassed. Like ingenerio said the hays in the barn already. Based on the workouts you’ve posted you’re already there. There’s not any more work that needs done.