Maintain mileage between marathons?

Cerlan

Hey guys,

Just wondering what the best strategy is for mileage between training for marathons. I followed a plan to train for Cork (my first attempt at a marathon) and was up to 40 miles a week (had to drop out after 18 miles on the day). I'm eager to get try the marathon again as soon as possible to make up for my ignominious failure. Going to do either Longford or Dublin. Should I maintain the mileage that I have been doing at the peak of the plan until these races?

It would seem a shame to let the level of fitness that I have built up go and return to doing shorter long runs. Would it be a good idea to keep doing a 40 to 50 mile week, with long runs of 15 miles or over every weekend until the next marathon? Have plenty of time on my hands at the moment so would even be able to increase mileage if I needed to.

Just curious as to what others do in between training for a specific race.... thanks in advance...

TFBubendorfer

Longford is only a bit over 2 months away - if you'd be training for that, you should be on high mileage right now anyway.

There's more time for Dublin, but it's still only about 16 weeks. Most marathon training plans are longer than that. I'd definitely keep up the miles, but only after you have recovered from the 18 miles at Cork - probably give it a week or two, depending on how you feel. But you're absolutely right, it would be a shame to waste your level of fitness.

Personally I tend to start training for my next marathon about a week (or maybe 2 if it was bad) after my previous one, raising the mileage gradually over the first few weeks. I did Boston 7 weeks ago, and will be reaching my target mileage in about 3 weeks.

Barty

I can't really offer advice on your training but just wanted to say that the Dublin marathon is 21 weeks away. As TFBubendorfer said most training plans are more than 16 weeks - I'm going to have two to three weeks of relaxing/easy running after my first marathon last Monday in Cork before starting an 18 week plan for the Dublin one. I'm also wondering whether I should keep up the mileage or start from scratch but on a higher level training plan.

hunnymonster

Barty, it will depend on how you got on in Cork, your background (how long you've been running, your normal recovery etc) and your goals for Dublin.

Barty

I completed the Cork marathon in 4:30 however I had been hoping/aiming to do it in under 4 hours - the heat just drained me and I ended up having to walk sections of it. I followed Hal Higdon's novice 1 training schedule I have always done a bit of running but only really got into it at the start of this year. I can't comment on my normal recover time except to say I'm still sore today after Monday I'm considering following Hal Higdon's intermediate 2 schedule for Dublin - with an emphasis on pace and interval training.

Cerlan

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Longford is only a bit over 2 months away - if you'd be training for that, you should be on high mileage right now anyway.

There's more time for Dublin, but it's still only about 16 weeks. Most marathon training plans are longer than that. I'd definitely keep up the miles, but only after you have recovered from the 18 miles at Cork - probably give it a week or two, depending on how you feel. But you're absolutely right, it would be a shame to waste your level of fitness.

Personally I tend to start training for my next marathon about a week (or maybe 2 if it was bad) after my previous one, raising the mileage gradually over the first few weeks. I did Boston 7 weeks ago, and will be reaching my target mileage in about 3 weeks.

Thanks TFBubendorfer. Think I will focus on Dublin. Longford might be a bit too soon alright. One week of light mileage will be enough I'd say and then get back into it. My runner's knee has flared up but other than that feel good.

Barty, if you're looking to focus on pace and interval training, this plan from Runner's World is a bit more specific on what times you should be running. Thinking of using this one myself.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244--6946-4-3X5X7-4,00.html

Well done on finishing Cork. Sounds like your plan was similar to mine. When I saw my goal time drift further and further away, I called it a day at the Lough. Really enjoyable day though.

TFBubendorfer

Sorry for miscounting the weeks. As Barty pointed out, it's 21 weeks to Dublin, not 16.

My point still stands, though. Training for that marathon should start soon if you're serious about it.

Slogger Jogger

In the 8 weeks between my dissappointing run in Rotterdam and my PB in Edinburgh I averaged c. 70k a week. I got back into running very shortly after Rotterdam but didn't do any long runs over 28k. Did more races though to keep my sharpness and got back to doing more runs in the hills, uphills for strength, downhills for the legspeed.

Cerlan

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

In the 8 weeks between my dissappointing run in Rotterdam and my PB in Edinburgh I averaged c. 70k a week. I got back into running very shortly after Rotterdam but didn't do any long runs over 28k. Did more races though to keep my sharpness and got back to doing more runs in the hills, uphills for strength, downhills for the legspeed.

Just read your log Slogger Jogger. Inspiring stuff. Congrats on Edinburgh. Think I will keep the mileage at around 40 a week if I can and try do some shorter races for experience. Might head up to Achill in July.

Will definitely have to add some hill training / intervals to my training too...