Maintaining running fitness during Tri training

--amadeus--

My running has been cack lately - I just haven't been able to get into it. And with 5 years of 2 or more marathons a year maybe the root of the issue is that I'm bored with it.

So I'm kicking around the idea of skipping my normal Spring mara and instead doing something totally different this spring and then coming back in the Autumn for a really good crack at a mara PB.

My biggest worry is that I have spent a long time building marathon fitness and I don't want to wind up back where I started after taking a training cycle off. Does anyone have any experience of doing multiple marathon training cycles and then taking time off? How much work was it to get back into PB shape?

I'm assuming that maintaining marathon fitness would mainly consist of maintaining weekly longish runs (16 - 18 milers) and decent weekly mileage on top of whatever other training I would do?

I'm thinking about a tri - mainly to get me to learn to swim properly - but does anyone have suggestions for other events?

Thanks

donothoponpop

I'd say this ennui is pretty common after a few years going from PB to PB, and then finding diminishing returns. (Especially so for solo trainers who don't have a network of training partners to compete against). I found for a while last year that what once was novel and fresh, had become bogged down in an endless cycle of PMP/tempo/LSR's that had to be done, rather than wanted to be done. The solution for me, as ever, is a long run in the mountains, to remind myself of what it is I enjoy about running.

So I think you're on the right path by giving something fresh (tri) a bash, maybe you might give adventure sports or mountain running a bash too?

--amadeus--

Yeah, I think thats it. My returns aren't shrinking but my investment is having to grow to maintain them and it's getting tougher. It used to be going out for a nice bimle by the river. Now the shortest run is 6 and the majority are 8 - 10. that's a decent chunk of time you're out for, even before you start your PMP/LT etc pressure. As you say it stops being fun.

Adventure racing is a def maybe, mountain running is almost a def not (too bloody risky!)

Krusty_Clown

How can you stop now? You're mere seconds from an achievement that will last in memory, far, far, longer than the PMP runs, LT, V02Max, etc., etc. At this stage, it's harder to stop, then it is to keep going. Ok, I may have issues,

I know exactly where you're coming from though. Work rates are up, injury risks are higher, and it's harder to enjoy a run, when you're doing it at a tempo that isn't comfortable. The focus is on the numbers, rather than the running. And we've seen it all before. Once I hit the next milestone, I fully intend to re-assess my goals, and focus on the type of running I enjoy most, but continue to visit new cities, and run new marathons.

baza1976

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Yeah, I think thats it. My returns aren't shrinking but my investment is having to grow to maintain them and it's getting tougher. It used to be going out for a nice bimle by the river. Now the shortest run is 6 and the majority are 8 - 10. that's a decent chunk of time you're out for, even before you start your PMP/LT etc pressure. As you say it stops being fun.

Adventure racing is a def maybe, mountain running is almost a def not (too bloody risky!)

Very well summed up Amadeus,

I was thinking the same thing. I currently have a pb of 3.42 for the marathon and I reckon I could improve that to 3:15 with little extra effort as my training has always been so basic and up in the air. But I reckon to get near or under the 3hr would involve a whole different kind of commitment which I don't have the time to do. To get where you are now you have done extremely well considering work and family and other interests. I don't know if my wife would be as "nice" as yours if I was putting in your hours on the road. I feel bad enough at times when I go home and need out later for 50 mins.