For those of you perhaps more skilled in the marathon or ultra distances I have a question. I've been debating about my upcoming marathon, October 16th... whether I can attempt it or perhaps back down to the half. A little background... I've run this twice, probably with similar training as I had this year (maybe more long runs but similar or less weekly mileage). Both times they kicked my but, left me limping and hobbling for days, and the second one did some damage to my achilles which I think is still a lingering problem for me. With that in mind I told myself I wouldn't attempt the marathon again until I could get adequate training. Last year I skipped it knowing I wasn't prepared. This year I thought I had a shot at enough training and signed up for it back in spring when the price was lower. I did have a slightly better summer but still very doubtful it's adequate. My plan, knowing I probably wasn't going to be trained to race it competitively was to just go easy at a normalish long run pace and just try to finish it without hurting myself. But I am not really sure how much training is good enough just to finish it at a modest pace and not be limping afterwards.
My longest run this summer has been the 18.12 mile race, and I did it well, but was hurting after with full on DOMS for 3-4 days after, using hiking poles to get around easier and avoid straining my weakened right achilles. I did recover seemingly without injury, though a bit of stiffness persisted for a couple weeks but pretty much back to normal now. I really wanted to do a few 18 milers to prep for the marathon, but at this point (within 3 weeks) I'll be lucky to do one this week. My last 3 weeks were all short/easy runs I don't even feel like 18 miles would be smart this week without working up with an intermediate long run or two less than 18.
Here are my longest runs of the summer, everything I did that was longer than a half-marathon:
Not to many unfortunately. Pretty pathetic actually considering in years past I had several over 15 miles and at least a couple 20+
For the last two marathons I did both times I got a couple runs in 20+ miles, though there is a strong opinion out there that one doesn't need to run more than 18 miles to train. Not sure if 1 18 miler is enough though.
Here is my weekly mileage for most of the summer:
You may have to click on it to read it. I had some good 30+ mile weeks. Lately though, I haven't had over 30 miles in a month and a half. This week I could easily, but start tapering next. Realize though that there is quite a lot of cycling and hiking and other sports adding to my overall fitness in there, that wasn't all I did, but just the running part of it.
But there is a huge difference in running a race fast, and just casually to finish. Still it would be pushing myself. But I could back down to the half-marathon, though I'd have overpaid for it, but that is ok. I've done well this year at the shorter distances, and even the 18 miler, so if I backed down to the half I might actually have a shot at a PR. And it probably would be a lot easier for me to get a couple of speed workouts in rather than a couple of long runs in at this point.
Thoughts?
My longest run this summer has been the 18.12 mile race, and I did it well, but was hurting after with full on DOMS for 3-4 days after, using hiking poles to get around easier and avoid straining my weakened right achilles. I did recover seemingly without injury, though a bit of stiffness persisted for a couple weeks but pretty much back to normal now. I really wanted to do a few 18 milers to prep for the marathon, but at this point (within 3 weeks) I'll be lucky to do one this week. My last 3 weeks were all short/easy runs I don't even feel like 18 miles would be smart this week without working up with an intermediate long run or two less than 18.
Here are my longest runs of the summer, everything I did that was longer than a half-marathon:
Not to many unfortunately. Pretty pathetic actually considering in years past I had several over 15 miles and at least a couple 20+
For the last two marathons I did both times I got a couple runs in 20+ miles, though there is a strong opinion out there that one doesn't need to run more than 18 miles to train. Not sure if 1 18 miler is enough though.
Here is my weekly mileage for most of the summer:
You may have to click on it to read it. I had some good 30+ mile weeks. Lately though, I haven't had over 30 miles in a month and a half. This week I could easily, but start tapering next. Realize though that there is quite a lot of cycling and hiking and other sports adding to my overall fitness in there, that wasn't all I did, but just the running part of it.
But there is a huge difference in running a race fast, and just casually to finish. Still it would be pushing myself. But I could back down to the half-marathon, though I'd have overpaid for it, but that is ok. I've done well this year at the shorter distances, and even the 18 miler, so if I backed down to the half I might actually have a shot at a PR. And it probably would be a lot easier for me to get a couple of speed workouts in rather than a couple of long runs in at this point.
Thoughts?