Last week I hit 47 miles! I’m dropping back my mileage a bit this week but next week I’m hoping to hit 50. I love how this drop-back week still includes an 18-miler. That just isn’t right!
MON: 8 miles easy (was supposed to be either a hill repeat or speed day but my legs were not feelin’ it)
TUE: 8 miles tempo
WED: rest
THU: 8 miles easy
FRI: 20 miles hot and steamy
SAT: 3 miles easy
SUN: rest
Notice the lack of yoga or strength training recently? When things get busy, it’s always the first to go. My motivation for yoga or ST is nowhere near my motivation to run. It’s a constant work in progress.
Originally I had planned on alternating hill repeats and speed work this cycle. I really need that steady dose of speed work so I’m ditching the hill repeats. My long runs are fairly hilly and I think they’ll provide me with the preparation I need for LVM.
I’m also doing a 2-week taper for LVM. I was a complete nut case during the taper period for the NJ Marathon. Three weeks is too much time for me, mentally and physically (even though my mileage only really dropped 2 weeks before, I hate doing my 22-miler 3 weeks out). I did a 2 1/2 week taper for Steamtown and it worked out just fine.
Have you ever tried a 2-week taper? Do you prefer it to the traditional 3-week taper?
I usually do a 3 week taper with respect to the long run (a 20 miler 3 weeks out, 14 mi @ 2 weeks out, 10 miles 1 week out) but do not taper my regular midweek runs until the last week to ten days before the marathon.
Also, you will be fine with regards to your hill strategy. Don’t know if you’ve done LV marathon before but it is a very flat course.
I’ve only done one full marathon, but I felt like I needed the full 3 week taper. It is tough though because you feel like you’ve lost everything!
your mileage is impressive!! i have only done the one marathon so I am not sure what I think about tapering yet. I tended to taper more of my LRs and then stuck with similar mileage during the weeks except for the very last week. This time around I am going to run a 20, then a 15 and then a 10. Rather than 20, 12, 8….at least that is the plan. I felt okay as long as I greatly reduced my weekly mileage during the last week…but like I said…only basing it off one experience 😉 you will do awesome!! and your training is going SO well!
wow! your mileage is impressive! I think I’ve done a 2 week taper for both marathons I’ve done – I’d have to go back and look though. Anyways, keep it up! I bet you’ll get 3:40!
i am also so impressed by your mileage. i usually max out at 40 when i’m training for a full. any more and i instantly end up with an injury. it’s so frustrating!
on the other hand, i LOVE yoga and strength training and both have helped my running in so many ways.
I too have a hard time sticking to my yoga & strength training. I get so caught up with running and cycling that I just forget to do anything else