Tinman,
Don't know if this helps or not or even if it's welcome, but this is the rough outline we follow here for marathon training. It's general in nature, meaning a young marathoner isn't doing it all in year 1 of the progression, but someone in year 4 probably is close. Also, if the athlete recovers quickly which seems to be the case with the female athlete who is all of 5'2" tall and 100 lbs vs a guy 6' and 155, the little people from Oz can get more work into a standard week whereas the heavier person generally needs more recovery. The following is roughly what Gaitenby and Somers used heading into the Worlds, what Derego used to run 2:45 last weekend in her debut, what Spangenberg used to get second at Tucson last weekend in 2:28 at 39 years of age, weighing in at 160 lbs and he ran it in 80 degree weather. Brian works 40+ hours a week and averaged 115-120 or so, Linda works the same amount and get's in 100-110 a week. Jill runs about 130, Jen around 100 being a first timer. Not everyone did exactly this, but fairly close to what they all did.
Sun: Long run every other week, harder long run every other to every 3-4th week.
Mon: AM. 30-60 min PM. run of 50-70
Tues: AM: 30-60 min. PM: Harder workout
Wed: AM: Progressive run PM: 30-50 min optional if advanced
Thur: Recovery run or 2 easy runs
Fri: Same as Tuesday
Sat: Same as Monday if developed, same as Thursday if younger.
Sunday. Alternate efforts every other (advanced) to every 3rd-4th week if a rookie. Can substitue a 15-30k race effort. If half or 15k, substantial warmup and/or cooldown is recommended (ie 3 mile up, 13.1 race, 6 mile down):
Month #1: Easy 1:45-2 or 5 easy, 5 at MP, 5 easy, 5 at MP
Month #2: 2-2:15 or 10 easy, 10 at MP
Month #3: 2:15-30 easy or 5 easy, 15 at MP, 2 mile cooldown. Gaintenby and Somers will do this in the following 5 miles splits when fit. 35, 31, 30, 29. Derego ran races instead, a half marathon 2 months out and a 30k at MP pace 4 weeks out.
Tues or Fri workout: Ideal if there can be a longer warmup and cooldown of 25-30 min on in/outs and 10k paced reps to add volume. Also, a second run for the day of 30, 40, working up to 45-50 minutes by month #3 on these days is good to make the total volume of the day add up to 20-24. We want marathon specific fitness of 20-24 miles 3-5 days per week which 15 miles a day doesn't get. Just gotta get used to being on your feet a good 2-3 hours consistently. We just rotate through the following 3 workouts:
Workout #1: in/out 400's. 400 at 5k/400 at MP. Month #1, probably 3 x 2 miles w/ easy 400-800 jog btw each, month #2 2 x 3 miles worth, month #3 6 miles straight up. Derego did 4 miles worth this fall. Somers did 6 miles worth, Jill did 60 seconds on/off x 16-22.
Workout #2: 10k pace reps. 8-12 x 1k or 5-7 x 1600 at 10k pace with 400 jog. Maybe start with 4-5 miles in in month #1, 5-6 miles worth in Month #2, and 6-7 in month #3. Derego was at 5 miles worth, Jill and Linda about 6-7, Brian 6.
Workout #3: MP runs. Reps at Marathon pace w/ 800 jog. Month #1: 6 x 2 miles or maybe 8 x 2k if fat ass. Month #2: 4 x 5k. Month #3: 3 x 4 miles. If under-developed athlete, consider 2/3's the volume of reps. Also can go 40 min easy, 4 miles at MP, 5 min, 4 miles at tempo.
Final workouts to consider before taper. Replace with MP runs above: 4 miles at MP, 3 at tempo, 2 at 10k, 1 at 5k, 800 at 3k all with 800 jog. Also, can go 20 min at MP/tempo, 60 sec surge, 10 min at MP/tempo, 60 sec surge, 8 min at MP/tempo, 60 sec surge, 6 min at MP/tempo, 60 sec surge, 4 min at MP/tempo, 60 sec surge, 2 min at MP/tempo, 60 sec surge. Second option works well run within a low key 10k race.
Weekly mid week progressive runs: 14-16 with each 5k faster than the previous in hills.
Month #1: Working down to the last 5k at slightly slower than MP.
Month #2: 5k at slightly slower than MP, then last 5k at MP
Month #3: 5k at slightly slower than MP, then 5k at MP, then last 5k at tempo
Good if you can go 3-4 weeks at the above program, then take a lighter down (recovery) week and run a race at the end to see where the athlete is at. So 3 weeks at the above levels, 1 week easier, a race to determine fitness, then back on it the next month at a slightly higher level.
Joe