I'm training for a fall marathon - doing the required requisites: long run, intervals, tempo, 90-100 mpw. Lately every run feels terrible and the daily energy level is waining. I had blood work done and all levels are fine - has anybody else felt like this in the midst of their marathon training, and if so, how did your goal marathon go? Thanks!
Keep plugging bro, you'll have your breakthrough one day.
I "ran" a 5 mile race last year in 28+ minutes, a half-marathon "race" in 1:16, yet ran 2:34:52 at Chicago going through half-way in 1:16+. If the marathon is the only race you're worrying about then just keep plugging away, you'l be fine once you rest up for the race. If you need a confidence booster, then rest up for a race 4-6 weeks before your marathon, then get in another 2-4 weeks of solid training before you rest up for your marathon. Also, sleep more.
Alan
Thanks for the input-
any others have any input?
I took one day off a week ago and it changed everything. I got some extra sleep on that day and a couple others and my times have been dropping ever since.
One day off isn't going to hurt your time this fall, but it sure can help get your training back on track, especially in the dog days..
It's the "every run feels terrible" part that should be your warning.
Training for a marathon will probably involve feeling crappy more often than training for short distances, especially if one follows the seemingly current vogue for a smaller number of tougher workouts a week. So it's OK to feel tired on recovery runs, but if you're not bouncing back in time for scheduled workouts to go well it's probably time to cut back for a few days and see if you feel better.