I am a post collegiate runner training for my first marathon (may 1st, the 1st Gettysburg Marathong.) I am a 23 y/o male, 10k pr= 33:46, 8k=26:56, 5k=15:54, however right now I estimate I am in about 17:50ish 5k shape.
I have always liked the Jack Daniels stuff but have a hard time convincing myself to do Repititions for a race like the marathon. Should I be doing Rep work? Any other advice for a runner like myself?
Daniels has reps in his marathon schedule
Lydiard has reps in his marathon schedule (Running with Lydiard, p.178)
Just based on that, I say it's probably not a bad idea.
Intervals are necessary, but long efforts are the meat and potatoes of marathon training. 6-12 mi at marathon pace as a stand alone workout and 6-10 mi at marathon pace during an 18-22 mi long run are critical marathon workouts. The marathon is an endurance race. You need to practice running several miles while feeling like crap. Race simulation is very important as it will give you the confidence to keep pushing when you feel terrible.
The place for reps in marathon training is the same as for every other training plan: for running economy. And the better your running economy, the more likely you are to have a good race. I wouldn't do more than one reps workout per week, but I would do them, something like 12x200R with full recovery.
The meat and potatoes is the M-pace running (and, to some extent, threshold running), but R-pace is definitely worth the time.