4 wks to Boston but sidelined last 3 wks -- what should I do?

runner who professes wrote:

You might consider the possibility that your low-mileage, high-intensity program got you injured. Your times are pretty slow to be doing work on the track. I know that the current mantra is that less is more, but not for the marathon. I wouldn't race a marathon given your injury. Maybe run to 15 or 20, max.

?

I would suggest something more akin to 9.5 to 22.5. I know that sounds weird, but you need downhill running, then some uphill, but then the downhill again.

Too many people get to heartbreak and then their legs are shot when it comes time to run downhill. They drop at 22.3 because it's just over.

You'll need to sufficiently work the downhills (quads) - then try to ascend Newton, and then test the quads again just a bit to see where they're at.

Can you get yourself ready to run in a month? Absolutely.

But - if you're only doing 3-4 runs per week, you are either one of the most talented runners out there, or you are going to be in a serious world of hurt by the time this race is over.

Seriously though - good luck!

questions abuot training wrote:

I would suggest something more akin to 9.5 to 22.5. I know that sounds weird, but you need downhill running, then some uphill, but then the downhill again.

Too many people get to heartbreak and then their legs are shot when it comes time to run downhill. They drop at 22.3 because it's just over.

You'll need to sufficiently work the downhills (quads) - then try to ascend Newton, and then test the quads again just a bit to see where they're at.

Can you get yourself ready to run in a month? Absolutely.

But - if you're only doing 3-4 runs per week, you are either one of the most talented runners out there, or you are going to be in a serious world of hurt by the time this race is over.

Seriously though - good luck!

Thanks! I really like this idea. Based on what you're saying, I think I'll just take the commuter rail out to Natick (mi. 10) and then run to one of the the green line stops on Beacon St. (mi. 23ish). Probably won't attempt until next weekend or the week after though. I'll try a post an update afterwards.

And I wouldn't say I'm the most talented runner out there by any means, but I have pretty much always had reasonable success off low mileage (even in college track/xc -- never was great, of course, but good enough to letter all 4 years at an Ivy). Conversely, I've always gotten hurt when I've tried to add volume (even with slow build-ups) -- really have never been able to sustain anything over 45-50 mi/wk before totally breaking down. I realize the marathon is a different beast, but I don't see high volume training as a real option for me, given my injury history.