HobsJog wrote:
Why rush? Just take a month and chill. FFS, this doesn't need to be complicated.
This. And as someone else mentioned, the more miles you covered in the buildup, the faster you will recover. That said, as an experiment, one year at age 44 (didn't seem old then, but 50 sure feels old now), after running three years of 50-60 m.p.w. (never less) I found it relatively easy to run 3 marathons in 8 weeks (2:51, 2:58, 2:57). Four weeks between each. Loosely followed the Hal Higdon multiple marathons plan. The first two marathons was the initial plan to see how it felt to run 2 close together. It went well enough that I added the 3rd on a whim. For recovery, any day I didn't run (in between the marathons) was usually a 40 minute stationary bike or 90 minute walk. Felt fresh at the start line for all of them. If muscles are sore to touch or you don't have full range of motion, bike or walk. Once all soreness is gone (usually by the following Thursday personally) begin running again. I believe 40 minutes running every second day will maintain fitness, and I did 2 hours on the middle weekend 2 weeks after/before.
Keep it simple and enjoy. Don't overthink.
Good luck.