reed wrote:
OP, I realize this thread is getting long, and I skipped the last couple pages but here's another piece of advice.
You said your highest mileage was 77 (which is great) but then your last 5 weeks were 60, 50, 49, 42, and 42. is that correct? That is a ridiculously long taper and probably left you a little stale on race day (although I think your #1 issue was standing/waiting so much pre-race).
There's no need to taper for more than 3 weeks, and I know many people that do just 2 weeks. You ought to run your peak mileage about 4-5 weeks out, and then you don't want to back off too much even in the last 2 weeks. If your peak was 77 and your average was 65ish (guessing), then your last 5 weeks should have been something like this: 73, 77, 65, 50, 40, race week.
Thanks, reed.
Yes, I peaked at 77, and my taper may have been a tad long, though I would need to check my log book. Yes, overall I averaged in the 65-ish range. I will look at what you have said for my last five weeks.
I just got back from another little run, a six-miler. After a few days of rest, I have been running every other day. This is my third run since the NYC marathon. One thing I have observed over the last year or so is that my body really likes the every-other-day schedule. It is excellent for recovery, and seems to maintain some fitness, too. To me, a perfect "maintenance base" or maintenance 40" is something like 10-10-10-10 or 8-10-10-12 on M, W, F, and Sat.
In any case, my body is almost back to normal--virtually no soreness (just a tad in the left quad). My friend that recommended doing another marathon still thinks I should do it, as long as it is flat and that I do not do much running here in the interim period. I have a race in mind, and it is flat. It is this weekend (so it meets her two-week interim criterion), and it is also on a trail, which is hard-packed dirt and pebbles. The race director says it is a nice, fast course, and I gather there would be less impact on this course than in a road race.
What do you think?
Also--where are you, angry willy? What do you think?