Reducing mileage for 6 months. How much can I maintain?

Lifeguardiansofthegalaxy wrote:

For reference, I recently ran 1:12:38 for the half and 16:09 for 5k on about 90-100 mpw or Tinman style training. E.g., 1000 meter reps at 10k effort and long tempos. Some 5k race pace stuff as well but only leading into key races.

My questions is, I’m taking some time to focus on lifeguard competitions that take place locally through my job. Includes swimming, prone paddling, and some running. My plan is to run 50-60 mpw with the same type of quality I’ve been doing and also swim 4-5 hours per week. There will also be some event specific training as well.

After 6 months of this, how well will I maintain my current fitness and how quickly should I be able to build back up to ~100 mpw again?

You won’t lose hardly anything, just build the mileage back up gradually when the time comes.

I agree with Ciro. Very little, if anything lost. Main problem is that you must get enough rest and doing those different types of training may be a bit more taxing than just running.

I think it depends on your yearly volume for years. For the last 4 years I've been averaging 75 to 85mpw by the end of the year. Before June last year I was averaging around 100mpw for 2019. June, July and August I dropped down to about 55 to give myself a break. September 1 I started a 10 week cycle and week 1 was 100 miles and I went up to 122. I never dipped below 100 and ran a fantastic marathon.

It is kinda like "all runners are not created equal". The common theme is "you lose speed while marathon training". I ran 1:14:57 for the half 2 weeks ago for a huge PR and my 50K was this past Sunday. 2 days before Boston 2017 I ran the 5K and set a PR back then of 16:46. A runner of your caliber should lose very little if anything.

Nothing you could possibly even get fast in the 5k depending how your body responds

Happy to see you were able to build back up so quickly.

Appreciate the other responses from all the others. Thank you!

You won't lose much. But you should space your rest days out differently:)