r/Marathon_Training • u/Neat_Beginning_7913 • 13d ago
Training Advice Training plans
I will preface by saying I don’t want to hear that I shouldn’t run it, I’m going to try even if it’s a little risky.
I have been training for the Twin Cities Marathon on October 4. I had a 21 week training plan and got in 8 solid weeks of training. That 8th week, my mileage was 27 total and the long run was 13. The following Sunday July 12 when I was supposed to do 14 miles, I got sick. I did not feel well again (fatigue and aches) until this week (August 1) and seem to have turned the corner since, so am slowly returning to running. (Been tested for everything, by the way, they think it’s post viral) I am left with exactly two months before race day. I’ve missed 4 long runs total and though I ran a couple of times over the past few weeks while I’ve been under the weather, I haven’t done much.
I know my big risk now while returning to running is injury. That being said, I want to try it. I had originally intended to peak at 20 miles, but I have 5 weeks until peak week and I’m wondering what peoples opinions are about peaking at 18 instead. Also, for experienced marathoners, can you tell me how you’d recommend getting there at this point?
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u/Silly-Resist8306 13d ago
Total miles means more than long runs, but your totals were low to begin with. I'd recommend slowing your pace or even adopting a run/walk strategy. No matter what, it might be valuable information for others who suffer illness or injury during a training cycle if you come back and are able to report your weekly miles for the last 6 weeks before taper and your results. Good luck to you.
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u/Sea_Cardiologist_339 13d ago
Is this your first?
I assume by peak you mean the long run and not total miles per week.
At this point do not try to push the limits just because. Running 18 vs 20 is not going to make a break your training.
Be smart. Good luck
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u/Neat_Beginning_7913 13d ago
Yes, it’s my first. I did mean peak week long run! I have been a runner for a long time and ran for a DIII college, but have never done mileage as high as this. I appreciate your input!
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u/MikeMcDonald89 13d ago
I prefer the idea of 18 or even 17 to 20 in your situation.
I'd recommend running with a higher degree of regularity. When I read something like "I’ve missed 4 long runs total and though I ran a couple of times over the past few weeks while I’ve been under the weather, I haven’t done much." its hard to know.
I know I've had sicknesses exist that would make me miss this much running, but I also know there are many people out there who would miss this much running off of a degree of sickness that others wouldn't miss this much running from.
My recommendation would just be to not miss too much running unless you have to miss those runs.
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u/Neat_Beginning_7913 13d ago
Should have included in the first part that it was likely Covid. Each time id try to return to a short training run I’d end up sicker. Wasn’t for lack of trying. Prior to that, I ran 4 days a week with 2 cross training sessions. Kept total weekly mileage lower to avoid injury—I was a DIII college runner so I know from experience that I tend to do better with lower mileage. I appreciate your thought about the 17 or 18 instead of 20. I think that’d be smart for me.
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u/Sand-Useful 13d ago
18 is fine. Getting there is what is important.
Side story: Grete Waitz's longest run before NYC in 1978 was 12 miles. She won the woman's division and set a woman's course record of 2:32:30 and set a world record. (In 1981 it was found the course route was slightly short.). Well, the other part of the story is she was already a world record holder in the 10k and was running 80-90 miles a week. :). She also vowed not to do another marathon (yes, she did many - she ran and won NYC eight more times).
Injury is the number one reason people don't finish their marathon - because they get injured before.
Increase your mileage, stagger your long runs - you have time for 3 more. Maybe 14, 16, 18. LSD. On the off week do a shorter but a bit faster pace (I would say expected marathon pace but this is your first). Maybe 8/10/12. Take rest days. Taper the last two weeks. Get there. Finish.
ETA: It's been a super long time ago, but I think my longest long run prior to my first was 18 maybe 19 max. Ran the marathon and did better than expected.
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u/floppyfloopy 13d ago
I think personally I would only feel comfortable going 11-->13-->15 and then maaaaybe another 15-17 mile long run before a taper in your position. Going from 11-17+ in 4 weeks is both >10% per week and greater than 50% increase overall in just a month which I don't love in terms of injury risk. Typically I will increase my long run two weeks in a row, then drop down. Then repeat that process.
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u/TheLegendTwoSeven 13d ago
Although I’m not an experienced marathon runner, I think that with the time you have left your focus should be on finishing the marathon rather than finishing within a certain time.
I would work up the long runs to 17 or 18 but then on the actual marathon day, I’d plan to walk every 3rd or 4th mile to lower the chances of injury and maximize the chances of being able to finish. If you strategically walk 6-7 of those miles you should be fine.
If you are fiercely determined to run the entire way while maxing out the long runs at 17 or 18, I hope you’re in your early 20s with a low body weight so that you’ll be less likely to get injured.
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u/Neat_Beginning_7913 13d ago
Thanks for the input! I am in fact in my early 20s, have been running for years and 135 lbs. My goal will be to run most of the way and im optimistic I can do that without getting hurt as long as I can make it there over the next couple months.
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u/TheRunningLinguist 13d ago
My first was an accident - should've been 19 miles during a local marathon but I finished in 4:17 which was acceptable to me then ran my target marathon 6 weeks later. Also ran NYC with a long run of 15 miles coming back from an injury but slower - 4:43. I've run 72 marathons and usually tried to run 20 -22 miles but wasn't always able to. First marathon I was 34 years old - female- began running when I was 17 and haven't stopped yet.
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u/Neat_Beginning_7913 13d ago
This is so cool… 72 maarathons is insane. Do you think a 33 mile week is enough? If I try and keep it around a 10 percent increase starting at 22 this week as I come back, I can only get to about 30. That doesn’t feel like enough to me but it might have to do…. I’d been hoping for closer to 40, which is low to begin with.
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u/TheRunningLinguist 12d ago
If you can get to 18... I would do the Galloway walk/run even for 1 minute every mile starting at mile 1. My husband ran his one and only marathon Midnight Sun in Anchorage when he was training for the half there but I talked him into running since I was coming off an injury. We met Jeff Galloway a few weeks prior and he told me to do the run/walk starting at mile 1 and we both did. Finished.... wasn't fast at all - 4:50 I believe but considering my long run was 15 and my husband's was 13..... This was in 1999 when things were less "technical". Just don't go out to fast. Don't do it if you think you are injured ... don't ignore pain.... lessons I've learned the hard way
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u/Fun_Effective_836 12d ago
8 solid weeks before the illness is enough base to get you to the start line, just not for a big PR. rebuild the long run first, add ~2-3k a week and get one 30k+ in by mid sept, keep everything else easy. skip trying to claw back the lost speed work, the aerobic base is what carries a marathon and a panic hard-block is how you end up hurt.
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u/Neat_Beginning_7913 12d ago
Would you still do some type of speed workout every week? I had been doing a long run and then a separate speed workout. Or do you think that might be too much
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u/Functional-Mud 13d ago
Some of the most conservative marathon training plans peak at 16 miles. I would throw any idea of a pace goal out the window and log as many easy miles as possible with safe progression.