Marathon what am I doing wrong?
15 watchers
Nov 2021
12:15pm, 8 Nov 2021
1,903 posts
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auburnette
My taper was broadly in line with what @paulcook describes. I know I am the sort of person who needs very fresh legs though (for me better to have very fresh legs at the risk of losing a small amount of fitness). I feel like the speedwork does a lot to maintain fitness and the endurance is already baked into your legs at that point.
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Nov 2021
12:39pm, 8 Nov 2021
8 posts
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Pascal
Amazing! I never thought that I would receive so much valuable help & advice. People – you are all brilliant! Now, questions that you have raised, to answer. ‘Do you sleep enough?’ – yes no problem in getting 8 hrs – in training a don’t feel that tired. Perhaps 2 bananas for lunch..? & I will try the shot-bloks. ‘Mental side of it, maybe it's becoming a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy!’ I take your point, but I do believe that side of things are OK – I think I’m mentally tough. But a good point to consider! My longest run was 23 miles in 3hrs 39m – mainly keeping to 9:30 pace – felt OK after – not really about getting, ‘time on feet’. ‘What do you fuel when you do your 3h40 23 mile run?’ Do you replicate that on race day?’ Pretty much. 2 days before marathon day I have a pasta meal. Before the long training runs I only have one pasta meal the day before. Otherwise eating/drinking is the same. I tolerate the SIS gels quite well – but a gel every 3 miles (ish)… could be worth a try. ‘For me, the biggest thing which seems "odd" is that you can do 23m in training without difficulty (?) but not on race day’. Hit the nail on the head! ‘Your long runs should be 60 to 90 seconds per mile slower than your planned race pace’ I will certainly try this – but I suspect I may have difficulty in running at 10:30 – strange. Doing a couple of half marathons – not a problem – finding, ‘race’ ones is a no go - living in the Highlands of Scotland. ‘…slightly underfuelled and over-fatigued’ – spot on! ‘…long runs at the same time of day as your race?’ Yes (roughly) start at around 9am. ‘The fear is obviously that you are losing fitness’ You are absolutely correct. Like your idea of, ‘active rest’. On ‘sharing’ page, what can everyone see’ I have ticked the box, ‘Notes, stats and graphs and the like’. Is that correct so that other people can see? ‘…run a bit slower, for a bit longer time’ seems to be the general consensus. ‘I would also echo the point about the taper being excessive’ Should I not taper for 3 weeks before? Two weeks out – run 14 miles, one week out – run 12 miles – then race day. Should this be altered? Apologies for being so long – just wanted to answer all the posts – so far… |
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Nov 2021
12:48pm, 8 Nov 2021
9 posts
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Pascal
My peak week is four weeks out with a drop of 60% the next week to 14 miles then the week before race day my long run is 12 miles – easy. Good point about speed work! |
Nov 2021
12:48pm, 8 Nov 2021
52,624 posts
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Derby Tup
I really wouldn’t be looking to do 12 miles a week before a marathon. An hour really steady maybe in marathon kit as a ‘dress rehearsal’
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Nov 2021
12:50pm, 8 Nov 2021
439 posts
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Bowman
@pascal, not to long, it's a discussion forum, it's nice to hear about people's real life challenges 
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Nov 2021
12:53pm, 8 Nov 2021
15,974 posts
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larkim
It's the depth of the taper in that final week - 2x 2 mile runs only feels way too little (or it would be for me). My final 3 weeks were:- 43 miles total, including a 16m run and a 11m run 33 miles total, including a 7m run and a 12m run 22 miles total (excluding race), including a 7m, 6m and 5m run plus an easy parkrun the day before (that last one probably excessive!) But taper <> rest - reduce volume, maintain intensity is something I've seen suggested. If the only thing different between your 23m week and your race week is the taper, I'd be looking to that as at least something to change. Also, if you're comfortably with 35-55 miles per week, maybe you could look at the Pfiztinger & Douglas schedules as a 12 or 18 week programme. They're not for everyone but they are well thought of. e.g. fetcheveryone.com/training-plan-view.php?id=152 |
Nov 2021
1:03pm, 8 Nov 2021
2,249 posts
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cackleberry
Interesting notes about the tapering, I find I'm best on a roll. Minimal taper before the 'Big Day' then recover as required afterwards. Last long run two weeks out from race. Maybe something like a 10-12 miler the weekend before. Final week, couple of very easy 5-milers NO speed work. Eating during racing/running is something I have been working on. I have to remember to eat BEFORE I think I need to. A couple of others have already mentioned that, regular mouthfuls right from the start. That said, a 4hr 15m marathon is not on my radar!! |
Nov 2021
1:08pm, 8 Nov 2021
451 posts
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Minimag
This is a really interesting thread, I've got my first marathon (well 2nd, but first was 15 years ago!) in April, slower than pascal, but learning lots from the real life experiences, thank you (Also guilty of running too fast, did a slow long run today ('ish), and like pascal find it hard to keep below 10.30 miles, but I will keep trying |
Nov 2021
1:24pm, 8 Nov 2021
40,124 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Larks, that's cos you're a 3:15 marathon runner. You probably don't need to train more than 3:15 longest run for 20 miles. Sure. But for a 4 hour marathoner, then a 4 hour long run is a great idea. There are other ways of measuring these things - HR is the most scientific, but it's a pain for most of us, unless either very dedicated or very interested! Minimag and anyone else who things running slower than 10 min/miles is impossible or hard: run/walk. A coach in our club has successfully coached numerous new or older marathon runners to very good marathon times with a run walk strategy. Very best of luck to all, in any method you choose. But if you run several marathons and experience the same problem (fatigue and severe slow down) at the same point (16, 18, 20 miles) then you need to change something! G
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Nov 2021
1:46pm, 8 Nov 2021
23,177 posts
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Dave A
KinkyS pace for her long runs is 11/12 mm’s and she’s run 3:01. Slow works.
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