How Much Marathon Training Do You Really Need?

That was the question posed by a recent article from Active.com.  The article proposes a 14 week marathon crash course.  The plan includes quite a few 100m and 200m repeats.  It has been at least a decade since I’ve run a 100m or 200m track repeat.  The plan also recommends long runs with 5 miles race-pace surges.  It would be good to incorporate that kind of workout into my training. 

There are seven weeks to go until the Colfax Marathon.  I have done only three runs of 20 or more miles.  I have little confidence I can run the marathon distance at a decent pace.  My speed training is producing good results, but I wonder if I have the stamina for 26.2 miles.  This year I will be racing up to the marathon distance.  Lucky for me, the RMRR has their Spring Marathon Training Series (MTS). 

Today was the first edition of the series.  Because I am running the Platte River ½ Marathon next weekend, I ran the 10 mile option.  I covered the course in just under 63 minutes – 6:18 / mile pace.  I will have the opportunity to run two twenty mile races in the next month or so. 

I stumbled onto a new pre-race eating plan which was quite helpful in today’s race.  My daughters attended the Andrew McMahon concert on Friday night downtown at the Marquis Theater.  Because we are helicopter parents, Mary and decided to make it a family outing.  Mary and I dropped the girls off at the venue and had dinner at the Buenos Aires Pizzeria, which is about a block away from the Marquis. 

We had:

Napolitana Salad (Fresh mozzarella, Tomato, Red Onion, Fresh Basil, Black Olives, Oregano, Olive Oil, Red Vinegar ) and Arugula Salad (Arugula, Caramelized Pears, Red Onion, Olive Oil).  We shared a large pizza which was half Chapita (Mozzarella, Pineapple, Jalapeño, Fresh Mint Leaves) and half Recoleta (Mozzarella, Asparagus, Roasted red pepper).

We had a few hours to kill before the end of the concert, so we went to the Rock Bottom Brewery to watch the NCAA basketball tournament. Mary had a Milk Stout; I had water. It was 11:00 when we got back to the van and I was hungry, so I ate a slice of cold pizza.  Does anyone remember how good cold pizza tastes? 

I was pleasantly full when I got to bed at midnight.  I awoke six hours later and had a Kenyan breakfast of tea and ugali (see my last blog).  Having a late meal before going to bed and a lighter breakfast helped me.  I felt well-nourished, but not stuffed and I had no gastric issues before or during the race. 

This year the Phidippides Track Club underwrote singlets for its members.  They look great.  Steve and Ryan wore them during today’s race.  I wore my Syracuse singlet in honor of my alma mater’s basketball team, which beat Marquette to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.  I will be wearing that singlet next Sunday at the Platte River ½ Marathon either in mourning or in celebration depending on how the Orange perform Saturday night against Michigan.