Doing the Double London - Edinburgh

I've just done London and doing in Edinburgh in a few weeks time.  What is recommended for training between?  Tick over, or get another couple of long runs in?

Yes, you should probably do a 3 week taper.

That still means you can get 2 long runs in.

In the past I have sometimes done a long run 2 weeks before a marathon and then tapered but most people advise against this.

I did the London & Edinburgh double last year. I happened to go on a training run 2 weeks after London run by Paul Evans (Britain's last male winner of a major marathon) and asked what I ought to do between the two. His answer was: "Wrap yourself in cotton wool!"

As he pointed out, the effort of London takes a lot out of you, and also counts as a last really long training run for Edinburgh. You will not pick up fitness gains from training in between but will probably pick up injuries. So, on his advice, I ran no hard sessions, and long runs in the 6 weeks in between the 2 maras were: London Marathon, 5, 8, 12, 8, 6, Edinburgh Marathon.

On this plan, I still felt tired as I set off at the start of Edinburgh, and held back cautiously for 16 or 17 miles. Then, once I reached the 18 mile point where you turn to head back to the finish with a slight downslope and a following prevailing wind, I felt the freshest I've ever felt during any marathon at any point. I turned my new PB from London of 3:59:55 into an even better PB of 3:58:24.

Mini

the two are certainly obviously possible - as i've done 2 marathons pushing phillip 2 weeks  apart

But i agree with Chi Monk

I'd keep it gently - that's only my thoughts

CM, thats interesting advise, not quite what I do though!! I do more than that and find I am usually tierd at the start of Edinburgh (have done the double twice).  Interesting that you did too even though you did a lot less than me!

Last year they were 6 weeks apart, the year before 5.  This year I did Stratford on the same day as FLM.  When I got to 15miles I knew I wasnt going to get the time I wanted so I decided to drop down to LSR pace and save myself for Edinburgh.  This means that I have done more than usual since the marathon because I havnt had so much recovery time.

I always like to do my last 20-22 miler 3 weeks out so will be doing that this weekend.  However, from what has been said before it seems that is not necessary but I know mentally I need to do it.  2 years ago I found it a real struggle because it was just 2 weeks after my first marathon so plan to take it dead slow if you are going to do 20.

Personally I dont think you need a 3 week taper.  I taper is to recover from training and prepare you for the race.  Since you have recovered from the FLM training in your last taper and have had a week or so already to recover from the marathon you dont really need 3 weeks to taper again (IMHO).  Next week I will be training fairly hard (for me) but at the end of the week my LSR will be 12-15miles so it is at the weekend 2 weeks out that I will start my taper. 

I did a short interval session last night 3 x 800m.  I think I will do one interval session a week up to Edinburgh and try and do a few MP runs, I also have a 5 mile race.  Other than that all my runs will be easy peasy pace.