One Last Bit of advice...

In terms of long runs, I did 21 miles on 16th March and then another 13 (aborted 20 mile run) on 20th which was horrid because I hadn't recovered from the 21 mile run.

My question is, should I do another 20 this weekend coming up ?

I'm feeling fit, positive and confident that I'll finish on 13/4 (my first and main objective) and I know it's going to hurt but will I gain anything by doing a big one within 2 weeks of the day. If I don't do a 20 miler, my plan is to do between 10 - 14 miles.

Thanks in advance and best of luck to everyone. I'm so excited, I've pinned my 'final 3 week schedule' on the fridge now.

I'm no expert, but I know that I haven't done enough long runs, so the temptation is there to do another one next weekend. But I think the only good it would do is psychological, ie a confidence boost. In actually fact it then only gives your legs 2 weeks to recover for the big day, which I don't think is long enough, and your'e not really going to gain anything from it.

Probably best now to taper properly, and draw confidence from that on the 13th.

Roger, I would not do it. a). You don't need it given you have already trained well. b). it takes three weeks or more to recover from a 20+ mile long run which would impact your preformance in the FLM itself. I would do something between 8 to 10 miles this weekdend with the middle half of it at marathon pace.

I am glad someone else is thinking like me re: another 20miler but with this advice and lots of other threads, I am now tapering. It's difficult cause the mind wants to do another one.

I am so glad you mention about the 3 weeks to get over a 20miler as I went out last Wednesday and did about 21 miles which was hard and I am still not recovered now. My legs are really suffering still (5 days after with lots of little niggles. By the sounds of it, it will take longer to recover.

This forum is invaluable to me (as a novice)

OK, thanks everyone. Your responses have just confirmed what I was thinking and as usual, reassured me.

8 - 10 it is this weekend. I might as well do the woking 10/10 and really p*ss Mrs J off on mothers day.

I can't wait !

I've only managed one 20 miler so far, and recovered quite quickly from it, fitting this run between Reading half and Hastings half. Thought I'd be wiped out for Hastings, but wasn't. However, this long run does include 4 stops for drinks! I will be doing the same run on Thursday and then tapering sharply. (last year a knee injury put me out of action for the last 10 days, but managed a 4.09 FLM on fresh, strapped legs). I think I must be completely mad, but need the long run for confidence.
GOOD LUCK on the 13th!