Should i taper or carry on - Page 2 - Spring Marathon

Plodding Hippo

24/03/2007 at 09:19

I think you are both nutters;)

Crispy

24/03/2007 at 09:46

PH I agree with you, but I am a plodding nutter and have long since abandoned any ambitions of fast times!

Plodding Hippo

24/03/2007 at 09:50

quantity not quality

you sound like me
:))

Zirion

24/03/2007 at 11:11

Same boat for me too. Just coming back from an appendectomy in late Feb. Max distance was just over 13 miles.... Two weeks without any exercise and then the last two weeks slowly building up distance - 9 miles today, and the plan is the same tomorrow. It's kind of scuppered any chance I had of doing a good time, but finishing is my main goal now.

I was planning on tapering for three weeks with a 15 miler next weekend. The major problem I have is not knowing what pace I should set for the marathon. I tend to run at around 7-7.5 minute miles during training, so was thinking of going at around 8 minutes on the day and seeing how I felt.

Ken

PS Doctor said I was OK to run in case you're worrying.... It was a laparotomy, so not keyhole, hence the longer recovery time, but he thought eight weeks was enough time to recover and run 26 miles...

Crispy

24/03/2007 at 11:57

You're clearly not a plodder then Ken. If I ran an 8 min mile, I would probably feel like I needed an appendectomy! I'm a 10 min + merchant.

Slimline chips

25/03/2007 at 11:27

Hi folks, plodding hippo may have a point about being slightly crazy, it's the buzz for me, that mind over matter thing.

Ken what about letting your H/R dictate the pace more?

Stuart Charles

26/03/2007 at 17:05

Ok so I have done slightly better than some here, managed 18s last 2 weeks and a 16 after a break with a calf strain.... sooo I would really like to get another two long ones in if i can -

Is there sense in following the taper for the rest of the week but doing a longer run than suggested on the sunday??

Bletz

26/03/2007 at 18:21

I am doing the 16 miler at Kingston on the 1st April was thinking of trying an 18 on Good Friday and then start my taper. Just worried the 16 is not long enough for 3 weeks before should do it in 2 hours 40. First Marathon so panicing slightly.

Plodding Hippo

26/03/2007 at 18:26

hi bletz
well, its horses for courses really
If your longest run to date has been say-14, and then you ramp quickly up to 18 it might be too much
ideally you should have at least an 18 or a 20 under the belt-but i always say if you have get to 16 in a mara-then its counting down in single figures sfter that

If you do too much in a small time windo you run the risk of injury and not getting to the start line at all, or getting to the start line knackered

crispy-plodding is 12 -13 minute miling-more my pace;)

Jim Partridge (www.justgiving.com/jimpartridge)

29/03/2007 at 13:58

hey all - I am in similar boat and am lackig confidence

I have one run of 15 under my belt (2 weeks ago) plus a few 12-13 milers - planning to do 20 this weekend, then 15-16 the following weekend and then really ease up in the last two weeks

Jim

Stuart Charles

29/03/2007 at 14:01

So -Can i do with only 2 weeks taper or is this sheer folly?

Jim Partridge (www.justgiving.com/jimpartridge)

29/03/2007 at 14:08

I did Edinburgh in 2005 and my last run was about 10-12 days before so you can do it even though it is ill advised - I am gonna do a long-ish run 2 weeks before (15-16 miles) but it won't be my longest, that will be this weekend coming

Plodding Hippo

29/03/2007 at 18:44

2 weeks taper seesm ok to me

Triple Smifffie :0)

29/03/2007 at 20:06

Just popping in, 5 marathons done, always have a 2 week taper, so sounds fine :)

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