Better to take time off work before or after a big event?

Just wondering what everyone's opinions on this would be.

I work part time in two different jobs, one of them night shift, which obviously plays havoc with trying to keep to any even halfway normal pattern of sleeping and eating. I've been running marathons for a few years, and this year I moved up to ultras, and am gradually increasing distances. I'm doing 40+ mile events now.

So I'm not sure if I'd be better taking a week off work before a big event, so as to be properly rested and fresh on the day, or taking a week off afterwards, so I can get some quality recovery time in. Compared with marathon distance, I'm finding ultras to be disproportionately knackering in the following days and weeks after an event.

I'm not too worried about any effect on race times as I'm much more of a tortoise than a hare, I was just wondering which would be the healthiest strategy to go for long term.

Thoughts?

Good point about the public transport and germ thing. I was at T in the Park last weekend and have been moping around with 'festival flu' all this week - sniffly, headachey, not quite right. I suppose it's obvious really - 80,000 people all in one place has to add up to a LOT of minor bugs and viruses...

I'm doing a 40+ miler next weekend, and have taken off the week before it. Then in September I'm doing another 40+ miler and taking off the week after it. So I suppose I'll be able to compare and see which I prefer..

I did a three-day triple marathon a couple of years ago. In the run-up to it I didn't take time off work and just carried on as normal. I reasoned that I'd have to be in contact with others anyway and it was more luck than anything else if I contracted a lurgy at the wrong time.

After the event, though, I had a week off and I'm glad I did. The day after I was away with the fairies. I could barely stay awake, let alone function coherently. I'd say I was fit for a proper day's work two or three days after, at the earliest. That's mentally; physically I was quite creaky for a while. After that kind of sustained exertion it takes mind and body a while to recover.

So I guess what I'm saying is time off afterwards is going to be more beneficial. In my experience, anyway.

Im self employed so can take time off but tend not to.   Maybe one day after if it has been tough.

LOL @ Muttley's 'away with the fairies...' Yes, I imagine a three day triple marathon would reduce most people to gibbering incoherent wrecks!

I don't take any time off before or after single marathons, but with ultras, the required recovery time seems to increase exponentially with each extra mile, and not at all in a linear fashion. I don't feel the need to flog myself in masochistic fashion and take no time off afterwards to prove how tough I am, I'd rather lounge around refuelling for at least a couple of days if at all possible!

And with my plan of taking time off beforehand. I probably wouldn't bother if I worked a normal 9-5, but 10 hour nightshifts play absolute havoc with my sleeping patterns. It's not so much time off I need, as just a normal working day, so I can turn up on race day reasonably rested.

Thanks for the input folks...