I'm desperately in need of some advice ahead of Brighton Mara this Sunday.
My training has been seriously compromised by a couple of 3 week long spells with calf pain that wouldn't allow me to run. I've got to this stage of hanging on to actually starting the marathon with four sessions of massage, daily exercises, stretches and icing and my legs are now in the best shape they've been for months. However I am seriously undertrained, I feel as if I've completely lost strength, stamina and speed. Never got my long-long runs done properly (managed 4x13, 1x16 and 1x18) and last few medium length runs have only been completed with walking breaks. Haven't done any interval/speed/hill work for months as it was that which kicked off the calf problems. SO...
How do i best approach Sunday? I am considering walking for a minute every couple of miles. Is there any science at all I can apply to dramatically rethinking how I survive - and yes, my only goal is survival. Has anyone else found themselves in a similar situation and triumphed?