I had some questions about how I handled marathon recovery, training, and tapering in between Chicago and Wynne. If you were one of those people- this post is for you!

First, don’t underestimate marathon recovery and rest! Some marathons require more rest than others. Fortunately, Chicago was a fairly easy one to recover from and I felt ready to run after four rest days. I didn’t have any injuries going into Chicago so I’m sure that helped.  I have run some marathons that required more rest (and even a little physical therapy). If you are crazy enough to have two marathons paired closely together I’d recommend reading the “Multiple Marathoning” section at the end of Advanced Marathoning by Pete Pfitzinger.

*Note- Core work mentioned below typically consists of 100 push-ups, some combination of planks/ ab exercises

Week 1- 35 miles
Sun. 10/11- Chicago Marathon! 26.2 miles @ 6:43
Mon. 10/12-Rest
Tue. 10/13- Rest / Had a massage
Wed. 10/14- Rest
Thur. 10/15- Rest
Fri. 10/16- 5 miles easy @ 9:15 pace. Calves were a bit tight.
Sat. 10/17- 4 miles total (3 @ 7:30- Well Done Run 5k, 1 mile @ 9:00), Core work (15 min)

Week 2- 63 miles
Sun. 10/18- 10 miles easy @ 7:55 with Natalie, Core work (15 min)
Mon. 10/19- 7 miles easy @ 8:45
Tue. 10/20- 7 miles easy @ 7:45 (am), 3 miles walking with my dad @ 14:58 (pm), Core work (15 min)
Wed. 10/21- 7 miles @ 7:39. (10 x 1 min hard/ easy. Hard effort pace was a lot slower than usual. Typically I run in 5:20’s for the 1 minute hard effort pace but this time splits ranged from 5:54-6:10.)
Thur. 10/22- 7 miles easy @ 7:59, Core work (15 min)
Fri. 10/23- 16 mile long run @ 7:14.  Long run and the best I had felt since Chicago.  Splits:7:36, 7:29, 7:14, 7:06, 7:20, 7:23, 7:18, 7:13, 7:09, 7:03, 7:09, 7:13, 7:06, 7:04, 7:09, 7:04
Sat. 10/24- 6 miles w/ 3.1 @ 6:05 (Bison Stampede 5k), Core work (10 min)

Week 3- 51 miles
Sun. 10/25- Rest, Core work (15 min)
Mon. 10/26- 7 miles easy @ 7:51
Tue. 10/27- 7 miles easy @ 7:50 with Kem, Core work (15 min)
Wed. 10/28- 12 miles @ 6:54.  2 mi warm-up @ 8:12, 8 miles AT TEMPO (goal was 6:30-6:40). Actual @ 6:28 avg. Splits: 6:39, 6:40, 6:31, 6:28, 6:23, 6:23, 6:28, 6:04. Took me almost 4 miles to get in the groove. I had been looking at my watch so much to find the right pace so on the last mile I made myself not look down once and tried to go by feel. 2 miles cool-down @ 7:25 pace
Thur. 10/29- 6 miles easy @ 7:59, Core work (15 min)
Fri. 10/30- 7 miles easy @ 7:49
Sat. 10/31- 12 miles easy @ 7:34 with Natalie.  Rained the entire time.

Week 4- 51 miles
Sun. 11/1- Rest, Core work (15 min)
Mon. 11/2- 8 miles @ 6:56. (3 miles easy, 3 miles @ tempo (6:32, 6:17, 6:07), 2 miles easy)
Tue. 11/3- 6 miles @ 8:19. After a mile in I ran into my friend who was out running her tempo so I ended up pacing her, Core work (15 min)
Wed. 11/4- 5 miles easy @ 7:34, Core work (10 min)
Thur. 11/5- 4 miles easy @ 7:34, Core work (10 min)
Fri. 11/6- 2 miles easy @ 8:10
Sat. 11/7- Midsouth Marathon! 26.2 miles @ 6:53

So there you have it.  I’m done with 26.2’s but not for too long… I actually just registered for my next one.  It’s a tough one but I have some unfinished business in Little Rock.  🙂

Thanks again for the comments and encouragement after both marathons!