I was looking over my race schedule last night and tweaking my training plan accordingly. I was originally planning on running a 100K race in May, but it was cancelled due to extensive storm damage to the forests where the race was to be held. There are a few other 100K runs around Germany and Switzerland that I could run, but my wife and I have decided that we have other priorities so long as she is unemployed.
I am seriously considering cutting out most of the shorter races this year and just run a marathon a month until at least October. My goal is to stabilize my marathon pace and try to move “the wall” a little closer to the finish line. The marathons in April and May will be training runs. In September I want to try to set a new PR at the Karlsruhe marathon - it is a nice flat course well suited for this purpose.
I am registered for a 10K race on this coming Sunday, as well as a HM on April 14th. I also plan on running the 80K/50M Fidelitas Night Run on June 24th, but so far the club has not received the necessary permit – I am keeping my fingers crossed. The 50M race takes place practically in my backyard, I train regularly on part of the course when I do my hill runs. This will be my main event for the year, I am hoping to finish under 10 hours (last year my time was 10:19:09).
A marathon a month? That would put you in the Maniacs - you could be our German correspondent! I think it's a good idea.
I'd love to run a marathon that close to my house.
Sounds like you were becoming adicted to racing, now 1 marathon a month, wow that is great!
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One a month seems ambitious but if you have the stamina, go for it. I will be impressed if you get them all in.
I've certainly started hearing more about 12 marathons in a year since the news about Dean Karnazes doing it last year. It still sounds like a rough deal on the body to me. Even the elites race only 1-3 times a year ;-)
Recovery is over rated! A marathon a month is good, two a month is even better! Why should we care about the elite runners? We don't fit into that category. They are running for money. We are running for fun. One of our members in Marathon Maniacs ran 72 marathons last year. He ran 78 marathons the year before.
I'm convinced that much of this ability comes with natural ability combined with the will to try. I greeted another one of our Marathon Maniacs at the finish line yesterday as he compleated his 400th marathon! Bob Dolphin is his name and he didn't even start running until he was about 48 years old!
Can you do 1 marathon a month? It's up to you. Based on what I've read in your blog I'll say "You can do it!"
i think it's great to use them as training runs and not so much to reach an pr.