Marathon Taper

Tapering is very individual and this might be what works best for him, but in general I would say this is a good way to go into a race feeling flat and not ready to perform your best.

In general I would look at at least three runs during the week before, with at least one including some (short) marathon pace intervals just to remind the legs of what it's going to feel like.

Shane

Well, from my experience, there are two goals to be achieved during taper:

1). Recover from the hard training (High Volume)
2). Acquire some good intensity for race day

Recovery is usually just a simple matter of shedding volume such that the body can recover completely both mentally and physically. I train hard and by the 2nd week of taper, I am usually ready to bolt out of the gate.

Increase in Intensity for me is a function of trading Volume for Intensity. This is not just doing Speedwork in the final few weeks. Every one of my training runs is usually a bit faster with much more pep in my step and speedwork and fast finish runs (Finishing with MP Miles) usually establish a nice peak for the race, but that will often last much longer.

The plan you mentioned is great for Item #1 is perfect for someone who is hanging on by their fingernails at the end of the training cycle. (Pfitz does say it is impossible to "Ovedo a Taper)

But the plan does nothing for Item #2. If the goal is to finish at all costs, then I guess speed is not so much of an issue. I personally would be quite lethargic at the end of the plan and certainly not ready to race but that is just me.

I would be very interested to see how your friend does with the plan