ASPHALT JUNKIES Summer Bronzing Crew - CLOSED (Page 107)

That looks like a decent plan, with only one change.  I would start that 4th run at 2 miles rather than adding it at the prescribed distance above.  If you are adding the run at 4 miles for the sake of adding making up distance it could be hurtful over the long haul.  Take it slow and eventually it will get there.  Start with 2 miles over the next couple of weeks and then slowly ad miles to this shorter run and not the other short run.

I feel adding the 4th run will actually help condition you more appropriately than only running 3x a week, reducing the likelihood of injury.

You can add some high intensity bike work to both of your rides to maintain your fitness. 

 Jenn when I was having all the trouble with tight hips someone recommended PNF stretches to me and they have really helped. I found these on Youtube for your ITBand and thought they look pretty interesting. I swear I'm not trying to promote this guys books although I might have to check them out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQKV9bys5jc

Dirk - I will keep the 4th run a short run.

JoAnne, Dina & Tony- Thanks for the support. I have noticed that yoga really helps with my IT band and hip tightness. Being consistent about doing yoga is the hard part. I think the hardest part over the past 3 months has been "jumping" the moment anyone around me says "jump." Reigning it all back in and allowing myself to prioritize my training is starting to come back.

Tony- I am glad to hear your dog is feeling better. It can be awful when our dogs are sick since they can't tell us what is going on.

Quick question regarding marathon training - I am using Hal Higdon's beginner marathon plan: http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

The longest run I will do in training is 20 miles. I believe that Hal knows what he is doing, but I can't help but wonder if I will be prepared to run 26.2, when my longest run will only be 20 miles. Thoughts? Would you add a few miles to your long run to get closer to 26.2 during training?

Tony our lab keeps getting into my husbands beer in the garage. He pierced a hole in one last week and drank the entire can. Today he found the end of the case and drug 6 of them all in the yard. I told hubby he has a new beer drinking buddy. Lucky for him Mickey got distracted by the cardboard and didn't open all those cans!

Higdons plans are supposed to be pretty good (commentary coming from a very amateur runner).  Your concern isn't something that every serious marathoner has never gone through.  I went through it for all of my marathons in some fashion. 

The short answer to your question is; No. You don't need to run past 20 miles to be able to complete a marathon and finish it very well.  The premise of limiting your long run to 20 miles centers around a cumulative training mileage rather than the long run.  As you build your runs to the 20 mile mark you will feel the fatigue of 30-50 MPW (depending on the plan) and those are the miles that make the difference.  As you approach the race and begin the taper you'll find your mileage is gradually decreasing and your legs will feel better.  You will have reached the optimum end of your training cycle and be ready to run all 26.2 miles. 

Consider:  3 weeks out, you will be running 40 miles for your training (also it's important to note other training as well).  Then on race week you'll run only 9 miles before the race and the cumulative total including the race will be 38 miles.  It's all about that build to an overall distance, NOT just the long run.  Rest easy knowing before hand that you will be trained and ready to rock that marathon.

I would hate to see what might happen if our miniature dachshund got into a can of beer! 

That's hilarious though!!

Dirk & Tony-

When I initially looked at the plan over a year ago, I knew I would use it if I ever ran a marathon... now that I am in the middle of it and I am now of course wondering what the heck I am doing instead of trusting the plan.

Dirk- Your logic in breaking down the training is soooooooo helpful. I never would have deduced that information based on reading the training plan, even after reading the notes included with the training plan.

I have never worked night shift and I think you can have it!  Our dispatchers work a swing type shift, putting hours in on all 3 shifts in a month.  The way they work is really somewhat beyond what I can describe because there's never a set pattern to how the roll around.  They can have it!!