Half marathon training schedule with weight loss - look ok? (Read 505 times)

I'm a 52 Year Old Male, 5' 9". I've run in 4 marathons and plenty of races, just nothing lately. Started training for the Long Beach Half Marathon in July, the event is coming up this October 12th. Starting weight was a chubby 180lbs. Twenty mile a week base. Been adding 10% a week to the mileage with one long run and one speedwork session each week. My plan takes me to a maximum of 46 miles/week two weeks prior to the race with a 16 mile long run. The last week is a little taper down to 30 miles per week. I've also been trying to drop my weight to 165 lbs by the week prior to the race. That's roughly 2 lbs per week. Current calorie level is set at 1400-1650 per day. That might be a little low with my increasing mileage so I am considering raising it slightly so I don't drop too much weight or lose my energy level. The week prior to the race I'd go back to 2000 calories a day as well. I'm hoping that will help give me the energy needed for the race. I'm still concerned that the weight loss may hurt my strength on race day. I'm shooting to go under 1:45 for the half. Haven't run the half in two years but ran it in 1:40.

Hard training + fairly aggressive weight loss= trouble. Seriously, if you're going to try to get the performance you want, you need solid training. And solid training requires recovery. And recovery requires calories. IMO, better to show up heavy w/ mileage under your belt than show up lighter w/ spotty training. For me, anything 300-350 deficit and my workouts go to the toilet. Of course, you've got to figure out what works for you, but I'd leary of doing anything more than a pound per week...

2 lbs/week is aggressive on the mileage you describe. But everyone is individual; monitor your energy level and if the race is your primary goal, you need to be able to train so don't be afraid to increase your intake if you need to.