Midweek Longish Runs? (Read 735 times)

Most years, I've neglected doing a longish (8-10 miles) midweek, though I've been loyal to a weekend long run. I'm thinking of trying to do a better job of fitting that one in this year. Any stories about how getting a somewhat longer run in midweek have helped? I missed Boston by 3 minutes in 07 and ran 5 minutes slower in 08... trying to find the piece of the puzzle to get me over the hurdle.

After a winter of religiously running my mid-week medium long runs I ran a 1:17:58 half marathon. Before that my PR was like 1:21. Honestly I think those made more differnce than any single change I've ever made in my running.

I don't see a problem doing an easy 5 at lunch then a mid-long later in the day as long as you're recovering okay. I've actually done the reverse at times when my schedule allowed--run 13 in in the early morning then an easy 5 at lunch that same day. The thing about the mid-long run is it's, ideally, not a jog. A lot of times I'll do some cruise intervals, or a tempo, or a progression or just a fast finish in that one.

Um, I might be able to answer this better on March 2nd. I'm very deliberately putting in easy midweek long runs.

I don't think I can say enough about how the midweek medium/long run has helped. First two marathons (only two so far) I was never able to get more than an occasional 9 miler during training. Now I run a 10+ miler every week, plus a slightly longer run on the weekend. They make the long run SO much easier. A 15 miler is no big deal when you've done an 11 miler earlier in the week. Build to this based on how you feel. I am of the opinion that a good solid medium/long run is one of the most important components of a successful training plan. I am going to utterly and completely obliterate my PR this time.

I don't think I can say enough about how the midweek medium/long run has helped. First two marathons (only two so far) I was never able to get more than an occasional 9 miler during training. Now I run a 10+ miler every week, plus a slightly longer run on the weekend. They make the long run SO much easier. A 15 miler is no big deal when you've done an 11 miler earlier in the week. Build to this based on how you feel. I am of the opinion that a good solid medium/long run is one of the most important components of a successful training plan. I am going to utterly and completely obliterate my PR this time.

I hope y'all are right because I've been running longer midweek runs and more overall mileage specifically based on the consensus in these parts. But answer me this: how long does it take before the 11 mile mid-week run makes that sat long run feel easier? Because my last 18 miler was a long damn run, and I'm feeling slightly nervous about tomorrow morning's 20 miler.

In addition to just running a midweek MLR, I have become convinced lately that midweek tempos are extremely helpful. I often combine the two, by running 4 to 6 miles, in the middle of a 10 to 13 mile MLR, at the slow end of tempo range. Bill