Question:
I ran my first marathon the end of June. I had a bad posterior tibialis
injury prior to the race but I completed it without further injury.
Afterwards I had an MRI and bone scan to see if there was something else
going on. Per my Orthopedics recommendation I took the full month of July
and part of August off from running and was given the "green light" to start
slowly the beginning of September and get back into my normal running in
October. I am running 4 days a week and my long runs are up to 8 miles and
feel really good and I feel as tho I could go further. My times are the
same right now as they were last year so I was wondering if I need the full
4.5 months. I want to train for another marathon, my race choices (due to
closeness to my home) are the end of May, end of June, end of Sept or Oct.
To get ready for the 18 week program will I need as much time as last year
(I took 4.5 months to build my base) or can I get my base up in less time
since I was already at that level?
Answer:it's good that you're inclined to think conservatively about your
next marathon--or at least that you accept the concept of building a
base before embarking on a specific marathon program. Has your previous
bad injury been addressed not just in terms of recovery time but in
terms of what caused it, so you don't get back in the same situation?
I don't think you mentioned where you live and train. Is your climate
very hot in the summer? Since you were not running this year during what
is for most people the warmest part of the summer (July-August),
remember that a Sept. or Oct. marathon next year would put the hardest
part of your marathon training right in the height of summer. I know
this from experience, having trained in summer 2001 in hot and humid New
Orleans for a late Oct. marathon. It was tough to schedule long runs and
even tougher to complete them. But if your summers are not too brutal, a
fall marathon certainly would give you the luxury of adding 10 percent
mileage a week starting now until you have a solid base of weekly
mileage and are even more ready to handle long runs.
On the other hand, since you have already completed a marathon, and if
you are willing to be modest in your time goal for the next one, based
on the info you provided you could probably aim for the late May
marathon you mentioned. That would give you a full six months from now
to prepare. Not enough for a novice but it could be enough for you if
you are able to avoid injury along the way and stick to your program.
That's 6 additional weeks starting now of continuing to build general
running base and fitness and then your chosen 18-week program.
