Jim Flom wrote:
>
>
> I am just looking at putting up the bike for most of these winter months.
> It's wet enough here in the lower mainland of BC, and I am out in the sticks
> just enough, that riding through the winter just isn't as fun as what I had
> out East. I need a fitness goal, and the running can get me through the
> winter, and provide cross training and variety for cycling and x-c skiing.
> Maybe I can reduce the risk of injury by mixing in a bit more riding with
> the running if I feel the need, while keeping the most important long runs
> as you suggest.
vandenberghe ran a marathon a few years back. here's his post on it for
you. maybe you can email him for more help if you're still looking for
ideas? i have no idea how old he is though...
---------------
I'm running a Marathon on December 2. At the end of the road season, I was
burnt out and wanted to do something different. In mid September, I decided
to run a Marathon. Gave me 12 weeks to prepare. Now, I was a completive
Marathon runner about 15 years ago and ran in College, but haven't run
competitively in 15 yrs. And I hadn't run a step in about 18 months
pre-Sept. 15. First run I went out to do 5 miles, first three were easy,
then I felt like I got hit by a truck. I couldn't walk comfortably for
about three days. But within 10 days, I was running 10 miles pretty easily
(I had very good fitness following a hard road season). Ran a 1:23 1/2
marathon after about 5 weeks that actually felt easy. I've since done
an 18
miler a 20 miler and last Friday a 24 miler. All have felt good except the
24 - the last three miles I was dying. I feel like physically I could have
run the same pace for another 2 hrs, but my legs were falling apart. I
ended up taking two days off after because I hurt so bad. My schedule is
basically 6 - 8 miles fast on Monday, 6 - 8 miles easy on Tuesday, ride 4
hrs on Wed (don't want to forget how and this acts as a bit of a recovery
day - different muscles) 9 - 11 easy on Thursday and then I do a long run
either Fri or Sat depending on my schedule and the other day I do an
easy 5
miles, Sunday is my day off. Works for me. I am having some over-use
issues with my body. Given my fitness I'm able to go very hard and long
quickly and my body's not used to the pounding. I have one more long run
this week and then a two week taper before Marathon day hopefully I'll be
fully recovered and can handle the pounding. My goal is 2:50. One big
positive is that I've dropped 8 pounds. Running just sheds the weight. All
year long I wanted to drop down to 145, but was constantly 148 - 149. Now
I'm 140. I'm sure once I start my weight program in December and
putting in
more bike miles I'll get right back up to the high 140s, but I will say on
my Wed rides I'm climbing great. Good luck.
Mark VandenBerghe
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.bicycles.racing/msg/24cb53c20d0314dc?dmode=source