Shorten runs at beginning of training plan?

docsallen

My non-training plan run schedule is 6 miles 4-5 days/week and 1 long run at 8-12 miles. Varied pace, but always easy or comfortable.

I am signed up for a spring marathon and thought it would be a good idea for me to follow a half marathon training plan in the fall. I am not signing up for any fall road races. Most beginner and intermediate plans start with fewer miles and shorter runs. Is there a benefit to decreasing my current mileage and building up according to the plan? Or should I start at the week of my current fitness?

I know that there are advanced plans that start at higher mileage, but with my work schedule I can't ramp up my miles as much as they do.

Thanks!

CarsonSurfs

Tough to say because I don't know what your current mileage is. I can only tell you what I would do.

When I was "just running" and waiting to start a marathon training plan, I would just try to keep my mileage around 40 MPW, running 6 days per week. That means a long run between 12 and 16 miles every week, a mid-long mid week of 8 to 10 miles and the rest of the runs around 6 or 7 miles.

I don't see any benefit in cutting back on your mileage if you are comfortable at whatever level you are currently running. Yes, there are cut-back weeks, but once you have a comfortable base mileage, there isn't a benefit from cutting it back for a significant period of time.

spiriteagle99

If you are currently running about 35 miles a week, I would continue that, more or less. Find an intermediate HM plan for the fall, if you want the discipline of following a plan. Many of those include a couple of quality runs each week which would be helpful in developing more speed and stamina before you start marathon training. Look at Hansons or Pfitzinger or the BAA plans.

docsallen

Thanks! In the past i haven't cut back, but was wondering if i was missing some benefit. My weekly mileage is around 40 mpw - almost always 38-42 mpw. It sounds like neither of you purposely shorten your runs at the beginning of a plan - just replace a couple of easy runs with substance runs (speed, tempo, etc). I started hanson's before (cut short due to covid cancellation), i will look at the others.

CarsonSurfs

Even during "base phase", I'm not just running. I do strides once a week, do some kind of tempo (sustained tempo at selected race paces, or some fartlek/interval session), and fast finish on the long run probably every 3rd one.