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WWYD (What Would You Do?)

When I was a kid, some of my favorite books were those "Choose Your Own Adventure" ones.

If you've never experienced such fun, I'll explain.  These books don't read like normal books, from start to finish.  You start them, and then you reach a decision point, which will direct you to another page, and the story keeps unfolding that way until you reach one of the several different endings.

For example:
1) Do your run today. (Turn to page 15)
2) Sleep in. (Turn to page 30)

source
Next week, I am going to be completely off Tuesday and Wednesday.  This is a decision that I am adamant about, and if you've been following my training plan for my marathon on November 12 at all, you already know that I'm kind of tiring out.  I'm on Week 13 of 16 of the plan and have been more diligent in sticking with a schedule than usual, though most of my burnout is due to other factors besides training.

So, I've reached a "what would you do" moment and thought I'd ask for opinions.  How should I plan out my "Week 14" to account for the days I have off? 

Background:
I've been doing a tempo run each week, varying in distances between 3-8 miles.  I should also note they are not easy for me.  I failed the 6-mile one (did it, just not on pace) but have succeeded at the others.  I'm wondering if missing one tempo run will hurt me too much.

Week 13 of 16: (this week)
Monday - 3 miles
Tuesday - 30 min cross-training
Wednesday - 8 miles tempo
Thursday - rest or 3 miles (most likely will do the run)
Friday - rest
Saturday - 14 miles slow
Sunday - rest

Week 14 of 16: (next week)
Monday - 4 miles
Tuesday - 30 min cross-training  off
Wednesday - 8 miles tempo (last long tempo run of the program since taper is close)  off
Thursday - 3 miles
Friday - rest
Saturday - 23 miles slow
Sunday - rest (duh)

I figure my choices are:

A) Run those 4 miles on Monday at tempo
B) Try to run those 8 miles at tempo on Monday
C) Ignore the days off, rest and recharge
D) Try to plug in some tempo miles on Thursday

All right... vote now!
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Comments

  1. Glenn JonesOctober 12, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    Rest is really one of those underrated aspects of training that make most uncomfortable. Remember - we need to recover to get stronger.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JessOctober 12, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    C!

    It's my understanding of marathon training that the long run is non-negotiable -- you really HAVE to do those -- but everything else you can be flexible on. You've been diligent with the training, and when it comes to marathon day, those few missed tempo miles won't matter.

    Oh, and I luh-ved the Choose YOur Own Adventures when I was a kid too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. LaurieOctober 12, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    I vote for rest. Do as I say, not as I do.
    Also I loooooovvvveeed Choose Your Own Adventure books. My favorite involved a kid who went on a field trip to the Statue of Liberty, and, depending on what you chose, ended up falling down steps on the way to the top, hit his head and awoke to find himself in 1805. Suh-weet.

    ReplyDelete

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