Maintaining fitness level- runners?

[Raenstoirm]

I am currently on a marathon training schedule to be completed in late April. There is a lot of work to get yourself ready for such an event (as I am discovering and I have only been working on it for a month!). When it is over, how do you keep up that fitness? An hour or two run a couple times a week? Then upping it when a race is on the horizon? I am still very new to long distances, but I dont want to "waste" my training by only running one race and having to start from scratch for the next one.

 

[adkkev]

Once you run a HM or marathon, you'll want to run another. or two. or three. So you take a "rest week" after your marathon, cutting back on your miles, taking it easy, and then you start plotting about your next big race.

I haven't had a race since mid-September but I am still running 5 days a week ... for me it's just a matter of liking to run & it helps keep me healthy. The health part is motivation enough for me.

 

[SAHDad]

If all you are wanting to do is maintain fitness so that you can ramp back up to training for a half without starting from scratch, you could get by with running 2-3 short runs (of about 3 miles) per week, and then a long run of about 6.

But, as adkkev said, running races can get addictive. So you might find yourself in a situation where you always have a race on the horizon, which is not a bad thing.

 

[Steve's Girl]

Typically, my last race of the season is in Oct or Nov and then I don't run another race until spring. Since we live in the Midwest, I try to keep my running flexible over the winter based on weather. I have found that 2 or 3 shorter runs during the week and a longer run over the weekend is fine for maintaining fitness. I use a 12 week plan to prepare for a half and a 16 week plan to prepare for a full. So, I ramp up my running based on when my first race is scheduled in the spring.

 

[Snelldog]

I finished the Chicago Marathon in early October. (My first) I tried to follow some recovery plans, but MAN it was HARD!! So, after 2 weeks of 6 miles, then 10 miles, I took two weeks off. BIG MISTAKE! My first run back was VERY difficult, and 2 min/mile slower. Anyway, I've stuck with it, and after 2 weeks now, I'm running pretty well. But, oddly, a little slower than I had been before the marathon. Also, i've gained 12 pounds. But, I attribute that to eating the same as I was when I was in full blown training mode. I find that signing up for the next race is very important. It is what keeps me motivated. Maybe even just a 5k. But, I've already signed up for 2 Halfs. A local one, and Little Rock. Very excited! Anyway. That's my $.02

 

[cewait]

Generally, I will keep a base where I run 10-13 miles as a long run every 2-3 weeks. But I also suggest spreading out the fun into cycling and swimming. You may not feel like running for a week or two post marathon (marathon blues). That is normal. Once you feel like you can walk well, hit the road and get back into the routine.