I'm wondering this- but even worse- what if you're running Princess AND Tink after? at that point should I just keep cycling between reverse tapers? For me, my body holds endurance well. I won't lie; I could not run for 3 weeks and still go out and run about 8-10 miles first time back with minimal time loss and little to no endurance loss (ie my body will go at least that far without going '***, why are we doing this?') so I don't know that running 3x a week will be as important as maybe just making sure I get a long run in there? I'm just also trying to be realistic and worry about training burnout; which I'm ALREADY at. Trying to keep this training mentality up for the next 5 or so months? that's going to be the real endurance challenge
So to piggyback on my above question, but also on your advice- would you say the same for my situation? To not focus on speed until after Tink?
Burnout? I've been burnt-out since July. I did a short speed season before jumping back into the fire.
You've stumped me a bit, because I'm big fan of downtime between training cycles. In other words, find another cross-training sport like rowing, cycling, swimming, snowshoeing, kayaking, for a few weeks after the season. I plan some indoor rowing after W&D, maybe even go to a few indoor regattas in February. Shh, I've been sneaking on the erg for 10-15 minutes twice a week.
I would expect you to be quite burnt out by the end of Tink. I would drop back and do a bare minimum mileage to get to Princess and try to
squeeze it into the Tink training plan. My minimum would still be three runs a week, sorry.
I personally can't do that kind of volume month after month if I am racing any of them. I have an ability to eat pain, get into the zone, during a race. I wouldn't hear, "There's a sinkhole ahead." I would run right into it. Those "A" races leave me drained.
As for speed, I include it as part of my 1/2 marathon build-up. I have found that if I don't train at the 5k and 10k pace I get good at running long, slowly. If you are new to running like couch to 1/2 marathon it's a tough row to hoe. My advice to new runners was to spend some time getting good at 5k's. It's very difficult to handle building up to 14 X 800 meters at 10k pace and get all the long runs in. A much better plan is to spend a season playing with 5k's and 10k's, getting the body really strong, with plenty of hills, core work, weights and 10k pace intervals. This isn't a dig, because doing nothing is a lot worse than jumping right into the 1/2 marathon.
might have to move to join you.
