running for my mind

I am willing to wager my homestead that it's a good thing. You will feel much better in the last 10k and the first 20, run correctly, will be subjectively easy.

I do think a mental break for the next week or two will serve you well. One thing we didn't discuss is that your total mileage isn't that high. You have been hitting all your workouts and I don't think you are that worn down.

It's hard for everyone to really know when they are peaking or even going over the edge but I think the signs are either you are feeling really good or really bad. If it's just flowing, let it flow.

Interesting, so what are your thoughts for the rest of the cycle? I have also done more long runs this cycle then before. I have done nine runs over 17 miles with the majority of them being 20 miles long.

Josh - When you say "total mileage" do you mean this year or weekly? I feel pretty good about 60+ weeks.

John - I don't know my exact plan yet for the rest of this cycle. Perhaps 16-18 this weekend and then a couple more 20s with one at 22? I want to do one 20 miler where I average 7:10 or under.

I am hoping for something similar, but will see how I hold up.

Everyone is different but you were doing higher mileage earlier last year and it didn't seem to wear you down much. So I assume you could be running in the 70s or even 80s. You can, however, hit your goal with your current mileage.

I was just thinking of how I used to feel like I could get more stuff in, workouts and faster-paced easy runs, when I was averaging 60s in a build up compared to someone in the 80s-100s who is likely also running closer to their full potential(wheras you still have much faster times ahead).

I definitely was logging more miles going into Ogden in 2013. I had back to back 90 mile weeks without any 2-a-days. I only did a 2 week taper for that race and think that had a negative effect. I would like to push to 70 miles for a couple weeks here soon, but don't know what to do exactly. I don't want it to wear me out too much and have it be a negative. I don't think that would be the case, but it is a factor I consider.

Hey James I'm feeling the same way you are and trying to figure it all out as well. The last 3 weeks I've hit 67,70.7, 71 my plan was to go lighter mileage this week but I am doing my first 20 miler sat so that will get me alot of mileage this week. I've ran alot of 16-18 milers but no 20's. I think I am just going to take this week a bit easier w the 20 then do the same nxt week then the first week in sept my last real hard week then start to wind down.

Sounds like a pretty good plan Angie. What is your goal for St. George? I know you had mentioned 2:50. Are you still shooting for that?

Ya I'm shooting for a PR mainly but 2:49 would be sweet not sure if I can do that though. I've been training with Paul Pilkington since June. I don't know if you know him but he's really smart in marathon training. It's alot diff training than I've done for my last 2 marathons so we will see.