So a few years ago, I did my first standalone marathon after a "season" of Olympic Distance racing. Literally after my last OD that year, a couple months of 3 runs a week. Got round without killing myself, learnt a lot. No records or anything spectacular.

Since then I did 2 IM distance tris. But was never satisfied with my Run. Even in training! Basically it feels like I never seem to get better! So over 2019 decided to have a year of Run focus. 5 runs a week. Spring Marathon was a PB but not as good as I hoped. For my Fall marathon, decided to go for broke in training, upping the intensity, not missing any sessions for any reason, and promptly got injured losing 7 weeks!

Thought process is that the Bike and Swim "cross training" seems to allow me to do more run miles, gives me an increased aerobic ability. Barely a niggle when training for my IMs.


So extrapolating that, if I was to do a regular 16 week IM training plan, (Mixed in the usual way of swims, bricks, 1 long ride and several runs of varying efforts) for a standalone marathon is it likely to stand me in good state?


I'll assume at least 1 person here has done this. Or am I barking up the wrong tree here?