I am gearing up for a marathon end of May and went a little over 80 miles per week based on a padded Pfitzinger 70 Program. The program essentially goes from “Endurance (Long Runs)” to “Endurance + Lactate Threshold + M Pace” to “Endurance + VO2 Max + M Pace” (see detail in linked article).
I started the VO2 Max workouts last week (one last week, one yesterday). I am really happy with the ratio pace/HR (based on past years benchmarks) at all paces - no doubt due to the increased running mileage - but I am a bit disappointed by my pace in those workouts. Recovery is fine but I lack another gear during the intervals.
Does it make sense to have two VO2 Max workouts per week for the remaining weeks (except for last week of taper)? Or should I just be patient and the pace will improve thanks to the lone weekly VO2 Max session?
I would not risk more hard workouts when you are racing a marathon. They are simply putting a skim of icing on your cake that you have baked with those 80 mile weeks. Why risk injury for so little gain? If you were racing the mile it would be a different story, but you are doing 26.2.
Marathon is slowish but not that slow (if I was training for an IM, I wouldn’t worry at all). I guess I am afraid I underdeveloped this energy system: I have done a few test runs at other paces and VO2 Max pace (as described by Pfitzinger) seems to lag behind.
I guess I am afraid I underdeveloped this energy system: I have done a few test runs at other paces and VO2 Max pace (as described by Pfitzinger) seems to lag behind.
Are you worried about a sprint finish at the end of a tactical race or are you just trying to PR in the marathon?