I’ve tried a lot of different plans and most of it long distance, the plan this time is to focus on body composition and short distance speed upto 5k until I get fast.
Pretty much the opposite of the standard approach, all intensity on the run and get my aerobic development on the bike! 
i am taking a long break from training for races…
the Boston training cycle and outcome really fucked me up mentally… so now i run/bike when I want because I want not because I need to… it feels great!
Sounds like a great idea.
Been a year of big ups and downs, even by my own standards. Goal was just to throw myself into some bigger races without worrying too much about times or training specifics, and I’m pretty happy on that front- ended up with a pair of seconds at state champs (1000m and XC) and a win at our uni nationals marathon. The latter two were thoroughly out of my wheelhouse so they came as a bit of a surprise, but really pleased execution-wise as they were all pretty different races. On the other hand I’ve had some terrific bombs and training has been absolute clown shoes, so hoping to improve on the planning and consistency in 2025. I have not figured out how people do that exactly, yet, but I’ll probably hit some parkruns over the new year since I’ve got nothing on the schedule for a couple of months and my 5k is no bueno.
Also picked up a couple of nights coaching through my club, and damn if I don’t feel silly telling a bunch of successful businessmen twice my size what to do. Sport is great.
I’ll be doing some strength work this winter as well while trying to focus on increasing running volume slightly with some easy running (maybe some uphill treadmill to be gentle when I need to).
Rough goals for next year as of now are:
I’m currently enjoying some downtime though!
Sounds very similar to my goals.
Best of luck to you 
Good luck with this one @eddiegrinwald 
Mental burnout is real!
Get back to enjoying yourself! Your desire to race will come when it comes, or not.
Anyone have any races they want listed on the first post above, let me know!
@jamesdrichey Did your sort your niggles out and make it the start on Dec 1? If so, how did it go?
@Bbt67 How’s the running coming along in preparation to start your marathon block?
I had the same - pretty much quit running and got back on my bike to discover that my cycling fitness took a much bigger dip than i had imagined during my marathon training.
FTP is just about within touching distance of where it was after 6 months of structure - being over 40 sucks.
Currently debating wether or not to do it all again next year 
Did you guys totally quit cycling during your run blocks? I can’t understand why it would take so long to build back if your cardio was good from the run training.
It’s the weirdest thing - cardio and legs totally mis-matched.
I could be easily holding a conversation on a group ride but get dropped because I couldn’t turn my legs anymore 
Thanks for the tag @KickrLin
I sorted out my back pain. Tight hip flexors was the cause. I was prescribed a handful of exercises and stretches. The most impactful was a deep couch stretch. I’d done it in the past but not to the intensity I should have been. Really squeezing the glute and pushing the hips forward while reaching up with a slight twist was NAILING that area. A half dozen reps of that and i’d feel smooth as water. Its become a pretty standard part of just entering my living room at this point.
I did line up for the start, was a few min behind schedule with the gun and was way way way back in the corral and didn’t want to bully my way through the tight areas to get a more appropriate position. The first 3 miles were a jog/walk of getting past people and I got cozy around mile 4. I didn’t really set out to PR or ‘race’ this race, just run the course since its the only time of year you get to run through the areas the course runs.
Ended with a 1:52 having never felt like i really ‘tried’ which was a pretty decent feeling. Since my HM PR is 1:48 I felt 4 minutes short and not feeling dead was a decent level of fitness.
My focus now is to build mileage for a 50k i’m planning to do at the end of February.
Just building the KMs up at the moment and a bit of speed work.
Sundays session was 17km progression run.
Marathon plan starts properly December 23rd.
No, I cycled throughout, except the peak week before the taper.
Cycling converts to running performance
Run doesnt aid, in fact hinders cycling performance if trying to maximise both (unless way off peak cycling performance) in my experience. Specific muscular endurance becomes the limiter.
Having said that if you can run only, no bike, it can lows the decline a bit.
Or said another way…
Concentric fitness >> Eccentric…transfers
Eccentric (lengthening) muscle contraction >>> conentric… not really, although there might be exceptions.
I’ve basically dropped cycling while building for running. I just cant fit all the volume in a week without falling behind in other areas.
I’m glad you’ve been able to be honest with yourself and make that call. Too many athletes try to push through. You’ve got the right idea though!
Are there any forums that host intelligent discussion on running like this forum does for cycling?
What I usually do… replace easy runs with longer endurance level rides, seems to work well since USUALLY you recover quickly from easy rides…
