Runners - please can I ask what you do in between training for races?

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I'm new to running this year although I have always been active. So far, I've always had a training plan to go off as I've done 2 10k races and will do a half marathon next weekend.

My next target race distance is the marathon in April. I've got a half marathon in March to gauge my fitness level and a 20 mile race later in March which I will treat as a training run.

I have built up to 27 miles a week with some strength and core work. I do a long run up to 14 miles on the weekend and usually some form of interval or hill reps session. I've just joined a running club so I'll alternate a track session with a hill rep session each week (can only spare my Dh one missed bedtime per week with 2 pre-schoolers.

My question is, what do you do in between training plans? Specific marathon training won't begin until December. Do you cross train? Add more strength training? Should I maintain my mileage or increase/ decrease it? I'm not really sure. Thanks in advance for any advice. Much appreciated.

Sorry, just to add I do about 4/5 days of running a week.

i certainty would not decrease millage the more millage you can do the better. id suggest add more millage to your other runs as at the moment you are doing over half your weekly millage in 1 run and all the advice i see is it should be about a third.

Thanks runners. That's good advice. I'll up the mileage of the mid week runs. Any other advice from anyone?

Find the run or types of run you enjoy the most, and do more of it!

I tend to relax a bit! I run the same number of runs and keep a similar structure of hills etc but I do usually reduce mileage a little. I sometimes will do more trail runs or else I might concentrate on speed, trying to improve that before building back up. I think that psychologically it's good to relax a little and have fun, doing what you fell as sirfred says.

I'm about to do my 4th October HM and have normally found myself winding down after. It takes a couple of weeks to feel recovered and get my mojo back. Hopefully this year should be different as I've got a 10 mile race about 4 weeks later.

It's quite nice having some phases through the year of just running on impulse rather than to plan. I do feel the lack of events to target for around February time though.

Thanks all. That gives me a few ideas.

Different angle here! I aways have a race every two months so I'm technically always training :)

I reduce cardio to maintenance levels (maybe three runs a week, 5/8/12km or similar) and start upping my weight lifting.

I do more hiit type training. Try to do it at least 2 times a week any hows. Just enjoy my runs and don't wear a sports watch when I am not training either.