Can you run a Marathon on 3 runs a week?

Who really knows what a person can do? I have tried every training technique I can find and unfortunately tried out most every injury too. My body is just not very durable when it comes to running. Lately I am just going with the flow. If I feel good enough to run I do. If I feel sore I skip the run. Which basically boils down to a run every other day.

So a couple 5-8 mile runs a week and a long run. Is that enough. Probably not for a good marathon but how good of a Marathon do I really need to run.

Today I was supposed to meet a group to run but when I woke up it was pouring rain so I went back to sleep. I had gotten roped into staying out until 1am so this was not a bad thing. Then I woke up again at 8 am to no rain. So I jumped in the truck and went to meet the group I was supposed to be running with along the course.

Long story short I ran with the group for a very hilly 2:10 and then headed out on my own for another 30 minutes of pure bonked hell. I was planning to do 20 today but I think I was probably about 18-19 plenty in my opinion. The hard part was heading back out for more miles after everybody else finished. I think once you run with a group for a while to head out on your own for more miles is one of the hardest things to do if you are already feeling tired and today I was feeling tired. I slowed way way down the last 20 minutes and focused only on staying moving. I would imagine it was about a 12 minute mile at the end but I was still running and theoretically getting in better shape.

Today's performance makes me nervous that I just might not have it for a marathon. I would say the fatigue had alot to do with the heat, the hills and staying up until nearly 2 am but I have finished 20 milers feeling like I can do anything and that is not how I felt today. The biggest problem is normally I feel really tired at the end but I am still fast. Today and 2 weeks ago I felt tired and was slowed to a crawl.

Oh well next week is 1 last 20 miler and if that goes well I will give the Tallahassee Marathon a shot 2 weeks later. The beauty of next week is that it is on a course I have run alot and I know how I have felt on it in the past. That should help me get a gauge of what I am capable of and make a scheduling decision.