Originally Posted by richard
you know your own body but for me this would be overtraining. I would need some recovery time.
This schedule is nothing - wait till you see it 12 weeks from now (4 weeks before goal race).
I don't know what plan annerj is following...all of the "first marathon" programs are pretty similar. They feature gradual base building, lenghtening the long run, some midweek speed, etc. Usually 4-5 total weekly runs.
The one thing I'd recommend even if your plan doesn't - make sure you add some racing along the way. I love a 1/2 marathon on my last step-back week - usually 4 or 5 weeks before goal race. And maybe drop in a 10K and/or a 10-miler on earlier step-back weeks. Short races are not only good training, they are bloody good fun and the keep your interest piqued for the goal race.
Only thing I
don't do is try to race on the same weekend as I'm pushing my long run out to a new (longer) distance. I use the step-back weeks.