As we age, it becomes less likely we'll train for and run a marathon without problems in health or a race day calamity. Therefore, I posed this RW forum quandry.

Runs of 20-plus miles at any speed seem to raise a higher risk of injury with me.

If I'm training at fairly high volume(65-70mpw), is doing a long run of 18 miles or more worth doing every week, even though it would probably reduce the quality of my other runs, and possibly total volume; or is every other week OK?

I don't think it would be wise to go long every week AND keep a high level of mileage, due to being in my late 40s and having missed most of last season with back trouble. My gut says overall is more important. What do you think?