Inter Sanctum

I ran my first 50 mile at Ice Age in 2000.  Here's the data available for scrutiny:

12/27 - 1/2 = 32.7 w/ long run of 13.3
1/3 - 1/9    = 40.3 w/ long run of 15.7
1/10 - 1/16 = 50.6 w/ long run of 20.4
1/17 - 1/23 = 37.8 w/ long run of 10.2
1/24 - 1/30 = 41.4 w/ long run of 10.2
1/31 - 2/6  = 37.1 w/ long run of 10.0
2/7 - 2/13 = 41.2 w/ long run of 10.2 (twice)
2/14 - 2/20 = 23.7 w/ long run of 6.4
2/21 - 2/27 = 33.6 w/ Marathon (Smokey Mountain) in 3:10:58
2/28 - 3/5 = 38.9 w/ long run of 16.0
3/6 - 3/12 = 43.9 w/ long run of 19.5
3/13 - 3/19 = 40.2 w/ long run of 20.0
3/20 - 3/26 = 13.3 w/ long run of 7.1 (left leg was hurting)
3/27 - 4/2 = 55.4 w/ long run of 25.5
4/3 - 4/9 = 60.3 w/ long run of 28.3
4/10 - 4/16 = 67.3 w/ long run of 32.5
4/17 - 4/23 = 67.3 w/ long run of 35.0 (5:20) Ice Age Build-up run
4/24 - 4/30 = 37.8 w/ long run of 8.7
5/1 - 5/7   = 29.2 w/ long run of 7.8
Week before Ice Age
5/8 = 4.7
5/9 = 3.4
5/10 = 2.7
5/11 = OFF
5/12 = OFF
5/13 = 50.0 (7:23:45) Notes: Good run. Cool, high 40s, overcast and windy. 25 splits 3:39+, 3:44+.
8:53 a mile. Heart rate 70, 6 hours after race.

Pretty simple.  Marathon indicated decent fitness.  Maintained normal training and then a 4 week build-up period, followed by a 3 week taper.

Why do we make it so complicated now?