That's probably correct. Less intensity, less overall mileage helped the most.
Funny story about pace: me and a buddy were running the trolley trail a couple years back, focused on endurance and an easy pace. As we hit waldo, this old guy with white hair (at least late 60s, probably older) starts yelling at us.
"Pick it up fellas!"
We turned and looked at him, then each other.
"I mean, Jesus, pick up the pace!"
His voice was very distinct, and it seemed like I recognized him as an acquaintance. Read an interview with actor oscar Dern in Runner's World where he talked about distance running, and mentioned he runs in Kansas City when he stays with relatives there.
Turns out my friend and I were getting a hard time from an actor over twice our age who could run us into the ground.