I purposely schedule my races 4 weeks apart (I use a 4 week periodization). I also typically use a race as prep for the next one, so I kill 2 birds with one stone. The week after an event, I take it easy--this is my "off" week. Midweek running is similar distance-wise but I don't do a structured workout (such as intervals or hill repeats) and my long run is shorter (I don't go by miles--do 90% of my training by time and not distance). The following week I go big, but not too big because, in theory, I should already be close to or at peak because I just did a race of sufficient length that it acts as a training run. Then the next 2 weeks are progressively a little lighter, mostly in the long run (midweek runs don't change that much, with the exception of the type of structured day that I do, which is definitely less intense the closer I get to my next event).

If I were in your shoes, for a 6-week interval, I'd probably go easy the first week, moderate the second week, big the third week, moderate, and then easy. For my big week, I'd probably do something that would take me about 75% of the time it takes me to do the race distance, max. Certainly no more than that. You will reap the benefits of your first race even though it seems like it was a long time ago.

I have used reverse taper, but for relatively short races. Weeks 1 and 2 are easy, with a gradual build, and then the next is big and then moderate the week of the race. This seems to work ok for me if the later race is not as important to me...which brings me to the other thing to consider, which is identifying the race that is more important to you and how important other things in your life are in comparison. Your focus on one or the other might help you get through the mental tangle about how best to train. This is, for me, the bigger struggle.

Good luck! 🌷