…on a Monday in December.
Okay. So I’m a few months early, but the madness is setting in. Why? Well…
I am registered. I am training. 26.2 or bust!
Shortly after running the Amica Marathon in October, I knew I wanted to run a spring marathon. I had a number of reasons:
- I love distance running.
- I want to run in a big city.
- I want to run a race with some fanfare.
- I want to train again, on my terms.
Ahhh…training….
I’ve been sitting on this marathon registration for a few weeks now. The National Marathon in DC takes place on March 26, 2011. That’s about fifteen weeks from now. 15 weeks! For my first marathon, I trained for 18 weeks. I followed Hal Higdon’s Novice plan very closely. I was happy with the results, but every race is different. This time around, I have different factor’s to consider.
- Mother Nature. It’s wintertime. I will run in the cold. I will even run in the dark if I have to. I will not run on icy roads. I will also avoid streets covered with dangerous, visibility-reducing snowbanks. These are real possibilities during a New England winter.
- Fitness. My last training cycle dictated that I run, so I ran. I ran and ran. That’s about it. I didn’t pay enough attention to the big picture – to my muscles, my body. I love running, but I really considered the need for cross training when I developed this training plan.
- Quality. I want to avoid junk miles – running for the sake of getting the miles in. This time around, I will focus on making the miles count. There may be less of them, but I am comfortable with that.
Wanna see?
| NATIONAL MARATHON TRAINING PLAN
beckontherun |
||||||||
| MON | TUES | WED | THURS | FRI | SAT | SUN | Total | |
| 1 | 3 m
easy |
Rest | 6 m
tempo |
3 m
easy |
Rest | 10 m | 15 min abs | 22 |
| 2 | 6 m
easy |
Yoga | 5 m
2×1600 @ 8:03 |
XT/rest | Spin | 11 m | XT/rest | 22 |
| 3 | 6 m easy | Yoga | 5 m
tempo 3 @ 8:32 |
XT/rest | 12 m | XMAS
Rest |
Spin | 23 |
| 4 | 7 m
easy |
Yoga | 7 m
easy |
XT/rest | 9 m | New Year’s | Spin | 23 |
| 5 | 5 m easy | Yoga | 6 m
tempo 4 @ 8:31 |
XT/rest | Spin | 14 m | XT/rest | 25 |
| 6 | 5 m easy | Yoga | 7 m
3×1600 @ 7:58 |
XT/rest | Spin | 15 m | XT/rest | 27 |
| 7 | 6 m easy | Yoga | 6 m
tempo 4 @ 8:31 |
XT/rest | Spin | 11 m | XT/rest | 23 |
| 8 | 6 m easy | Yoga | 6 m
easy |
XT/rest | Spin | 17 m | XT/rest | 29 |
| 9 | 5 m easy | Yoga | 7 m tempo
5 @ 8:31 |
XT/rest | Spin | 18 m | XT/rest | 30 |
| 10 | 5 m easy | Yoga | 8 m
4×1600 @ 7:53 |
XT/rest | Spin | 13 m | XT/rest | 26 |
| 11 | 5 m easy | Yoga | 8 m tempo
5 @ 8:31 |
Spin | Rest | 20 m | XT/rest | 33 |
| 12 | 7 m easy | Yoga | 7 m easy | XT/rest | Spin | Rest | Hyannis
13.1 |
27.1 |
| 13 | Rest | 8 m easy | XT/rest | 7 m tempo
3 @ 8:16 |
XT/rest | 20 m | XT/rest | 35 |
| 14 | 7 m
easy |
Yoga | 8 m
4×1600 @ 7:49 |
XT/rest | Spin | 12 m | XT/rest | 27 |
| 15 | 5 m
easy |
Yoga | 5 m
tempo 3 @ 8:16 |
XT/rest | Spin | 8 m | XT/rest | 18 |
| 16 | 3 m
easy |
Yoga | 5 m tempo
3 @ 8:32 |
2 m easy | Rest | Nat’l
26.2 |
REST! | 36.2 |
The highlights:
- Three runs per week – speed or tempo, easy, and long.
- Yoga.
- Spin. It’s time to get back in the saddle!
- Rest.
For a long time, I stared at this plan. The mileage (low) is unconventional, but I think it’s just what I need. Besides, it’s just a plan – and it’s MY plan – I can change it if I want to.
I kicked things off with an easy run this afternoon.
Total Distance: 6.0 miles
Total Time: 56 minutes
Average Pace: 9:20/mi
This was one of the most enjoyable runs I’ve had in awhile. It kept a comfortable pace and felt the smile on my face. What a pleasant way to begin!
I know this marathon is going to be tons of fun. Some of my best buddies are running it, too. We will even have the opportunity to train together. I am looking forward to Marathon Training Part II.
Please Note: I am not an expert. I am simply a runner. I developed this plan for myself and my body. Please consult with an expert if you are developing a training plan for yourself.
That table should say 26.2 not 36.2
Good luck!
36.2 is my total for that week, not just the race
yay! you will rock it!
Personally, my body does best on 3 runs a week. I find I run those 3 runs BETTER abd have more quality miles that way. Good luck!
Congrats Becky! I am excited to hear all about your training this time around:)
Ahh I cannot believe National is 15 weeks away. I need to get my act together!
Your plan looks great! I want to focus on less miles run and more time spent on cross-training but I’ve always run 4 days a week and know it’ll be hard to drop down.
I’m still a little concerned about the three run plan, but I am going to work with it for a bit and see how I feel. I’m open to the idea of adding one more short run if I feel like it will help.
Awesome! I stuck to Hal’s plan for most of my training too, but I think I’ll do what you are doing for my next one and just adjust it to what works best for me. How fun that you’re back to training again!! Good luck!! Looking forward to hearing how this plan works for you.
Looks like a well rounded plan!! And how fun you get to run and train with friends
Looks good! I posted my plan recently too and actually wrote yoga in my schedule too, because I want it to be a priority this time around. Just curious, do you have any kind of specific time goal? Again, looks great – I totally agree about the lower-mileage, non-junk-mile philosophy.
Thanks! I used Smart Coach to determine paces and they say my time goal should be around 4 hours. I ran my first in 4:27, so ideally, I just want to be faster than that
I’m so happy you are racing here and I will finally get to meet you! My last marathon training was only 3x a week running plus lots of cross training and I loved it, so hopefully you will too.
Love this! I think I’m so excited to be doing this marathon with friends that I have forgotten all the pain that comes with running a marathon! haha
You know how I feel about all this so I’ll just say that I think flexibility is key when training in the winter. And I’m glad we will have each other for support.
Awesome. I still sort of want to run the National Half (my folks are in DC) but I’m running the GA half the weekend before and I don’t know if I should do two halves in basically one week.
Yay!! Congrats on signing up:) Gosh another marathon! You’re awesome, girl.
Looking forward to your training posts!
I dig your training plan! Whenever I make it around to training for next marathon (which probably won’t be anytime soon…alas), I am considering reducing my running days and amping up the x-training. Like you said, it’s tough to sacrifice all those other muscles when you’re doing only running. I know I’ve been enjoying using all sorts of different muscles recently and I feel more balanced because of it. I’d hate to lose that (again) when I start back up with endurance training.
Good luck!
That’s one of my biggest fears of marathon training, the miles. This makes total sense: Quality. I want to avoid junk miles – running for the sake of getting the miles in. This time around, I will focus on making the miles count. There may be less of them, but I am comfortable with that
I am really impressed. It will be great to watch you train and that course sounds insane, I love it!
I’m also signed up for this race. It will be my first marathon! I’m very excited for it, glad to hear you are too!
Wooo Hooo! Looks like a good plan to me (who has not yet completed a marathon!)! I too am usually only running three times a week in my marathon training. I like the running “every other day” approach and then doing something else on the non-run days if I can. I find it difficult and hard on my bod to run much more than that. I need yoga, cross training, and rest or I feel like I’ll get injured.
I look forward to following how training for #2 goes for you!
Congrats on taking the plunge AND for realizing that cross-training is SO important to marathon training to avoid injury. I love your training plan! Maybe I’ll modify it for the next half…whenever that ends up being
I am so proud of you Becky for going out for marathon 2 so quickly and making your own training schedule! I can’t wait to read about your many adventures.
Good luck! Can’t wait to read about the training!!! Look at you tackling goals shortly after the other marathon!
I love your plan!! I’m a big believer in running only 3 days a week and working in cross training! We need to schedule one of those 11 or 12 milers together!!!
I almost signed up for this marathon! Decided to nix it for personal reasons, but good luck to you! I hear the medal for this race is awesome