I am shooting for a 16 week training plan but have not decided on a plan to follow. I am unable to run more than 3-4 days a week due to my commitments at home and at work so I need to find a plan that fits my schedule. I would really like to fit in some lunch runs but I don't want to be all sweaty at work so that does not work for me or else that would make things a lot easier. My goal for the Surf City Marathon in February is 3:59:59 (9:09 pace). Seems simple enough but my slow death begins at Mile 20 and continues on to Mile 26.2 so I have to conquer these final 6.2 miles of hell this time around.
If I can stay injury free and everything goes as planned, I will begin my marathon training the week of October 14th.
Oh! If you haven't entered my GIVEAWAY to win a few of my favorite running things you can find it HERE!
Oh! If you haven't entered my GIVEAWAY to win a few of my favorite running things you can find it HERE!
Any suggestions on marathon training plans? Which marathon training plans have you used that have worked for you? Any tips for tackling those last 6.2 miles?
I usually write up my own training plans and end up changing them to meet the other demands in my life.
I have to admit that I just kind of winged it, I loosely followed the runners world app for training plan on my ipad. I think next time around I am going to have a plan and FOLLOW it! I know what you mean about mile 20! That was about where I slammed into the WALL!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know that I am not alone and that great runners like you even hit the WALL! I have to figure out those last 6.2 miles!!
DeleteI'm a RLRF girl. It's all I've ever used. I guess I cheated with Pfitz for a short time but got injured almost immediately. Low mileage but intense workouts are what works for this old nag.
ReplyDeleteAt my best marathon I didn't start hurting til mile 22. I told myself I could do anything for another 40 minutes or so. At my worst I was hurting by mile 16. I just kept lying to myself saying I felt great and did not give one inch. Gosh that hurt. Why do we do this again??
I have heard a lot of good things about RLRF so maybe I should invest in the book. I am not sure why we keep going back for more. I guess we love the challenge!! I think that once I get to Boston I am going to stick to the shorter distances!
Deleteoh I got...nothing.....I will just read the comments and remember the good advices......
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot to give. You are a HTC finisher!! When you feel like quitting you must have some kind of strategy to pull through it, right? I have nothing. I think I just die!!
DeleteI'll be running Surf City full as well -- my first full, at that! I could use a good accountabili-buddy... I'm starting training on October 1 (my birthday!), but have a ton of life things to adjust for as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm still finalizing my actual training plan, but would be happy to share!
Megan @ #runmeganrun
Please share and I will do the same. We can definitely be accountability buddies and check in :)
DeleteI've heard good things about that race.
ReplyDeleteMy advice on not dying (I died big-time at Top of Utah last year at Mile 18, but not once felt bad in Houston five months later) is to put some "fast finish" long runs in your training. You don't do all your long ones this way, but a few really help build your confidence that you CAN keep going at the end. There's a good article by Greg McMillan here: http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/index.php/articlePages/article/2. I hope that helps, Sandy! Good luck writing your plan!
Thanks for the advice Terzah. I am definitely going to give those "fast finish" runs a try. I think a lot of it is mental too. When I am approaching mile 20 I think I tell myself I am about to die! I will also check out the link you sent me. Thank You so much!!
DeleteOkay I have no advice since I was in shambles at my one and only full marathon! I have no doubt in my mind that you will reach your goals though. You are always so committed to your plans!
ReplyDeleteYou in shambles?? I don't believe that!! You are so darn fit that you could probably pull a marathon off without really training!!
DeleteI bought the Run Less Run Faster book for my injury-prone dad for Christmas. He followed the plan to the letter & qualified for Boston at the LA Marathon (where I BOMBED), so I gave it a try, too. And I ran my best marathon at the Flying Pig two months later (and that was jumping into a training plan like 6 weeks late)! Those last 6.2 "beast miles" were still tough, but I can say I felt stronger during them than any other marathon I've run!
ReplyDeleteI guess I better buy the book!! Thank you for the advice. Lots of runners seem to believe in this training plan. Hope that you are doing well! So happy for the two or should I say the three of you :)
ReplyDeleteI have no advice since I'm training for my first but I wanted to wish you luck and reassure you that whatever plan you decide on will be the right one for you. You are such a smart runner!
ReplyDelete