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officially starts... now!
We've got 18 weeks until race day. I only ran 2 days this past week, iced, and took lots of Motrin. My knee pain is better though still a little swollen so I will be sticking to the training schedule and not running extra miles as I had originally planned.
We (mostly) follow a Hal Higdon training schedule. A schedule like this assumes you have a base training of at least 8-10 miles a week. Even though this will be marathon #6 for me, and #9 for my honey, we use his novice schedule because it allows for 2 rest days per week. We will also incorporate some speed work even though this novice schedule doesn't call for it. Hal Higdon has about 12 different training schedules from novice to elite, all free and available online here: marathon training guide. We are registered for the Virginia Beach Half Marathon on Sep. 1st, which is much later than the half marathon suggested in his schedule. We may try to find another between now and then as well.
Below is what we'll follow. The days of the week aren't carved in stone for us. My honey's work schedule and the weather will dictate which days of the week we run, and our long run may be on Sat or Sun. As the temperature and humidity climb over the summer months, many of these runs will be done at night using head lamps. Though the training plan allows for 2 rest days a week, my teaching schedule comes into play as well. It also calls for 1 cross training day a week. I will continue to lift weights 3 days a week but as our mileage increases, the amount of weight I use on my legs will decrease. My dog walks tend to get more leisurely as well.
September 21, 2013
WEEK | M | T | W | TH | F | S | SUN |
1 | May 20 Rest | 3 m | 3 m | 3 m | Rest | 6 m | Cross |
2 | May 27 Rest | 3 m | 3 m | 3 m | Rest | 7 m | Cross |
3 | Jun 3 Rest | 3 m | 4 m | 3 m | Rest | 5 m | Cross |
4 | Jun 10 Rest | 3 m | 4 m | 3 m | Rest | 9 m | Cross |
5 | Jun 17 Rest | 3 m | 5 m | 3 m | Rest | 10 m | Cross |
6 | Jun 24 Rest | 3 m | 5 m | 3 m | Rest | 7 m | Cross |
7 | Jul 1 Rest | 3 m | 6 m | 3 m | Rest | 12 m | Cross |
8 | Jul 8 Rest | 3 m | 6 m | 3 m | Rest | 14 m | Cross |
9 | Jul15 Rest | 3 m | 7 m | 4 m | Rest | 10 m | Cross |
10 | Jul 22 Rest | 3 m | 7 m | 4 m | Rest | 16 m | Cross |
11 | Jul 29 Rest | 4 m | 8 m | 4 m | Rest | 18 m | Cross |
12 | Aug 5 Rest | 4 m | 8 m | 5 m | Rest | 12 m | Cross |
13 | Aug 12 Rest | 4 m | 9 m | 5 m | Rest | 20 m | Cross |
14 | Aug 19 Rest | 5 m | 9 m | 5 m | Rest | 14 m | Cross |
15 | Aug 26 Rest | 5 m | 10 m | 5 m | Rest | 2 m | VA Beach ½ Marathon Sep 1 |
16 | Sep 2 Rest | 5 m | 8 m | 4 m | Rest | 16 m | Cross |
17 | Sep 9 Rest | 4 m | 6 m | 3 m | Rest | 8 m | Cross |
18 | Sep 16 Rest | 3 m | 4 m | 2 m | Rest | Rest | AF Marathon Sep 21 |
Him: The training and the race itself is like labor, and then, when it's all over they hand you your baby - a medal.
Me: Ummm.
A. You've never had a baby.
2. A baby is waayyy better than a dumb old medal.
But he's right: the training and race itself is hard and it hurts.
I'll give him that much.
Why does anyone run marathons?
Me: I'm not really sure. I keep registering for another just to try to figure it out...
