I'll also use each week's post to discuss something marathon-training related. I'll focus on real important things, like what kind of beer to drink post-race, so you're probably going to want to check in and join the discussion.
Let's get down to business.
Week 1 Recap
Monday: 3 mi easy @ 9:40
Tuesday: 4 mi easy @ 10:16
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: OFF
Friday: 3 mi easy @ 9:37
Saturday: 9 mi LSD @ 10:02
Sunday: OFF
Total: 19 miles
Week 1 Notes
Though the first week didn't go exactly as planned, I felt pretty good despite taking two weeks off after the Seattle RnR half. Some things that affected the week:
- temperatures in the low 90's during runs
- Charlotte's first "I'm sick" visit to the pediatrician on Thursday
- not eating well/enough during the day to sustain an early evening, before-dinner run
With the impromptu rest day on Thursday, I felt über compelled to make Saturday's LSD run a good one. It was hot and humid, even at 9 a.m., and the miles felt long and dirty and boring. The whole thing made me feel like I did while reading the 50 Shades trilogy, including emerging victorious at the other end with most of my dignity still intact.
Week 1 Marathon Musing: The Training Schedule
With this being my third marathon, I'd originally planned on making the training schedule a big production. You know: find a plan online, download it to Excel, tweak it a little bit each day, overanalyze each mile, color code it and all of that other bullshit.
Then I realized that an overworked training plan does not necessarily equal a successful race.
Well, that and the fact that I'd rather spend all that time teaching Charlotte how to Dougie instead.
Well, that and the fact that I'd rather spend all that time teaching Charlotte how to Dougie instead.
And with that epiphany came another gift: the June issue of Runner's World in my mailbox, which contained the 2012 RW Challenge "Run Your Best Marathon" training plan.
Done.
So I tossed that up on my fridge (amid C's birth announcement, artwork, and an old, awkward, magnetic cutout of me during my high school soccer days), eyed it with disdain for about a month, and then jumped in headfirst last Monday, knowing that I'll just have to adjust, tweak and analyze as I go.
Having Charlotte around now, I've mostly come to terms with the fact that I can't preplan everything anymore, so this laissez faire approach to marathon training works best for me.
Still, I took into consideration a few points as I geared up for this training period:
1) Pacing. Since this RW plan is generic, I used the McMillian Running Pace Calculator to help set goal paces for various runs, such as:
- Easy run goal: 9:15-9:45
- LSD run goal: 9:45 - 10:15
- Tempo/marathon pace run goal: 8:50-9:10
2) Workouts per week/total miles per week. Last year, I trained for Kalamazoo on a 4-day, 12-week long plan. Though I found success in Kzoo, I knew that I could've run a much better race on a better schedule. Therefore, this time around, I looked for a 5-day, 16-week plan that maxed out around 50 miles.
3) Simplicity of the plan. In 2009, I used a similar RW plan to train for Detroit, and it got me through to the finish without a lot of headache. When I saw the schedule in this issue and its lack of pointy fingers and overbearing instructions, it was a winner in my tired, black-circles-be-damned Mom Eyes.
How do you go about prepping for race training? Any secrets to share?
On a side note, does anyone else accidentally type "maraTHONG" instead of "marathon"? Or is it just me? Freudian slip, maybe?
Yay for you. That is all. Well, unless I have "Dougie" in my head all day. At which point, I will need you to drive to Indiana and demonstrate.
ReplyDeleteI would love to demonstrate, but I think this 8-year-old (who actually was a student of a friend of mine) does it much better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIHxQVsEkUo.
DeleteHowever, I will totally visit and you, me, Charlotte and Miles can have a "Dougie" dance party.
Good luck training with a little one around, currently just started training for my first! Looking forward to hearing your progress.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your training! It'll be quite the experience :)
DeleteSounds like a great approach to your training to me! I like having a plan but also know that life happens and I have to be flexible sometimes too...especially with the wee ones running around!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to following your progress!
I always think of you when I get overwhelmed with training. You always seem to fit runs, bike rides, and swims in no matter what happens in a day, so I know I can find 30 minutes to bust out some miles!
DeleteI have to admit I kind of just had the wing it approach to my marathon although I did sort of use Smart Coach a little too. It is hard to follow a set plan with my kids and job to train around. I figure as long as I get the key workouts done I am good. Good luck with your training!
ReplyDeleteYou're such an amazing running, though, that you could've just walked into Missoula on a whim and busted it out :)
DeleteFirst of all, I am in total support of marathon-related discussions that acknowledge the importance of beer. So glad we're on the same page about that.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I'm glad C's Dougie education is underway. A good foundation is key.
Third, thongs make the world go 'round. Well-kept secret.
And lastly, I'm doing a Smart Coach plan for NYC (which I think is the week after MCM?) and it looks somewhat similar. 2 easy run days, a speed/tempo day, and a long run day. I'm attempting to do all my workouts before work so I won't have any excuses to miss them. I like something that tells me exactly what to do each day. I'm not good at making decisions. Autopilot is the way to go.
You're a baller for running before work. I can't clear the crust out of my eyes that early!
DeleteI'm so excited to read your journey in training for the MCM! I'm running the MCM too!! It's my first full marathon and I'm trying to take this training plan very seriously with regards to the mileage and paces so I don't hurt myself right before the race. I'm struggling with the LSD-pace. All my previous races, I've always trained at my race pace. I've never pushed myself much harder during the actual race, in fear that I will burn out too early and end up walking (which I refuse to do in a race). I know there's a reason for them, but running a 10:30 mile isn't really something I want to be doing when it's so hot and humid outside--I'd rather be done much earlier and back in the comfort of my AC'd house.
ReplyDeleteI'm 3 weeks into the Hal Higdon training plan and I keep telling myself I need to document my progress on my blog--and I haven't gotten to it. Now you're motivating me to do so! What's your goal time for the race?
Yay! Always nice to hear about others doing the same race. It is tough to slow down sometimes, but definitely necessary so that you don't burn out too early and/or get injured in your training. If you really want to push it a little on the LSD run, you might try negative splitting your miles (run each one a bit faster than the previous). That way, you'll feel accomplished but you won't be pushing too hard too early.
DeleteDocumenting progress via the blog is super helpful in accountability. Even if you're three weeks in, it doesn't hurt to start now. My goal for this race is a 4:15-4:20. What about you? Good luck with your training!
I always type marathong instead of marathon but my fancy new mac now auto-corrects my freudian slips. Those tech peeps are no fun. I am running NYC and don't really have a set training plan, kinda winging it except for the weekly LSDR. As I type that I have that all planned out I am going to confess that sometimes I don't always get to run it. The little man sometimes has other plans. Nice job on week 1
ReplyDeleteWell, I liked Macs until you revealed that they now autocorrect "thong". That's no fun!
DeleteSometimes having someone else write you the plan works better! (I don't know anything about marathon training, but for training in general!) My husband wrote most of my workout plans when I was training for the Russian Kettlebell Certification (RKC) and it was so nice not to have to think about it!
ReplyDeleteThat's a really great idea! Plus, it'd give my husband the satisfaction of giving me a to-do list for once :)
DeleteMy training is always pretty loose (like run 9 miles, 6 at half marathon speed is as fancy as I get) and focus mainly on piling miles for endurance. I don't like to stop at 26.2, so it works out well for me. Usually I ask my husband how long I can be gone before he'll get mad and then calculate how far I can run in that time and go for it. It's a very scientific method.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a damn good and realistic training method and one that I think is going to be implemented into my MCM training.
DeleteYah girl! Glad you are hopping into marathon training! I can't even imagine what it is like to not be able to plan everything! I re-plan and re-plan like it's my job when I am in training. You will be such a better runner for being able to be adaptable! :)
ReplyDeleteI use the Hal Higdon plans, and they work for me. I recently found the McMillan calculator and love it! And yes, I have totally typed marathong many times. Not only you!
ReplyDelete