Picking a Training Plan

I’ve run 5 marathons.  I’ve used 5 different training plans:  Hal Higdon’s Novice for the Shamrock Marathon, Hal Higdon’s Intermediate I for Marine Corp, my own plans for Vermont City (focusing on longer, long runs w/ 5 days of running per week) and Nashville (focusing on hills with 6 days of running each week).  Bob Potts was just a retreat, recovery and hope for the best sort of plan. 

After a few years of trying my hand at creating a plan, with some limited success, I decided to find something a bit more structured since I have the specific goal of running a sub-4 marathon in Charleston n January. 

I found a plan on Runner’s World that is only 12-weeks and focuses on speed.  I know I can go the distance.  Now, it is a question of can I go the distance faster?  We will find out.

Marathon training started today with a 9 mile run.  I ran to work, taking a longer way past Arlington National Cemetery over to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and then up the National Mall to the Capitol before swinging over in to Chinatown. 

I am excited about this plan and I felt strong on this morning’s run.  I’m looking forward to seeing where the speedwork takes me this go ‘round.

Daily Dozen:

8.86 miles run to work

Push-ups and walk @ lunch time

Formulating My Plan

Sometimes I can be a little flaky when it comes to picking goal races. I want to do them all and as soon as I find a new race/challenge I start day-dreaming about how I can fit it in to my schedule. Oh, a new 50K in Maryland only 30 minutes from the house! Ah, a 12-hour trail run adventure in VA in about a month! Look, a race on the C&O Towpath; I love the towpath! Wow, a race put on by a great beer company; I’m there!

And this is how I ended up with a race (sometimes, two) every weekend of September:

September 4 – Northfield Savings Banks Flying Pig Footrace, 5K
September 11 – VHTRC Women’s Half Marathon Trail Run
September 18 – Revenge of the Penguins 10 Miler
September 25 – Clarendon Day 10K
September 26 – Dogfish Dash 5K

Fortunately I didn’t get too carried away and all of the races are below or at the half-marathon distance (but I’m keeping an eye on that 50K and that 12-hour run for next year).

However, I’m not specifically training for any of these races. I know I can run these distances and I’m really not all that concerned with beating PRs, although it was would be nice if it happened. I wanted to rediscover a sense of freedom in my running. I enjoy doing races and when they aren’t “goal races” there is zero stress involved so I ended up having a great time. There is nothing like crossing a finish line.

And yet, I still want more. I’ve been telling myself since the Skyline Challenge 50K that I should just take the fall off of “training” and just run and race for fun. I’ve repeated this to myself over and over again.

It did not stick.

After talking to another runner about upcoming races and goals, I started getting the itch to attempt a sub-4 marathon with the eventual goal of running a Boston Qualifying time of 3:40. As much as I loved the ultra and as excited as I get about attempting to run further distances, I would also love to go sub-4 before I turn 30. I don’t know why it is important for me to reach this utterly self-imposed arbitrary time goal before my next birthday but nevertheless, it is.

I found a flat, flat, flat race that may just do the trick and I won’t have to start marathon training until October since the race isn’t until the middle of January. No summer long runs for me! Yay!

Anyway, the race isn’t for sure and plans could definitely change but for now it is what I am most excited about so I’m going to go with it.

Sub-4 here I come (and I’ve got my eye on you BQ!)

Daily Dozen:
Strength Training in the morning
XT – Stair climber and elliptical @ lunch hour