[muzicgrl]

I need some serious advice about my marathon training (for my 1st full). I was planned on using Higdons Intermediate I program but when I seriously started looking at it, I dont like the mileage at the beginning.<br>
My current schedule with little variation is: M(swim) T(5-6 miles) W(5 miles) T(rest) F(6 miles) S(5 miles) S(9-10 miles)<br><br>
Hals Plan (for me) looks like this (with minor modifications towards the end to fit in a HM). My concerns are that it isnt until week 7 that I am doing anything really different than what I currently do. Should I just keep my normal routine up until then. Later in the plan, is it really necessary to drop the mileage on some of my midweek runs? Does this help with completing a longer long run? Or should I tweak the whole schedule and move it up (ie start at week 5 and throw in some longer runs toward the end (I already had to move the final 20 mile run a week later so it didnt conflict with my HM. Help me! <img alt="confused.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/confused.gif"><br><br><img alt="" src="http://i16.tinypic.com/6hd6lpd.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[merigayle]

Okay, so according to your post, if i read it right, you are currently at the level of week 6-7? If so, i would modify the long runs a bit and try to get another 18 in there or a 22 miler. After a few marathons, i really saw a huge improvement doing a modified HH Int plan where i did a bunch (at least 3) 18 milers, a coupel 20's, and a long run of 22. At previous marathons, 22 was where i pooped out. But that was just me.<br>
Also, if it were my schedule i would rest the day after my longest runs. But some people like active recovery.

 

[Hippo]

I'm not sure I'm the right person to ask but I would jump start it like meri says and try to get more long runs in.<br><br>
IMO the typical marathon training plan is barely enough on long runs. Even if you don't make the runs longer, just repeating the longest run a couple of more times will help out a lot.<br><br>
The other option to keep open by "starting early" is to be able to back off or slow the progression a little if you feel overtrained somewhere in the middle. So many people try to maintain a slavish adherence to their training plan. It is a real grind and somewhere in the middle they get sick or get a twinge in their leg; what they should do is skip a week, but they try to keep going or play catch-up and end up being injured or iffy on race day.<br><br>
If you take a "short cut" you'll have cushion to deal with little setbacks with some sanity. Any time that is left over you can use for the extra long runs.<br><br>
Which marathon?

 

[muzicgrl]

<img alt="" src="http://i10.tinypic.com/6gx4eb4.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
I made some serious changes to the schedule. Does this look better? Any more suggestions (the more the better)? Can you tell I am really nervous about this entire process?<br><br>
Hippo: The marathon is the Nike Womens Marathon in San Francisco.

 

[merigayle]

Looks good! I am really anal about even numbers for running though, unless the odds are 15, 25, etc. lol. But that is just my neurotic nature. The long runs look good. I would probably not run 13 miles the week after the HM. I like to run 75% of my regular mileage 3 weeks out from the race, 50% 2 weeks, 25% race week.

 

[equinox marathon 43]

Muzicgrl -<br><br>
I know I am in the <b>vast</b> minority when it comes to marathon training, but like to have at least 1 long run of 26 miles prior to the marathon. I usually take it <b>very</b> easy that day, and just try to plod through the mileage.<br><br>
Why? For me it's all in my head. If I've done 26 in training, I know I can do 26 come marathon day.<br><br>
Currently, I'm following the Pfitzinger/Douglas 18/70 plan to get ready for the Equinox. Their plan max's out at 22 miles (or something like that). I intend on making a minor tweak to the plan and doing at least one run of 26 miles before the Equinox.<br><br>
I plan to take it very easy when I do that, but for me it puts the mind at ease. Also, come race day, I have at least some idea what to expect (ie how is the body going to feel) when I get to the last 3 or 4 miles.<br><br>
Again, I'm in the vast minority of marathon runners who like to do that. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[muzicgrl]

<br>
You have something against 9, 11, & 13.<img alt="confused.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/confused.gif"> Seriously though, you are willing to run an extra mile so its an even number? Hmmm...I may do that, I am pretty neurotic myself. do you think a 10 mile run would be better after the HM (that I dont plan to race, just run)?<br>
Oh and about the recovery from long run that you mentioned yesterday. The swimming is a new addition to my routine (mondays used to be rest). I am perfectly willing to dump it on weeks I am not feeling it. Its scheduled that day instead of thursday purely for logistics (knitting club is on thurs nights) so I am going to see how well it works out.

 

[muzicgrl]

I think I have to wait and see how I feel after my first 20 mile run. I may tweak up the mileage on some of those later long runs, but I am super nervous about even being able to run 20 miles so the idea of a 26 mile long run scares the crap out of me.

 

[merigayle]

See, i am in the opposite school. I am really against 26 miles in training runs, especially for your first marathon. I think if you are experienced, it is an okay idea, but otherwise, not so much. It just opens yourself up to a higher likelihood of injury or burnout.<br><br>
Yes, i am neurotic. Now i just run for time. no stress about numbers <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[Flounder]

I didn't read all posts<br><br>
I would start at week # 4 then after week 13 - I would do 11-12-13 again. then follow to completion

 

[QuixoticNotions]

[g

 

[Hippo]

I think EQ has an OK plan, except that a lot of runners will simply get burned out or injured doing it. So going in to your first plan with an <b>expectation</b> of running 26 is not wise, you might try to follow through in the face of evidence that it will be a bad idea.<br><br>
OTOH, I'm all for adapting a plan to reality. That's what I think makes this plan so strong (if you follow through on being flexible.) So on the one hand if you get sick on week 9, just make it a backoff week and shift everything out a week the way you've adapted it up front. You're part of the way back towards the original plan but you're smart.<br><br>
To take EQ's point, if it's all going well when you get to the 20 miler on week 12 - good recoveries, feeling like you're adapting well to distance - then you might think about carefully shifting the longest run up. Some people do pretty well with longer long runs, others risk injury.<br><br>
OTOH, the hippo plan?<br>
Week 2: race a marathon<br>
Week 4: race a marathon<br>
Week 6: race a marathon<br><br>
you can guess the rest. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[muzicgrl]

Clearly Hippos have more endurance than me. <img alt="notworthy.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/notworthy.gif"> The Hippo plan would likely kill me.

 

[Billy]

If you read Pfitz's commentary to the 18/70 plan, it says a 22 training run for an "elite" runner is about the same amount of time that such a runner would take to run a marathon at race pace. I hope I'm remembering that correctly.<br><br>
Extrapolating, one could say that you should figure out a realistic goal time and set a training run that will last that length of time, obviously at a slower pace. I have never seen any authority advocate this position. Daniels, in particular, would disagree.<br><br>
For me, the way my training is going right now, I ought to be able to run somewhere in the 4:45 - 5:00 range (knock on wood). That would work out to be around a 24-25 mile run. Wow. But it's food for thought.<br><br>
Cheers,<br>
Billy

 

[fivekrunner]

I recently did my first full.<br><br>
My long runs 16s, 18s, and a 21.<br><br>
I was told that anything over 21 starts to do more harm than good - so you might as well save that for race day.<br><br>
I did OK.<br><br>
I did a 10 miler on Wednesdays. And a few tempo runs.<br><br>
Just another school of thought on running the full distance before the race. I didn't do it and was fine on race day.