The main training schedule I have used in the past is from Running Room. \u00a0Here in Canada the Running Room programs are hugely popular and I am sure can be credited with getting tens of thousands of people, including myself, started on their running journeys. \u00a0I used their plans for 5k, 10k, half marathon and my first two marathons. \u00a0All of the plans worked well for me up to the marathon distance. \u00a0I have to be honest, the marathon schedule just didn’t seem right for me. \u00a0Of course I probably didn’t follow the plan as closely as I could have so I am sure I am partially to blame for that. \u00a0I felt like I was always just a little bit behind, or maybe just not quite prepared for the next long run. \u00a0I think some weeks the long runs were too high of a percentage of the weekly mileage for my liking.<\/p>\n
I had decided that if I was going to try a marathon one more time I needed a clean slate. \u00a0For me, that meant a brand new training plan. \u00a0For my “pre-training” I did the first two weeks of the \u00a0RYBQ introductory marathon plan. \u00a0I had just more or less taken a month off of serious running and wanted to start carefully. \u00a0After those two weeks the intermediate plan still seemed a little daunting, so instead I did two weeks of the beginner plan. \u00a0Once those two weeks were done I felt like I had found my grove, and dove into week 3 of the intermediate “low mileage” plan. \u00a0My theory was that if I became overwhelmed I could slip back into the beginner schedule.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, I never had to go back. \u00a0The RYBQ schedule builds gradually. \u00a0Many of the weeks are repeated two times, which made me feel like I had the chance to master a week before moving on. \u00a0I even slipped into 6 run weeks without even really noticing. \u00a0In the past I found weeks with 5 runs a little overwhelming at times. \u00a0The program had me do strides once a week, and they have become my favourite training tool. \u00a0I started to do core exercises more regularly and dynamic warm ups. \u00a0While other programs were jumping up to 30 km, I was still in the 20’s, yet my weekly mileage was often higher than my old plan. \u00a0The long runs were daunting simply because, well… they are long. \u00a0But they were not daunting because I felt like they were too much too soon.<\/p>\n
Throughout my first marathon training session two years ago I often found myself counting weeks until the end. \u00a0This time around I have realized that I am truly going to miss the training. \u00a0Do I love 30+ km runs? \u00a0Nope. \u00a0I love running up to 20 km, everything after that is a challenge. \u00a0Would I want to run two or more marathons in a year? \u00a0Definitely not. \u00a0But this has been a good journey, one I am so happy I embarked upon. \u00a0Will I be faster this time around? \u00a0Based on my training I should be but we all know that with marathons there are just too many factors beyond our control on race day. \u00a0I may run a strong 32k and then just work to survive the last 10 while watching my average pace slowly fall apart. \u00a0Then again, maybe I will run a steady race and take some serious time off my 4:38 current best. \u00a0At least I will know I worked hard to get to that start line on November 1st at the Hamilton Marathon\u00a0Road2Hope.<\/p>\n
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