The Schedule - Finally!

Okay - I've been talking about the schedule for a couple of days now, so let's get it out there on the table. As I mentioned, I'll be doing an 18 week program that I found on the internet and modified it slightly for me (adjusting for days I know I would not be able to run, etc.). Most marathon training schedules ramp up toward a final training run of at least 20 miles, preferably you want to do this distance more than once before your marathon. The schedule I have selected will have me running four days a week, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday; with the long run being on Sunday. Some schedules will have you run more days per week, but my lifestyle will only allow so much - so four days it is! Additionally, a lot of marathon schedules (mine included) use a "step back" method for the long runs. Basically this involves increasing your long run for two weeks in a row, then "stepping back" to do a slightly shorter long run on the third week, thus allowing your body to rest a bit and prevent injury.



Week # 1

• Tuesday, 9/1: 5 miles


• Thursday, 9/3: 6 miles


• Friday, 9/4: 5 miles


• Sunday 9/6: 5 miles

So, the first week I'll do 21 miles, weather permitting! Which leads me to Lesson # 3: You can't control the weather! Seems obvious, and during training this is usually not a big deal, if you get a bad weather day, you simply re-schedule your run for another day. If you get a lot of bad weather days in a row, well...don't sweat it, just get back on schedule as soon as you can. Ah...but what if you get all the way through your 18 week training schedule and race day is awful weather-wise?? Well...you still can't control it, so make the best call...waste 18 weeks of training, run in the bad weather (and possibly get sick or injured), or possibly set your sights on a different upcoming marathon and shoot for that one instead. Tough call...luckily that hasn't happended to me yet!

Today I'm tired, but need to run since it's overcast and relatively cool - need to take advantage of this weather! Before I sign off...today's "Song of the Blog" for your MP3 running sound track is: Rock and Roll Music by The Beatles.

I probably won't have time to post tomorrow, so I'll be back on "Day 1" with the first official day of training results!

Background and Beginnings Part Two

So...today we'll chat about some more background and then a bit about training schedules; but first a review! Yesterday's Lesson # 1 was that it takes determination to train for and run a marathon.

Today's Lesson # 2 is that training for a marathon is a major time commitment! If you decide to embark on "the journey" (as I like to call it), be prepared to give up a lot of other things you currently do with your free time. I usually run in the evenings after work and then do my "long run" (much more on that later) on Sunday afternoon/evening. There is a variety of training schedules out there on the web and you basically need to weed through them to see which one works for you. What will your time allow? What are your marathon goals? How old are you? How tolerant is your spouse/significant other of you spending most your time out on the road training :)? Do you run year-round or are you just starting out? Do you have any big events coming up during this 18 week journey such as planning a wedding, cleaning out your Mom's house and getting it on the market :), etc.? All these (and more) should be considered before starting out! Because, going back to Lesson #1 - once you've made up your mind, you're in for the long haul baby!

Most marathon training schedules are based on an 18 week "ramp up" toward your marathon date, some are longer, some shorter. Some training schedules include cross-training one day a week, such as bike riding or simply walking, anything to utilize some different muscles or use your muscles in a slightly different way. For my first two marathons, I bascially found one on the web and tailored it to my needs. Last year, when I ran the New Orleans marathon, I actually "hired" an internet training coach to custom design a schedule for me. It was a good schedule, but you really don't need to spend the money (in my opinion) to have a schedule tailored for you, I just thought I'd try it once! This year, I have found yet another schedule from a great website and have tailored it slightly for my needs.

So...I am a year round runner - with a caveat; the caveat being where I live. Mobile, Alabama is officially a "sub-tropical" climate; translation: it's hot as blazes here June through September and the humidity is like molasses. Thus, for me, trying to run any significant distance in the summer is basically not doable. So..I wait with baited breath for the weather to break (and it's coming, I can feel it!) and then my training takes off. During the summer months I run a minimum of 4 miles each time I go out, sometimes 5 or 6 if we have a relatively cool evening. I run at least 3 times a week during the summer, sometimes 4. The analogy I like to use is that running here in the summer is like running in a sauna with ankle weights; when the weather breaks, it's like taking the weights off and getting out of the sauna - so nice!

Well, right now, one of those "real life" issues is calling me, so I'll need to add my training schedule stuff later today or tomorrow. We're preparing my Mom's house for an estate sale and that is only two weeks away - so lots to do still! Before I sign off for today however, notice that I added a profile pic to my blog. I chose that pic for a reason, besides the fact it shows me crossing the finish line of the 2008 First Light Marathon here in Mobile, it also shows my personal best time (to-date!) of 4:41:11 - told you I wasn't fast! But, that is the time I will try and beat this year on the same course. The marathon course here in Mobile has some significant hills in the middle third of the course, one of which is worse than "Heart Break Hill" in Boston (I know that because I have friend who has run Boston twice and also run Mobile); hills and I don't get along very well.

Oh...one other thing - music! Some folks may "pooh-pooh" this for safety reasons, but I always run with ear buds and some type of MP3 player. Music is very motivating to me, so over the years I have compiled some great running tunes - I'll share one each day of this blog in case you want to start your own collection. My taste in music will probably vary from yours, but basically I look for fast, upbeat songs that will keep my legs turning over and keep my mind off all that heavy breathing! Todays music selection is (drum roll please): Little G.T.O by Ronny and the Daytonas.

More later....

Background & Beginnings

Not really sure why I've decided to blog my marathon training, I guess for the same reason I ran my first marathon back in 2007; simply because it's something I've never done.

I ran my first marathon 4 days before my 50th birthday and as I crossed the finish line I said what many first time marathoners probably say; "I'll never do that again!" Now I sit here, 2+ years older, trying to psych myself up to start "the journey" again - training for my next (fourth) marathon. I've learned a lot while training and participating in my first three marathons and I'll share a lot of those "lessons learned" as this blog progresses.

This will be a blog for the "average person". I'm not a fast runner or some semi-pro athelete, I'm a 52 year old, 6'2", 205 pound guy that loves to drink beer - not exactly a runner's profile! I've never run the Boston Marathon, New York or Chicago - and probably never will. But lesson # 1 that I learned during marathon training is that it takes determination probably more than anything else to complete the training and run a marathon - and I have an ample supply of that!

Next post we'll talk about my upcoming training schedule, the marathon I'm training for and some more insights. My training starts September 1st - 18 weeks and hundreds of miles later, I'll walk to the starting line and finalize my training with a 26.2 mile jog through our local streets - just because I can!