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!