Here we go my friends. I haven’t officially trained for a marathon in many, many years. In fact I would go so far as to say, maybe the last time I legit trained for a race, any race, but especially a marathon was back in 2014 when I ran the Rome Marathon.
Since I met Sean & moved to San Diego, we have spent every year running one race after another and haven’t really focused on actual training. We have always just run & then whatever happens happens. Sometimes I’ve been in great shape, like when I PR’d the marathon by over 40 minutes at Mt. Hood the week after a 50k, other times, like Chicago 2019 I managed to get in under 5 hours with little to no training.
But this year, things are a little different. I’ve run a fraction of what I normally run in a year & while I can still hold my own, my cardiovascular endurance isn’t really there right now.
So, that means I might have to actually train to get to the finish line. Say what?!? LOL
I have been working with Nicole from Heartnsole Running on strength training since March, it’s the one constant thing that I have actually done on a consistent basis this year. We are adding in running now and will be taking it nice & easy. Hopefully by not getting overwhelmed I’ll be able to start running again on a consistent basis.
I know myself and I know that too long of a training session and I will get bored so we have I believe 12 weeks until race day & just under 100 days. I have no time goals at this point in time and just want to finish without having to walk the majority of the race.
I have run 30+ marathons, twice as many half marathons and about 15-20 ultras so a 12 week almost couch to marathon is not an issue for me, I ran Coldwater 52 miler one year with only 2 half marathons as my training so I know that 12 weeks is sufficient to get me a good base & ready to run. If you are running your first marathon I think most plans are for around 16 weeks, which is what I did when I was first starting out.
Week 1:
Monday – Strength Training & 30 minutes on the Peloton
Actual – Strength Training + 5min warm up ride, 20 min main ride, 5min cool-down
Tuesday – 4 miles easy & 20 minutes on the Peloton
Actual – 4.01 miles + 5 min warm up ride, 20 min main ride
Wednesday – Strength Training & walk
Actual – Strength Training
Thursday – 5 miles easy + stretching &/or yoga
Actual – 5.02 miles + glute bootcamp with Sean
Friday – Strength Training + 30 minutes on the Peloton
Actual – Strength Training + 30 min ride
Saturday – 6 miles easy + foam roll/stretch
Actual – Balboa Park 8 miler + stretching
Sunday – Rest Day
Actual – I actually took the day off and rested outside cleaning the house
I normally wouldn’t track my training here but since I haven’t actually done much actual training in years I thought this might be a way to hold myself accountable and help me to actually get out the door.
Are you training for a fall marathon? Which one & how’s your training going?
