Marathon Training Kick Off!

Training for Marathon #3 started this morning!

After a busy week last week and several weekends worked this past month, I'm taking a day off from work today.  I might spend the rest of the day lounging back in my PJs, but I was up and out the door at 8am in the rain for my first run on the training plan.

For my first round of marathon training, I followed Hal Higdon's Novice plan.  It is entirely based on distance, though I did turn some of the mid-week runs into tempo or interval runs, I did this as I felt like it, and without much planning, or knowing what pace I should be aiming for.

For my second round of marathon training, I followed the plan of my training group.  That was a plan based on time, rather than distance, and though we did tempo runs and hill runs, there was no targeted pace, and though I think I became a stronger runner while training with the group, I know I didn't become any faster.  I didn't know what to expect from myself on race day, and I know now that didn't work for me.

For marathon number 3, I'll be following my own modified version of the FIRST plan.  This actual plan calls for 3 key running workouts, with an interval run, a tempo run and a long run every week, plus cross training days.  I'm going to follow the running workouts, but will add an extra run day, and one day of either running or cross training, depending how I feel.  This is the most rigid plan I've tried, so I want to have a little bit of flexibility!

This morning's run was one of those "extra" runs, and went as expected.  After a week of rest, I felt a bit clumsy for the first 20 minutes. My legs were a bit sluggish, and my form was sloppy, as if I was at the end of a 20 miler, but instead of getting more tired, the more I ran, the more comfortable I felt. I just wanted to keep an easy pace and not stop to walk.  Mission accomplished.

5.48K in 32:36

5:56/km pace