Decided to do March marathon ... now what? (Read 712 times)

I decided to do this marathon on March 9, 2008. If I start training December 1, that gives me approximately 12 weeks to train. I've been looking for a 12 week training schedule, but I can't find one that I like. I would like a program that lays it all out for me -- I'm not one to mix and match programs. Ideas/ suggestions for a training program? I'd like to go 3:45-3:50 at this one! (and then, god willing, go 3:40:59 in the fall ). My main concern, and there's nothing I can do about it, is the amount of mill running I'll have to do... we don't get snow/ ice around here until (if at all) February, but I can't run in the dark... which it is when I wake up and when I get home from work. I can obviously run outside on the weekends, but my weekday runs will be inside. Oh well, HTFU, right?!

Is it just because its dark, or do you have safety concerns apart from the cars? Headlamps and reflective clothing and blinking armbands do a pretty good job of keeping you safe from the road, anyway.

Safety concerns Run, she lives in Baltimore and I believe there have been shootings close to her neighborhood. MTA: hope you don't mind Tricia that I answered your question for you

Trishie, Here's My Plan for Boston. It is essentially the same plan I used for Hartford, but with different tune-up races. You'll notice it's 12 weeks. You'll also notice it's not all that imaginative. It's all based on a mid-week medium long run with some speed mixed in, and a weekend long run that usually includes a race or some race-paced running. And a bunch of easy runs on the other days--the mileage numbers are mostly place holders and I tend to edit as I go based on how I'm feeling. But you get the idea. You could modify this and scale it to your own mileage. Training for a marathon is really not all that complicated. Just some ideas, hope it helps. Mike

Since you're already in shape from the last marathon you ran, if you have a longer schedule you like, you could just use the last 12 weeks of that one.

I signed for the National Marathon (3/29) and was rather clueless on what training program to use so I figured I'd resuse my last one. But, after looking at the Runner's World Smart Coach and also MikeyMike's training plan, I noticed that neither have runs over 20 miles. The training program that the group I joined gave me (which was for 1st timers) had a couple long runs of 20 and one at 22. What has everyone's experience been as far as the number of 20 or 20+ mile runs? Do most people typically do a long run of over 22 miles?

T-- I am impressed you're doing another marathon. Holy shoot. I am not even ready to do the ONE I'm training for and here you are ready for more. I wish I had more mojo.... as usual... anyhow I think mid-week indoor running will just make it easier for you to get to work on time and it will also make your long long runs outdoors that much more enjoyable.

Hi Trishie, Congratulations on your last marathon! And you're already signing up for another one? I think you and I have the same goal time to get to Boston. Only you seem to be a bit more realistic in your goal setting than I have been. I always shoot for 3:40 and wonder why I come up short when my best time was 4:09 in June 2006. But, here I am again, training for Tucson Marathon in December with a major goal of 3:40 and a minor goal of 3:50 and a back up goal of just getting a PR. Anyway, I put together a plan based on Pete Pfitzinger's Advanced Marathoning book. I can't remember how many 20 mile runs it had in it originally, but I've been trying to do more longer runs because I do great with goal time for up to 17-19 miles then I slow way down. For me, I feel I need a combo of more mileage totals in my weekly mileage and more longer runs. My longest so far this season was a trail marathon in October (my sis and I took it easy...though it wasn't easy easy since it was still a trail race) and a 23 miler last weekend. We'll see if that makes a difference for me.

mikeymike, I like your keep it simple plan. what's the difference between a 'progression' and a 'big progression' on your long runs?

It's sort of just matter of effort. Usually when I say 'progression' run it means I run the first half or so at an easy pace and then run the last half as a progression run--running each 2-mile split a bit faster than the one before it. A 'big progression' means I do the whole thing right from the start as one long progression, and also I'm generally going harder at the end. In a 'big progression' the increases in pace have to be a lot more gradual in order to keep it going all the way to the end.