Forums > General Running > Time constraints and marathon training
Lia's Daddy
I am running the Flying Pig on May 2nd. This is my second marathon so I have some idea of what I'm in for. I've done one 20 mile run and plan on doing a 23 and two more 20's. The one place I see a weakness in my training is a mid week, mid-long run. I am a little over-extended right now with my personal/professional life and am having to run every morning at 5:30am. That only gives me 45 min. or a little over 4 miles. On Mondays and Wed. I am doing a second, longer run in the evening but not the length that I think would be as beneficial as a mid-long run. In order to offset this, I have decided to run everyday instead of 5 days a week. The two additional days are just four mile easy runs. As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I am in no way trying to PR this race but do want to be able to finish.
Do you think this lack of a mid-week, mid-long run is going to have a substantial impact on my performance? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Oh yeah, I was looking at a web page about marathon training last night and it said I should be getting ten hours of sleep per night! Wow, who can do that? My two children under 5 would have to put me to bed for that to happen.
mileage hound
Good for you. I keep setting my alarm for 5:30 but don't make in on the treadmill, kudos for willpower.
Will it have a negative impact? Yes, but you're not a professional runner and like you said your time is constrained. If you have priorities, set your expectations accordingly and go from there.
You are taking the right step by adding volume where it is practical (more days). This is certainly better than nothing. Finishing should not be a problem if you are consistent with the plan described.
2012 goals: Fastest race times since 2006.
I agree with spaniel ... missing the mid-week run will hurt, but running is not your job nor #1 priority. Do what you can and enjoy it. The other option is getting up earlier ... my alarm goes off at 4am. This means an early bedtime and that still only gets me about 6-7 hours of sleep a night, but I try to make up for it on the weekend with a 2 hour nap on either Sat or Sun. I would love to get 8-10 hours of sleep a night, but with family, work, and other commitments, that ain't happening anytime soon!
Good luck!
Best Present Ever
I don't have enough experience to comment on your main question, but my kids basically put me to bed most nights. It's rare that I'm awake after they fall asleep longer than the time it takes me to get from their bed to mine. It still doesn't get me 10 hours sleep though.
The Higdon marathon training plans have the long run and the medium long run on the weekends. Something to consider.
Higdon Marathon Training
All due respect to the others, I think, at your current level, what might actually hurt you is all those long runs. You have about 6 weeks before your marathon and you tell us that you have another 23 mile run and 2 more 20-milers? (this is when I regret not checking your log more closely) I don't know when you ran your last marathon and when you did your last 20-miler; but I would do one more 20-miler 3 weeks before the marathon and cut back other long runs. My personally belief is that you should cap your long run at 3:00 (particularly for slower runners). I would say your 20-miler would take just about 3-hours??? I would switch other "long runs" to about 2:00~2:30 or so and include hills.
With so close to your next marathon, I wouldn't get hurt or offended if you didn't listen to my suggestiion but it would be interesting to consider for the next one. With all the "runners" I've helped in the past, I usually cut back their training program and, if I recall, every single one of them had improved their time (except for two who ran their first marathon). The one who had been stuck at 3:40 for 3 marathons, doing 3 X 20-miler program; I cut her training back and she only did one 2-hour run, one 2:20 and one 3-hour and improved her time by 10 minutes (so far, she has PR streak of 3, though the last one was only 10 seconds! ;o)). Rod Dixon was helping his daughter for her first marathon in 2008 NYC marathon and I asked him, just for curiousity, what advice he gave her. He told me that she was following one of those 3 X 20-miler training program and, he said, "I just got that program out and scratch this long run, scratch this long run..." It turned out she did one 3-hour run also and ran her first marathon (with Rod) in 3:34 (http://www.lydiardfoundation.org/blog/EntryDisplay.aspx?EntryID=70).
You need volume. You need to do long runs. But blindly following any training schedule may not help you but may even hurt you. You've got to remember you just can't water-down elite training program and apply it to yourself. You've got to understand the principles and what you need to do.
The Higdon marathon training plans have the long run and the medium long run on the weekends. Something to consider. Higdon Marathon Training
I had to go back a revisit those plans cuz I was sure Higdon had them midweek.
turns out we're both right. some weeks Higdon has them on wednesdays, some weeks on Saturday. Not quite sure how his formula goes but it seems he puts them on saturdays on 'some' cutback weekends (shorter longs) and on Wednesdays for the bigger longs. Not across the board tho. My experience, mid week is best. For the OP, since he's constrained by time...do what you can.
It's a case of myopia on my part. I am actually in the taper weeks of the Intermediate II plan, which features 3 10/20 weekends. The Novice and Intermediate I plans, not so much.
Changing the subject a bit, any opinions on the wisdom of having 2 long runs back to back like this Higdon plan? I've gotten lots of WTF?! reactions from other runners, but on the last 10/20 weekend, I think the 10 miles at MP on Saturday prevented me from going out too fast in the long run. That is, I started the run a little tired, so didn't get feel so good that I went out too fast.
Thanks everybody! Your advice has given me some things to think about.
Nobby- I've certainly taken your advice in the past and will continue to do so. I may cut out the other long runs and do one more 20 miler like you suggest. I live in Asheville, NC so every run of any distance has a couple thousand feet of elevation change associated with it. I am getting plenty of hills. My last marathon was 11/08 and I finished just under 4:00. I remember telling myself during and after the race that I may have over-trained for my purpose. I think I did something like 6 runs of more than 18 miles building up to that race. For me, I think it is totally psychological. For some reason I feel like 23 miles is "magic". Not sure where I got that idea and I realize how stupid it sounds as I type.
As I just wrote the above paragraph I sort of had an epiphany. Since I plan on racing at least one more marathon this year and also doing a 40 mile run (on my 40th Bday in Aug.) I can use this marathon to really figure out what sort of training I need. Maybe minimizing the number of long runs I do (and still running 40-60 mpw) I can figure out how my body responds. I could just really backoff and see how I perform with less. My only real goal for this race is to enjoy and finish. I guess I'll use it as a learning experience and see how things go.
Sorry- It was not my intention to turn this post into a blog. Thanks for the input everybody. You made me think this through and suddenly I feel much better about my training plan.
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