Trying to put it all together (Read 421 times)

I've been a runner for 23 years and have raced from 800 meters to the marathon. I completed in high school and college and continue to race on the roads still today. With all my experience you would think I would have a good idea as to how to train. The issue is that I struggle to put a good training plan together that would help me train and race well. I have a good understanding of all the different elements that need to go into a training schedule (long runs, hill work, tempo runs, intervals, etc.), I just struggle with deciding what to do and when I should do it. My main racing season goes from about May to sometimes November. I will race from 5k's to up to 10 miles. With so many training schedules out there, it's hard to decide what's going to get me in decent race shape. Most schedules that I've seen are for 12 to 24 weeks. I think I need a schedule that is more long term, almost like a yearly plan or for like 8 to 10 months. I'm the type of person who runs better when someone else (a coach) is charting the course. That's why I think I ran well in college (5k PR of 15:42 and a 33:28 10k). I've looked at on-line coaching, but can't afford the cost. Not too many running clubs in my area either. It's just that I'm 37 years old and don't feel like I'm finished yet. The PR's may be gone, but still think I have many good races in me. Any advice anyone can offer as to how to structure a good long-term plan would be much appreciated. Thanks, Chris

Try these two places (at your own risk): 2000 mile club: http://www.runningahead.com/groups/2000 RA Coaching Forum: http://www.runningahead.com/groups/RACF And, make your log public. It worked for me. I ran a PR.