3 1/2 marathons question UPDATED training schedule (Read 661 times)

This should be helpful for you http://askcoachjenny.runnersworld.com/2008/04/index.html

You just need to run a lot between now and then. They're spaced out enough that it shouldn't be a problem recovering and maintaining fitness between them, so long as you have a solid base by then.

If you have a good enough base for the first one, you won't have to worry about keeping your "endurance" for the second one. With your light mileage base, my recommendation would be to slow down a few easy/long runs and make them a tad bit longer. E.g. when you do your next long run, why not slow down a little and take a short (30-60 seconds) walk break after each mile? You can increase your mileage more without getting injured this way. With your first 1/2 M, you might consider taking the first half of the race very easy and comfortable... if you don't it can make the last few miles a real drag (and worse, with a low mileage training base, you might get a nagging injury of some kind.)

We're talking halves here. Now, you haven't mentioned any race goals aside from "complete them all". Get ready for the first one. As long as you aren't trying to win it *and* provided you had been running some before you started formally training, you can get ready for it. It'll take some work. But after that? It's 7 1/2 weeks from race one to race two. IMHO, this is plenty of time to recover and stay in "complete them all" shape for #2. Obviously, if you hurt yourself before/during race #1, then you might need to reconsider. But if you finish strong, happy, and ready to try again... 7 1/2 weeks is a fine amount of time. It's less than a month between race #2 and #3, but I still think the same thing. If you finish #2 feeling strong, then you can be ready (where ready is defined as "complete them all") for #3. I don't want to come across as sounding like I'm saying these are *just* halves. The half marathon is a tough distance, not to be taken lightly, etc. In fact, the half is my FAVORITE distance, by far. You can do it. As for how to train, there are lots of ways to do it. If you were running the marathon, I'd suggest a peek at Higdon's "multiple marathon" training plans as well as the stuff in the back of Pfitzinger's "Advanced Marathoning" book. But you are running the half. Your training between the two races will be dictated by your recovery time after the race you've just finished.

Looks like a typical beginner half plan. Starting from your weekly base, which isn't very much, I'd be careful. Keep that plan as a guide and don't try to cram workouts if you miss, and watch for nagging injuries. The typical mantra... And careful with your previously bum knee.

What exactly is your goal? To run 3 HM's in 3 mo, or to break 2 hours? 9:09 pace is 2hrs. I think your HM race pace of 8:30-9:00 is a bit aggressive right now, and I think most people on this forum would agree. Your 15k in March was in 9:32 pace and you haven't been putting in very much mileage to make your 30-60 sec/mi improvement. I would stick to runs in the 9:30-10:30 pace and not worry about race pace right now. Maybe go for 8:30-9:00 pace in your 3rd HM after you have more of a base, and if you recover well from the first two. Also, based on your fastest mile of 7:50, most running calculators predict your half marathon race pace at around 9:30/mi. Keep up the training and you'll speed up naturally! Have fun.