Training advice-- feel free to pick my log apart (Read 1097 times)

I am seeking the advice of some of the veteran runners here in order to avoid making any mistakes in my training. I am doing my first half marathon in about 4 weeks, and my log reflects simply base building to finish comfortably. After that, I am training for 17 weeks to actually “race” a half marathon in Phoenix in January. I have begun discussing 2009 goals with my coach, and he laid out two options from which I am to choose. The first was considering doing a marathon and focusing on building the base to do so (running just to finish, not for time). The second would be focusing on speed and working down my half marathon times over 2009. I know I want to eventually be a marathoner, as my longer runs are always much more fun than shorter stints and speedwork. I want to avoid too much too quickly, however, and want to leverage the experience of individuals here to make an educated decision. I’m scheduled to run 5 times a week (the last two weeks life issues interfered, but I’m back on track) and I do significant cross and strength training that I do not log. The cross training is a mix of kickboxing, cycling, tennis and the occasional elliptical. Strength workouts are 3 times a week, maybe going to 4x based on what the personal trainer work is bringing in says. Any thoughts are welcome. I’ve been running a little over a year, although I didn’t start actively logging until January. Chris

I've been running about 4 years, and I dont' think I'll be ready for my first marathon for another year, but I've had a couple of injuries that set me back here and there. BTW, your 5K time is about the same as mine. But, I ran my first HM earlier this year in Feb. just to finish as a training run in 2:35. Then a month later I ran another one comfortably (at 80-85%) in 2:14. I plan on my third one in Oct. with a goal of <2:00. i think it'll be close! so, i had a plan similar to yours, and it's working out for me. i'm no expert, but i glanced at your log anyway. all your run types are pretty much at the same pace. why? my guess is that for newer runners, speedwork is not very important at this stage. i did my hms on an easy running schedule. and as far as doing a marathon is concerned, you are probably ok imho because you are 1. increasing your mileage nicely each month, and 2. you don't plan on doing one for a year or so. consider racing a couple of 25k-30ks between your hms and first marathon. have fun! :d bill i="" think="" it'll="" be="" close!="" so,="" i="" had="" a="" plan="" similar="" to="" yours,="" and="" it's="" working="" out="" for="" me.="" i'm="" no="" expert,="" but="" i="" glanced="" at="" your="" log="" anyway.="" all="" your="" run="" types="" are="" pretty="" much="" at="" the="" same="" pace.="" why?="" my="" guess="" is="" that="" for="" newer="" runners,="" speedwork="" is="" not="" very="" important="" at="" this="" stage.="" i="" did="" my="" hms="" on="" an="" easy="" running="" schedule.="" and="" as="" far="" as="" doing="" a="" marathon="" is="" concerned,="" you="" are="" probably="" ok="" imho="" because="" you="" are="" 1.="" increasing="" your="" mileage="" nicely="" each="" month,="" and="" 2.="" you="" don't="" plan="" on="" doing="" one="" for="" a="" year="" or="" so.="" consider="" racing="" a="" couple="" of="" 25k-30ks="" between="" your="" hms="" and="" first="" marathon.="" have="" fun!="" :d="" bill=""></2:00. i think it'll be close! so, i had a plan similar to yours, and it's working out for me. i'm no expert, but i glanced at your log anyway. all your run types are pretty much at the same pace. why? my guess is that for newer runners, speedwork is not very important at this stage. i did my hms on an easy running schedule. and as far as doing a marathon is concerned, you are probably ok imho because you are 1. increasing your mileage nicely each month, and 2. you don't plan on doing one for a year or so. consider racing a couple of 25k-30ks between your hms and first marathon. have fun! :d bill >

You have a coach? So why as us?

My coach gave me two options, and instead of just doing what I want, I am deferring to others with more experience. It seems like the standard adage of run more, more often is the overall message, so the marathon as a base building exercise looks like the most sense at this point. Thanks!

Chris -- You and I are reall similar in our training and were we are in running to date.... I'm planning on a Marathon in late May (no real time goal). I had this same discussion with a coach from my running club and we are going to continue pretty much what I'm doing with slow mileage progression to around 30 MPW in Dec....and then start the marathon build up ...... but will continue the Wed track workouts (weather permitting - here in New England) cause I really like what it does for me (speed training and overall strength - and its fun to train with some serious runners once a week, to keep things in perspective)..... I cant speak for you, but I think this strategy would work for you also.....1/2 M and M training are pretty much the same thing - you need mileage and you need some speed (I know this from my past life - life before I quit running for a few years, when I used to run a lot more).... You seem good --- just slowly keep increasing....and youll get stronger......

My advice is for you to be patient. You are very young (older people say that ... am I dating myself?), and have many years of enjoyable running ahead of you if you so desire. If you want to run a marathon, that's fine, but don't feel like you have to run one on a timetable. Just plug away at the mileage as others have said, and let things evolve naturally. Even if you don't run the marathon right away the higher mileage will help you improve your times in the other distances, so your time isn't wasted. I hope that makes sense.

Looking at your log, I think you should focus on steadily adding more easy miles throughout the week. I don't think you have enough mileage to justify doing intervals yet, and I think your long runs represent too large a fraction of your total miles.

Train like a marathoner, lots of miles, decent length long runs, and Race 5 and 10K's. Watch those times get better then tackle a full marathion. What's the rush?

I think its a matter of what will fit your schedule more and what you think you will enjoy doing more, at this point in your running progress.

In my opinion that's the central question - which will you enjoy more - training for and running a 1/2 for a great finish time / possible PR, or training for and running a marathon to finish, not focusing on time. I imagine (as others stated) that your coach's plan for the fast 1/2 will involve more speed work, while training for the full will focus more on mileage and less on speed. Which of these prospects excites you more?