OK, so it’s been three weeks now since I ran the Cape Cod Marathon and I’ll be the first one to admit that I’ve been adrift at sea without a rudder since then. For 16 weeks I had a training calendar that methodically let me know what I needed to do from day to day. I took comfort in that. Outside of work and school I tend to be more laid back, but when I’m at work (or working towards something) I’m more detail oriented. Now I don’t mean to communicate that I think of running as work, because I don’t. I truly enjoy running. But training for a marathon is a different matter. In training for a marathon I prefer structure. It forces me to focus on the big picture and makes sure I don’t alter my plan according to some whim in how I’m feeling on any given day.
The last three weeks have been all sorts of disorganized. I’ve run three races since my marathon - a five miler with the stroller (PR), a half marathon with the stroller, and a five mile trail race (new PR). So, I haven’t been taking it too easy, but I also have not been running too much in between my races.
Training for Marathons is Easy
Thankfully, that comes to an end this week. I finally feel recuperated enough after my last marathon to start preparing for my next. I’ve picked out my training plan and the 15 week countdown has begun. I am running the Hyannis Marathon on February 28th. I tried to make as objective an assessment as I could about my performance in Falmouth and chose a training plan that focuses on my weaknesses. My long runs will be longer sooner and most of my weekly mileage will come from my Sunday runs. I’m still sticking with a 4 day per week training plan because I see no other way between family and grad school.
So, wish me luck in Hyannis on February 28th. I’ll keep you posted with how this training round is progressing.
I used to hate the training plans but now I’m like you in that I need those plans to keep me on track and tell me what to do! You amaze me with your marathons! Do you run all of them with the stroller?
As much as I would like to be in the same league as Team Hoyt, I am not. The longest I have run with the stroller is 18 miles. I did my last half marathon with the stroller, but as of yet I have not run a full marathon with the stroller.
I think I will one day, but only when my youngest gets a little older. She can tolerate being still in the stroller for 2 hours, but much more than that and she gets a little cranky.
Thank you for the kind comment.
I know exactly what you mean about being adrift training-wise after completing a marathon. I had followed a rigid schedule in the lead up to each race I’d run, but last September I wanted to do something a little different. So, good luck with the Hyannis Marathon, and, I hope your training goes well.
Here’s a link to my thoughts on my new “training schedule” if you’re interested in another perspective: http://thepixelsuite.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/just-a-little-further/
P.S. It was fun seeing a bit of you in John Vaughn’s last podcast