In December I signed up. In January I started running again. And in May I’ll be completing my first marathon. Oh yeah.
Last weekend I spent time finalizing my training plan, which I imagine will get changed some as time goes on. For my two half marathons I pretty closely followed Jeff Galloway’s running plans, so I decided to base my marathon plan off Galloway’s plan. (Speaking of Jeff Galloway, he’ll be running the Vermont City Marathon this year for its 25th anniversary.)
on the running plan
I’ll be running three days a week, which is great, since my legs don’t usually like to run two days in a row and I can ensure running basically every other day. Two days a week I’ll run 30 minutes, and one weekend day will be devoted to either a long run or a shorter 4-6 mile run, and those will alternate each week. Not bad.
I was going to try to get up to 26 miles for my last long run, but a few of you told me I’m better off getting up to 20 or 22 miles, and then tapering down before the race. My last long run will be 20 miles, and I’ll have two shorter weeks before the big day. Let’s just hope adrenaline really pushes me through.
on winter running
I’m still pretty nervous – about the distance, about keeping up with stretching and foam rolling, and with staying on top of training during winter. It was –1°F this morning, so I definitely didn’t go running (or do much of any exercise) today.
Thinking back to my training for my first half marathon, I got up to 14 miles, and felt really good. So what’s another 6 miles, right? (For training, not the race. Ha.)
And the cold weather is something I’ll have to play around with too. I have plenty of layers to wear for running, but I just find my face gets so cold. I do have an old Turtle Fur neck warmer that I’ll try to wear, but I think I’m either going to only run when it’s at least 20°F, or if I have access to a treadmill (which I kind of dread, but would take over frigidly cold weather).
Any extreme cold weather running advice is gladly wanted.
on cross training
I like to change up the running and find other ways to stay in shape. My goal is to exercise five or six days a week, including my race training.
There are lots of yoga studios around, and I found one place that has a weekly class that fits my schedule really well. I’m hoping to try it out in the next week, and if it goes well, that should become a regular event that’ll also help me get more stretching in.
With the snow, I’m going to try to snowshoe more, maybe two days a week. I went during the last snowstorm we had (we got two feet of snow!), and my legs felt great, especially trekking through the fresh snow. I’d like to get in a few sessions of downhill skiing and cross-country skiing this winter too.
So far I’ve just gone running once this week – a 30 minute run – and I’m just waiting for the temperature to warm up and the sky to stop dropping snow. But I’ll get there. I know it.
