Time to get the calendar out
With a marathon Dec. 2 (CIM), I’ve been feeling like marathon training is a long way off still. However, so many people have been talking lately about getting their fall marathon plans underway, I thought maybe it was time I get out the calendar and do a little planning myself so I wouldn’t be late to the party.
I always write my own training plans and don’t really worry about mapping things out specifically other than my long runs. I like to do five 20 to 22s, with a lower mileage week in between each. That means I do start my training pretty far out. And when I got my calendar out, I discovered that legitimate training really isn’t all that far off.
I also have to factor in the various races I have planned for the rest of summer and fall–two sprint triathlons, an 8k, a half marathon (yet to be determined), and a relay race. Those always require that marathon training doesn’t go exactly by the books every single week.
So once I figured all that out, it looked pretty clear to me that I need to start hitting 18-milers by the beginning of August. This works out well for me because I’m pretty comfortably at the 16-mile long run level already, having done one last week and 15 this week. I can spend the rest of July between 14 and 16 for long runs and then be ready to move on up to 18 in August. Works for me.
If yore doing a fall marathon, where do you stand with marathon training? Is it underway?
YAY MARATHON TRAINING! I know I started my fall training this week (gulp)! But my Marathon is Oct 14th so this will give me 4 months to get ready!
Krysten Siba Bishop (@darwinianfail) recently posted..Marathon Motivation …Tuesday – Week 1
No fall marathons on schedule yet, but I am registered for one in January. Due to injury I have to factor in a base-building phase, though, so I could be cutting it close if I don’t start healing up quickly!
II have never done that many 20′s – I used to do just one, but I realized I needed more. Now I do either 3 or fewer if I have other races functioning as long runs (like I ran two marathons as long runs training for a goal race last year).
Gracie (Complicated Day) recently posted..Help me pick a shoe
Registered for CIM just yesterday. Will try to train harder for it this year. My goal: have FUN (again).
Ewa recently posted..17min 46sec – trust me, time well spent
I just started my training for my September and October marathons, but I’ve been keeping my mileage pretty high for a while. The big runs are coming up fast!
Kari @ Running Ricig recently posted..Free hydration
For my first 4 marathons, I started 4 months out. This time around, I’m not getting serious about it until 8 weeks out. I burn out.
When we were at McMillans Training Camp, Greg brought up a good point of peaking too early. I think that’s what happened during Philly last year and since I have 2 marathons in the Fall, 3 weeks apart, I’m going easy on myself this time around.
Joanne recently posted..The Fall and Another CNYEats Taste of Utica Cheesecake
Yikes, I need to start looking! I just ordered two training books yesterday so hopefully i can put something together by the end of the week.
Yo Momma Runs recently posted..A trip to Salt Springs, Florida
No Fall marathons for me this year but I think it sounds like the perfect time to race…temp and weather wise! However 18 miles in August sounds a little tough….you are going to rock it though!!
Fancy Nancy recently posted..Try It Out Tuesday!
5 20-22s?? Wow! I’m doing Marine Corps and starting training next week.
This is the first time in a long time that I’m not doing a fall marathon, and even though I know that I don’t want to run one, I’m still feeling the pull toward a marathon training plan!
Abby @ Have Dental Floss, WIll Travel recently posted..Untamed New England, Leg 1: Packrafting, Paddling, and Sinking, Oh My!
I usually do 24 week plans but this year, because of my wacky spring marathon season, I am doing an 18 week plan, and I’m on week 5. I’m hoping it’s enough but we’ll see. I haven’t actually registered for the fall marathon yet, so if the training doesn’t go as planned, maybe I’ll switch to the 1/2 and not do a fall full this year.
Robin recently posted..Summertime
Due to the insane amount of traveling and moving this summer, I decided that training for a fall marathon just wasn’t in the cards for me this year. I feel a little bit sad about that when I read posts like this one.
Raquelita recently posted..July Goals
Sounds like a great approach! I’m planning on getting back up into higher mileage long runs in August as well…you know…when it’s nice and hot and humid!
abbi recently posted..June Recap
August is around the corner! I also do my own plans. You are almost starting your marathon training and it sounds like you have a wonderful base.
Johann recently posted..Num-Num 36.5km Trail Challenge Preview
It’s amazing how fast these events come up! No fall marathon for me. Other than IM Canada at the end of August, my schedule is completely clear. I’ll have to figure something out!
Abby @ Change of Pace recently posted..Long weekend indulgences
HA. I’m just like you!!! I backwards plan to ensure I get the necessary long runs in. Other than that, I know that I’ll do speedwork once or twice a week and the rest will be easy runs (mileage is based on how I feel). I find that having too rigid of a plan freaks me out and makes me not want to run. Knowing that I just need to get out the door rather than running 7, 8, 9 miles is easier for me when my legs are tired. I’ll end up running that mileage anyway but it’s a mental thing.
I have philly on the calendar but that is a long shot…no training until baby is born…so no training plan this year =(
Michele @ nycrunningmama recently posted..Embrace the Pain
I write my own plans too. Sometimes I go far out, sometimes not – just depends on how important the marathon is for me and whether or not I’m racing it hard or if I have other things on my plate or not. I’m finding as I’m aging, my finish line times aren’t as important as they once were and having more fun doing a bunch of other things along the way and training for 24 weeks for one race isn’t tugging at my heart like it once was. Maybe it will again, but not right now. If I end up doing Chicago, it’s going to be on the 14 week training plan…and I’m okay with that!
August will be here soon (unfortunately!).
Jill recently posted..From One Extreme to the Other…
I’m doing St. Jude on 12/1, and I’ve got an 18-week plan mapped out that starts the last week of this month. Mine’s a novice plan though, starting out at only 8 miles, but I feel pretty good going into it as I’m already running 8 miles comfortably. (Well, as “comfortably” as you can in the summertime anyway. haha)
Pam recently posted..Glass Dharma Review and Giveaway!
I haven’t even run a half marathon (yet) so can’t imagine the amount of time it takes to train for a full! I start my half training in about 2 weeks for my October 14th half marathon
Carly recently posted..Happy Canada Day
Still contemplating if I will ever run a stand-alone marathon again. Those things hurt.
And when I read 18 miles in August I melted. 18 miles anywhere is hot, but here in Dallas that is downright torture.
Jason @ Cook Train Eat Race recently posted..Forming Habits
I didn’t know you were doing CIM! I am too! Eeek! I was still thinking of it as really far off too!
Laura recently posted..The good news is I managed to not crap my pants
I’m in week 10 for my September ultra, but I’m nowhere near the running shape you’re already in!
Kovas – Midwest Multisport Life recently posted..2012 Half Year Report
I’m doing the Richmond Marathon in November. Since I’m local, I joined the Sports Backers Marathon Training team and we’ve been doing weekly group runs since early June. This will be my first marathon, and being part of a training team has been helpful for holding my accountable to my training schedule!
I think I’m going to hold on CIM training until September. I just ran Seattle, and i’m running SFM in a few weeks, so I am planning to lay pretty low and lazy for August. Hopefully I’ll maintain some base, but…. we’ll see.
For Seattle, I started base building in December, then straight into training in March, so I felt like it lasted forEVER. I’m looking forward to some unstructured downtime…
Heather recently posted..Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.
Yay for CIM! Training always seems to sneak up doesn’t it? I just ramped up and am in week 2 for Marine Corps. Can’t wait to meet you!
Teamarcia recently posted..Tuesday Tids: Cranky Hot Edition
18 milers by the beginning of August?? OK, now you’re scaring me.
I’m signed up for CIM, too, but will feel lucky to be doing 6 milers by the beginning of August. I just need to be confident that my new coach can get me there by Dec. 2.
Why does Dec. 2 seem so close when I think about training, but so far when I long for chilly weather? :^)
Terzah recently posted..June Recap, July Preview
Not only am I running a fall marathon… I’ve volunteered to be a pace leader for a training group! So I definitely started my training early.
The group training starts at the end of this month. I’ve been running 14-milers every other week since April to make sure I’m well ahead of the game, and I’ve got 16 planned this weekend…
Beth (i run like a girl) recently posted..Are you my next guest blogger?
I have a marathon in October. I started training last month, and the race seemed soooo far away. Last week the race director posted on Facebook that it was 100 days until race day. That made it seem a lot closer! December will be here before you know it!!
Candice recently posted..Dare to (Not) Compare
No fall marathon plans for me. Doing my first marathon in January and 1st half ironman in July was enough for me to accomplish in one year. I am hoping/planning on doing a fall marathon next year…we shall see.
Michael recently posted..A Short Story About a Girl Name Coy
I am doing a half marathon this fall and I feel like that training is way far off. Instead i am focusing on tri training (great cross training) and will address the added miles as we get closer to fall and the weather gets cooler!
luv what you do recently posted..A TREAT DAY Recap
Oh boy! You really shocked me when you said you’d like to do 5 20-22 milers. I’m seriously contemplating CIM and I really want a good solid training this time. Funny because we have a marathon the last week of October that I’d like to do and I’ve been toying with using that as a training run but I’ve never done that many long (or long) runs. Certainly everyone has thier opinions. It’s clear speed work and tempos are needed I’m thinking another key is just a ton of miles too-without injury, the clincher. I’m still so new so I guess try every thing once right? God, I’d love to pick your brain. Maybe see ya in Sacramento!
Fueled by Spite recently posted..Ultra cray cray
no running but, as always, I like through YOU
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LMOA touch screen….I LIVE through you.
you run
I cheer.
Miz recently posted..Fireworks & *FITBLOGGIN*!
I love CIM! If I can get better/healed in time I might try and run it again this year. However, that doesn’t look like it will be in the cards. We shall see! Right now I might be taking your advice on “it’s never the right time”.
Tasha @ Healthy Diva recently posted..The FIRST Run
Does a half marathon in October count too? This week I have 16 weeks left for my first half marathon. I’m using a 12 week half marathon schedule and added 3 recovery weeks and the week before the half I drop the mileage. This way I should be ready on October 21.
Fran recently posted..Wednesday July 4 – 2012, The Workout Edition
I’m doing the Wineglass marathon on Sep 30 and already in training week 6. Even though training over the summer sucks, I love the fact the race is that early. I will be at my peak in early fall and usually run some pretty fast races after the marathon
Christine recently posted..Race Report: Heritage Festival 5 Miler
Training for the Richmond Marathon on Nov. 10. It will be my first. I started marathon training early because I couldn’t wait, but I’m taking it slow. Hopefully I won’t burn out…:-/
Ama_Runs recently posted..A Memorable Vacation and a Meh-morable Run