I’m preparing for my 3rd marathon and my first Boston. So assuming I trained (intentionally) for 16 weeks for each marathon that’s about 48 weeks of training. 48 weeks of reading a training plan. Obsessively.
When I write “reading a training plan”, I really mean “reading two or three training plans,” because I collect them like a smoker collects ashtrays. One would be just fine, but it’s better to have a few close by just in case. On my office bulletin board I have a copy of a Runner’s World Smart Coach (total garbage), Glover’s “Sample Competitor’s and Advanced Competitor’s Marathon Training Plan” (fantastic), McMillian’s custom plan (super fantastic), a few pacing charts, and some old pace bands. It’s like a visual buffet of possible ways to run train for the marathon.
This year, I’ve been a little more relaxed — if it’s not a speed workout day, I’ll just go out and run for an hour or so. I follow the long runs, and the speed workouts, to be sure, but the shorter distances I stick to what I think has worked for me in the past. An hour is a good run. Less is too little. More can be too much.
Now that we’re about two weeks out (13 days, 12 hours, but who’s counting?), I’ve put McMillan front and center and I’m following it to the letter. I now need the confort of structure (Note to self: that sounds like totalitarianism. That’s no good.) So I’m going to stick with it. Hope for the best, start the taper.
Yesterday I was slated to do tempo intervals, and for once, I actually was home so I got to do them on the track. 3 x 2k at 6:40-6:53 (per mile pace). It went great. Other than starting the run thinking that 2k was three laps and then realizing it was five. I really have to get better at the Metric system. And math. And not being a total idiot.
Splits were 8:52, 8:56, 8:52, with an average pace of 6:31, 6:34, 6:22. Not entirely entirely clear how the average pace of the last interval would be different from the first, but I guess the Garmin gremlins have their way.
The training plan also had me doing 3 @ 200m at the end of workout, but I had to (not) run and pick up my kids from school. I guess I’ll throw those intervals at the end of Saturday’s run. So much for sticking with the plan!
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