In the midst of all of the July hoopla, I secretly started something else: TWO CITIES MARATHON TRAINING and I wanted to share my training plan with all of you.
Over my past marathons I’ve learned a few key things and have adapted those learnings for this training cycle:
- Log more weekday miles. Half marathons are my bag baby, but for some reason, I haven’t been able to have a seamless, yet still competitive, full. I think that this in part is due to my training. Throughout the last cycles, the most I would get in on a weekday was eight, maaaaybe nine, miles as I have to be out the door by 7 a.m. to get to work on time. If I want to up my ante for this race, I need to make some more efficiencies in my morning routine.
- Get ready at the gym! As much as I love coming home and getting ready with Chicken Face and Lola, I need to log more miles in the morning and the only way to do that is by getting ready at the gym.
- No more taking 25 minutes to wake-up and get my shiz together before I even go to the gym. Be packed and ready the night before (including lunches made).
- Have my Netflix queue already picked out! Since I do all of my weekday training on a treadmill, I need to watch TV or a movie, or I’d jab my eyes out because of pure boredom. Too many times I’ll stand there on the treadmill for 5-10 minutes just oogling what movie I should stream from Netflix. NO MORE!
- Utilize different training techniques to help with speed and endurance. More speed work = increased speed. More hill work = using muscles that normally don’t get touched and can build your speed by enhancing your strength. Far too often I would just crank out the miles to get them done, but with redefined focus on each and every workout I feel like I can optimize the training.
For the first time ever, I’m using a training plan from Run Faster. Please note that I have changed it a bit already and BY NO MEANS is this final. A training plan is always fluid and adaptable. Given that I’ve never done something like this plan, I could find out in two more weeks that it simply doesn’t work for me a scrap the whole damn thing. So without further ado…
To be quite frank, the intensity of this training plan DOES scare me. So I am going to be extremely in-tune with what my body is telling me and adjust as needed. Also, I realize that this extremely difficult to read, so you can access the entire spreadsheet via Google Docs here.
So there you have it folks, my training plan for the Two Cities Marathon in November. What training plan are you using? What questions do you have?
Happy running!
Do you have a treadmill at home? Or you use a treadmill at the gym? I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to balance my Big Sur training (I know I have a few months to figure this out!) with work, my husband’s schedule, and the baby. I really don’t like running on the treadmill but it usually IS the best option.
Do you always run before work? Or do you mix it up?
Hey Cate,
Sadly, I live in an apt so if I got a treadmill the people below me very well may kill me if I’m pounding away at 4:30 in the morning. Thus, I go to a gym that is near the Bart station. For you, I’m thinking if you have one at home that may be best, especially with the new baby.
And ya, I always run before work unless I oversleep. If not, I think about it the entire day and dread it! By the time the work day is over, I just want to veg out and eat.
Hope this helps!
Your training plan looks good! It is intense, but when you have big goals, the training needs to match up. Go big or go home 🙂 And as you said – you’re willing to modify if need be. I’ve been modifying my HM training plan like crazy, but having a basic framework makes it much easier to get in the miles/workouts.
I’m so glad you posted this — I’ve done plenty of halfs but may do my first full in December (CIM), and it’s really helpful to see all the different plans that people are using. I still don’t know exactly what I’ll use if I do it, but my half-marathon plans tend to be things I throw together from different sources based on what’s worked well for me in the past. 🙂
No problem! This was the first plan I used for a marathon – may be super helpful for you: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244-255-11937-0,00.html
Your plan looks great!! Good luck with your training! I am using Smartcoach for my plan, but I modify the midweek runs. I try to stick with the LR schedule and workouts, it has a good build-up and cutback weeks in the program which I like
Hey Page – love your blog!
I’ve done 4 full marathons and more half marathons than I can remember, but this is the first time I’ve been incorporating both speed and hills in my training. My plan is a collection of a couple of different plans. I’m at the halfway point in training for my next marathon and, while I’m seeing some improvement with the speedwork, the hillwork is making a HUGE difference!! My legs are so much stronger. Like you, I run very early in the morning and use a treadmill as well, except for my weekend long runs. For me, both speed and hills are easy (ok, not easy – convenient) to do on a treadmill. I’m using it for Yasso 800s and for hills, I’ve been chosing the treadmill’s hill workout program and adjusting the incline a full percentage each week. For tomorrow’s hill run, I’ll have it at an incline of 11. I’m really hoping I don’t fly off the back!
Great plan! It looks intense, but hard work delivers results. I am also trying to step it up a notch this marathon training cycle, reminding myself I have to push a bit out of my comfort zone in order to break to the next level. I am happy you are allowing some adaptability, as we all know oversleeping, busy work days, travel and your honeymoon (woo!) can get in the way. I can’t wait to hear about your training progressing!
Why do you log your weekday miles on a treadmill and not outdoors? Is it because you have to leave so early and it’s dark? Just curious! I find it exciting and motivating to get my run in outdoors, which helps get me out of bed. But if the treadmill is the only option, gotta do what you can!
Yayyy for Run Faster! That is what I am using this time around, also!
getting in those weekly long ones is SO hard. i really can’t do more than 8 unless i wake up WAY too early. i need to get faster 🙂
Awesome plan! I’m ‘thisclose’ to signing up for the Two Cities half. I usually don’t have a training plan because I feel like “I have to run X amount of miles”. I want to run because I love it. Good luck!
Looks like you brought your A game!!! do you have goals yet 🙂
wa-wa-wa-wait a second! I don’t see my name on your schedule, clear flaw. Some of those runs should say “with Roserunner, who is also training for a marathon but too lazy to write up a plan”.
What’s up with 8 second hill sprints? I’ve never sprinted up a hill, but 8 seconds seems like a random number.
(btw, my personal opinion is that you kick arse at the marathon distance too. always have)
Im on my running clubs half training plan right now, with no race in sight. maybe Ill try to find a October half to run, otherwise its just a few 5ks and some XC races.
This plan looks solid, and I think you’re going to see huge results from changing training techniques. As soon as I started adding dedicated hill work and speed work, my times dropped a ton – 11 minutes in the marathon. But your plan is way better than the one I use from Training Peaks – there is never a built it honeymoon in mine… Happy training!
Weekday runs are hard to fit in w/ a full time job, etc. But I do think they’re key to running a strong marathon (says the girl who can’t break 3:40..). If you can get in a couple quality long-ish runs during the week, I think you’ll see monster results!
Would you mind if I stole bits and pieces of this plan?
Of course! Steal as much as you want – it’s not actually mine but all from “Run Faster.” Good luck!
Girl, you are so inspiring! Just looking at your training plan exhausts me, haha!
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