Fresh off of my Ironman recovery rant, I went into the next stage of the new adventure: moving from temporary housing to my new apartment, my next training cycle and working with a new running coach. All exciting and all a bit nerve-wracking!
I’ll breeze over the whole moving situation, but let’s just say that downgrading your life to a much smaller, one-bedroom apartment in a new neighborhood is a bit of a shock to the system. Plus, it was a real wake-up call of just how much crap one owns and how it all feels totally unnecessary. My closet literally can’t fit one more thing.
The moving company practically killed a rainforest packing my crap. Le sigh.
But I’ll get over my first world problem (seriously, who am I?) and get on to the exciting news.
As I transitioned from Ironman training, I knew I wanted to revisit running, build my speed and legs back up, and hopefully demolish some old running PRs. I didn’t have an intention of getting a running coach as I’ve never had one and didn’t think I would ever need a running-specific coach (it’s just one foot in front of the other, right?). Ironman? Of course…I might die if I did it wrong. Running? It didn’t seem to be worth the cost. Plus, I love, love, love my triathlon coach, and I felt like I’d be cheating or something if I went with a running-specific coach.
But as I was scanning the Internet for a plan that I could tweak, I couldn’t find anything that would leverage my Ironman base, help ease me back into running (injury free) and still prepare me for a marathon in early December. I was stuck and found myself plotting my own plan with the help of the McMillan calculator. As I was perusing the site, I noticed that McMillan offered training plans and of course, I tweeted asking if anyone had used them.
One thing led to the next and I was soon emailing back and forth with Greg McMillan himself and we developed a great little partnership as I embark on my next running goal. Full disclosure here, I paid for a training plan and Greg has generously offed to be my coach pro bono.
I’m excited to work with Greg because I’ve not only used his calculator for years, but because of his specific running focus and academic exercise physiology background; plus, being an accomplished athlete doesn’t hurt (I’m looking for a sub-3 someday, Greg. Riiiiiight).
Insert pretty Portland running photos here. Just because.
As I embarked on this new partnership, I filled out an extensive questionnaire stating my goals and what I’ve been doing thus far. Pretty simple: Run sub-3:15 for a full, break 1:30 for a half, and get my running legs back. Greg then built a custom plan for me with the following approach:
- A smart, flexible plan that progressively builds into a complete runner – ready for any distance.
- A plan that has a lot of variety in workouts within a certain energy system as well as across a training phase. Accordingly, we will add a variety of workout types – some that emphasize endurance, some stamina, some speed and some the finishing sprint. Greg says that these workouts will develop all the systems of the body resulting in faster times at all distances.
- A very conservative start just to get things going again. Thus, it will be a base, pre-marathon training and then a 9-week marathon-specific phase. To be honest, I’m quite nervous about only having 9-weeks for marathon-specific training, but Greg assures me that it will be ok in that his philosophy is to “do the training so you can do the training so you can finally do the training.”
- There are also multiple cross training sessions, which will allow me to be back on the bike or still swimming – both of which I’m thankful for.
- The training plan won’t be heart rate based, but rather perceived effort in the right range.
- I’ll also start incorporating trail running on easy or long run days – I am in Oregon after all!
You’re telling me I get to run here? Get outta here.
As I make my way back on the running bandwagon, I’m anxious to see how my legs, speed and heart have changed post-Ironman. I’ll be sharing my training here, but let me know if you have any burning questions…or if you want to just give an Internet high five. Love those.
Happy Running!
This all sounds really exciting, from the move to the new coach! I have no doubt you’ll achieve your goals and then some.
I bet training under a coach, especially one as knowledgeable as THE Greg McMillan, will do wonders with hidden talents and speed! Can’t wait to hear about it!
I’m excited for you, and also looking forward to hearing how everything goes with the new coach!
9 weeks of marathon-specific training is actually fine if you’ve been building significant base. I’m on an 18-week plan currently, and I don’t hit my first 20 mile long run at week 10. So far, I’ve mostly been ramping up to the big mileage weeks (I’m at week 8).
I meant “until week 10.” Duh.
YES. Easy and long are awesome ways to hit the trails. But you’probably be like the rest of us and soon go all trails.
They are addicting. Have fuuuuuunnnn! Can’t wait to run with you up there.
How exciting! Can’t wait to hear about all your marathon adventures!
Sounds like you have an awesome plan and a super awesome coach to guide you through it!! Exciting! I look forward to hearing how things go for you. And it definitely seems like trail running is a necessity in the PNW. Here’s an internet high five as you get started!!
Love the Mcmillan running calculator too. How awesome that Greg is coaching you!!!! I am looking forward to hearing more about your training and of course your adventures in PDX.
I’ll be curious to watch you progress through the plan. I followed it for Boston this year and it did not work for me. There weren’t any hill workouts, the “easy” paces were much too easy and I felt sluggish on race day. Hopefully you get better results than I did!
So. Freaking. Awesome. Can’t wait for you to crush CIM and finally make sub 1:30 your bitch.
i think you have got a strong enough base, even with the resting, that the 9 week plan will be just fine for you. it’d be interesting to see how incorporating more trail running will affect your training and race day results. I’m thinking it’d help
pretty cool that you’ve gotten a running coach!
Awesome!!! Look what having a coach did for you and your Ironman!!! Looks like you are settling into Portland nicely!!
how COOL is that!? so jealous! and excited to read about your marathon training!!
So cool about Greg coaching you! Curious to hear all about it.
I’m really excited to follow your training – and REALLY jealous of where you get to run!
Yay! So excited to follow your marathon training…running in PNW will be awesome!
Thank you for being so open about your athletic goals and pursuits. With the blog, you just put things out there and then live up to the statements. While I was out on my run this morning, I was thinking about this latest post and said (in my head) “I’m going to shoot for sub 1:30 at a November Half Marathon AND tell some of my friends my goal.” I HAD been thinking “oh, I’ll try to do sub 1:30 NEXT year. In the spring maybe…” But why not go for it now? When I read your post yesterday and saw that you were going to shoot for an awesome Marathon time in December, I first thought “wow, isn’t that so soon?” No offense to you Page! You are an incredible athlete and can definitely do it. It was me that was mistaken – I get in this mindset of putting off time goals and doubting myself. Of course, the fastest Half I’ve done so far is 1:33 so I have a bit farther to go for the 1:30 than you but why not try? Thanks for the motivation! And good luck with your training. As others have said, I’m also looking forward to following your adventure!
I’ve played for hours with the McMillan calculator…so interested to hear about having a running coach and your post-Ironman adventures!