According to various training plans I’ve been looking at, it’s nearing time to get this party started.
I’ve done some crazy things in the past, including 7 half marathons in 7 days and two marathons in the same weekend. I’ve created training plans in the past to accommodate these antics, so now it’s time to take all the plans I’ve been looking at and put them together in a perfect plan for me. I won’t be sharing it here – I’ve designed one that works for MY body and its strengths and weaknesses – but here are some elements I plan to use to be successful in October
- Incorporate one or two full marathons as training runs. I’ve already identified a few options in September and early October. Most of the plans I’ve looked at suggest 1 or 2 26 mile runs. If I’m going to do a marathon distance run, I’m going to finish with a medal. Just sayin’. It’s also looking like I have an Ultra Ragnar in August.
- Run back to back long runs at least every third week. This is based on the Hansons Marathon Plan as well as my success when I ran New York and New Jersey in the same weekend.
- Use the Galloway Method to run a percentage of my long runs. There is a very real chance that I will need to use run/walk in the 50K. This could be because of weather (it’s been crazy hot some years) or because of being tired. While my preference is to generally only walk water stops, I have found that practicing Galloway has really come in handy when I reach a point in a race where I need to walk.
- Add walk miles to the end of my runs. Walking uses different muscles than running and I know that my body will definitely benefit from practice walking at a fast pace. (I’m a super slow walker, in general.)
- SLOW DOWN! While there will be some tempo runs, hill runs, and occasional fartleks, I intend to run most of my runs at a pace that keeps my heart rate down.
Training kicks off with my 3rd half marathon of the year – the National Women’s Half Marathon. My current plan is to run the race and then walk the 5 miles home, but I may decide to metro at least part of the way.
MCM50K, here I come!
That is really exciting for you! Look forward to following along with your training and hope we end up at some of the same races this fall
That would be fun. I’m not sure how many races I’ll get to do that are shorter than marathon distance as I travel so much in the fall.
I have always wanted to do a 50K but have not pulled the trigger. These are all great tips! You are going to rock your 50K and score some great medals along the way!
I’ve been talking about it forever, but it took MCM having a 50K for me to finally actually decide to do it.
This is SOOOO exciting!! It’ll be fun to train (virtually) with you this summer, though I’m “only” running the MCM 26.2 on race day 😉 I am contemplating adding another marathon into the mix (Air Force Marathon, Sept. 21)…I just have not pulled the trigger on that one…yet…
I’d love to run that one, but I can’t really travel to races in the fall, except to the ones I work LOL.