Hansons Marathon Method is a high mileage plan. You run 6 days a week, with 3 runs being a somewhat hard workout to hard workout. Each week there is a speed/strength workout, which is an run that includes speed intervals. At the beginning of the program, you run shorter, faster intervals. By the end, you are running two sets of 3 miles at just below marathon pace. In addition to this workout, there is a tempo run (although it’s more of a pace run since you run it at marathon pace) and a long run. On top of the 3 “hard” workouts, you also run 4 “easy” workouts. While the easy workouts are at a super easy pace, the mileage does start to add up in the end.
In other words, despite maxing out at a 16 mile long run, Hansons is not an easy plan. If you hit the miles and the paces (I think I managed between 80% and 90% most weeks), you are going to be tired and your body will likely be *justthisside* of overtrained.
Enter my secret (and favorite) weapon: regular sports massages.
Now, I’m super lucky – my training partner for most of the season is a massage therapist, as is her husband. That means it was super easy for me to schedule a massage, sometimes even right after we finished a long run. You think rolling helps after a long run? There’s nothing better than a 30 minute sports massage when you are hot and tired and beginning to tighten up after a long hilly run.
In addition to the shorter massages, I had a nice long massage last week. M was able to work on my usual cranky calf and my hip that gets mad at me every time I train for a marathon. Despite the high mileage (I ran a 200+ mile month for the 4th time EVER in my life), going into taper, my body is in a good place. Now I just need to rest up my legs and I should be ready!
Next up: figure out my goals! The weather here has been crazy humid, so I’m hoping to see some cooler, dryer weather on the horizon soon.
Do you get regular massages? Have you found that it helps your running?
(I am not sharing my massage therapists name here as they work by referral only. If you are interested, feel free to contact me for more info.)
A massage feels so good! I am going for a short session today actually, and it has been a year since my last massage so i am very excited.
I got regular massages this spring when I had so many races. I think they helped me stay injury free!
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