General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Recommend a Marathon Training Plan Rss Feed  
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2013-09-29 11:16 AM

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Champion
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Subject: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan

My husband is going to do the Marathon portion of the Atlantic City Challege Ultra distance race as a relay with me.

He has run 4 HMs, bunch of 5 and 10Ks.

We are big fans on run/walk strategy.

What plan do you guys recommend to follow for his first Mary?

He is a 26' 5K guy, travels a lot, does Crossfit. He has been running for about 4-5 years but not always consistently.



2013-09-29 1:17 PM
in reply to: KathyG

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan

I haven't (intentionally at least) trained for a run-walk approach, so I don't know any plans specific to it.

For a general training plan, I actually quite like the Higdon approach.  You can pick the intensity level you're shooting for, or mix and match among his different plans pretty easily.  Good flexibility and I like the way he layers in intensity if you want to move up plan by plan.

Also is a pretty reasonable ramp in mileage to get you to the race feeling ready (I have more experience with his plans for the HM, as I pulled out of the marry I was going to run this October, but my earlier marathons had a very similar approach - mostly why I picked his to begin with).

All free, too.  Laughing

Good luck to you both - sounds fun!

Matt

2013-09-29 1:23 PM
in reply to: KathyG

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Member
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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
I'm using the Hal Higdon Marathon Training Guide (Novice 1) to train for my first marathon.
Looked around and it looked like the best fit for me.
2013-09-29 2:24 PM
in reply to: KathyG

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan

Go Kevin!

I pretty much use Higdon's HM training plan, but run/walk the long runs to help preserve my knee and Achilles.

I used Galloway's plan for my first HM,  but it (like his beginner's marathon plan) only called for three runs per week and personally I find I do better running at least four days per week.

The big thing for me is being consistent, which means getting up early to run.  Whenever I try to run after work I seem to get caught up with phone calls and meetings too often and have to either skip or shorten my workouts.

Mark

 

2013-09-29 2:40 PM
in reply to: RedCorvette

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan

Mark,

Good points as we discussed the Galloway Mary plan I was surprised how little running was involved....long runs every other week with half the distance on the opposite week increasing 2 miles every 2 weeks.

I know for me consistency is key and when I run in the 30 mpw I start to improve....which means 4-5 runs a day.

Kevin travels a lot and often works 12+ hour days, which makes it challenging.

2013-09-29 3:09 PM
in reply to: KathyG

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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
I'm using Higdon Intermediate 2 and like so far


2013-09-29 8:17 PM
in reply to: dodgersmom

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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
Hal Higdon's novice 1 should be perfect. If he can run 6 miles, then he can do the plan. This is the plan I started with 3 years ago when I got into running/marathons. It took me about ~7 months to build up to running 6 miles non-stop and then I got on the plan (marathon was my first race). Since he's done a lot of races before, he should be at this level or should be able to get there pretty easily.

Finding time to run isn't too bad if you plan your day around it. Most of the weekday runs can be done on a treadmill (head to gym directly after work to save time) or just from your home around the neighborhood. The more you wait around and think about it, the more time that is wasted.
2013-09-30 8:27 AM
in reply to: Blastman

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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
Another vote for Higdon. I've done several of his plans and really like them
2013-09-30 10:06 AM
in reply to: trishie

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan

I looked over the Higdon plans....seems Novice 2 would be a good fit.

My concern is weekday runs are t, w, th and that isn't always possible. Rest days are M, F and crosstraining Sunday.

Anyone travel frequently and have any experience adjusting the running days to fit your life?

2013-09-30 10:39 AM
in reply to: KathyG

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
Originally posted by KathyG

I looked over the Higdon plans....seems Novice 2 would be a good fit.

My concern is weekday runs are t, w, th and that isn't always possible. Rest days are M, F and crosstraining Sunday.

Anyone travel frequently and have any experience adjusting the running days to fit your life?

I used to travel a lot and understand the challenges & frustrations involved. 

I always took my running gear along whenever I traveled.  My best options were to squeeze in a run the morning before breakfast or later just before dinner. 

Often I wasn't staying in places where running outside was possible (once memorable time was in Mexico City when the armed hotel guard stopped me at the door and told me it was too dangerous to run outside). 

The hotel gym was the second choice, using the treadmill or stationary bike, whatever was available.  In that case I would just go by time & HR, rather than relying on the treadmill/bike distance readout.

Sometimes my schedule didn't permit anything, so my last resort would be doing exercises and stretching in my room before bed.  I've done a lot of hotel pushups and crunches over the years.

By necessity, longer workouts have to happen on the weekends.  I'd schedule my long runs for Saturday mornings, giving myself Sunday as a backup if weather or other things intervened on Saturday.

Mark

2013-09-30 11:04 AM
in reply to: KathyG

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Melon Presser
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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan

YAY! I just wanted to chime in and say I'm so happy to see you back in the swing of things again ... as always, your openness and humbleness on the forums always amazes me from someone who is truly one of the first and greatest in these parts.

I'd also recommend Higdon--Novice 2 sounds good. What's done on which day isn't quite so important as (everyone else has said it and you know that, too) consistency ... consistently getting as many of the runs done as much as possible.

There's no reason you guys can't do run/walk intervals regardless of which plan you use. My own experience (personally, learning from Jeff Galloway, and peer coaching a ton of folks using run/walk intervals) is that if you're going to go that route, it's better to err on the side of more frequent walking ... in other words, a 5:1 interval is better than a 10:2 even though you're doing exactly (timewise) the same amount of running and walking.

All the best to you guys!



2013-09-30 11:08 AM
in reply to: KathyG

Iron Donkey
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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
Good luck!  I'd go with one of the Hal Higdon plans.
2013-09-30 11:25 AM
in reply to: TriAya

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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
Originally posted by TriAya

There's no reason you guys can't do run/walk intervals regardless of which plan you use. 

I was going to say this as well. I've been following a Higdon plan and doing a run/walk (10:1 for me) on my long runs.

I don't think it's unreasonable to re-arrange the days based on travel schedules. Just as long as you provide enough recovery time from a long run and don't schedule the mid-week long run for the day before the long-long run. That kind of thing.

2013-10-05 5:18 AM
in reply to: KathyG

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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
I appreciate the input. Run/walk has really helped me a lot and I've used the Galloway plan for the last two HM (including the one coming up). I've looked at the Hal Higdon plans and will try Novice 2 for this coming spring's HM and then move to Novice 2 for the Marathon in June. Despite the travel, I've been pretty good about running three to four days a week and knowing I can walk occasionally when running in the city or at night is a real psychological help for me.
2013-10-05 6:29 AM
in reply to: KathyG

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Subject: RE: Recommend a Marathon Training Plan
Originally posted by KathyG

I looked over the Higdon plans....seems Novice 2 would be a good fit.

My concern is weekday runs are t, w, th and that isn't always possible. Rest days are M, F and crosstraining Sunday.

Anyone travel frequently and have any experience adjusting the running days to fit your life?




You can switch things around as long as you follow the basic principles.
Get in one or two hard training days a week and follow them with a rest day or easy day.
Make sure you get one long run a week.
Increase each week but don't increase in time or difficulty by more than 10 % from the week before.
Taper before the run.
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