Choosing a training plan

I think you are very self aware and don't doubt that you will accomplish everything that you want to. It is very easy to lose focus sometimes on running for pure enjoyment, and that is an important piece to remember. Good luck with your next marathon and let us know how it goes!

PLMITCH, good luck training for your first marathon!

Beth, I think you've kind of hit it on the head. Be a happy runner! I'm a few years ahead of you age-wise (58) and started running in late 2011 after going through WLS and having ALL this new found energy to burn! (I lost over 100 pounds as well!). Running has been the outlet and I almost always look forward to my runs, and even if I am not quite in the mood, once I get out there I feel all better!

I'm planning to run my first marathon in 2016, hence the reason for joining this team. I am die hard Jeff Galloway disciple, and yep, I'll be following one of his plans! But the goal will be simple: FINISH!

But I just wanted to encourage you to continue being a happy runner!

Thanks for the input! I thought about this a lot on today's run. I want running to stay a happy place, and for me that means focusing on finishing instead of a time. And even though I might be able to make more progress or become a faster runner using a plan, I might start to resent following a stricter schedule.

I know some of what I did wrong. I didn't train enough over the summer because a few life events got in the way. So, even though it may not be the "best" route for someone else, I'm going to just keep running and experiment with fueling, hydration, and pace on my own. I'll keep reading what the experts have to say so that I can make informed decisions. I've never been a particularly competitive person, and I'll never be a "good" runner, but I can be a happy runner, and that is good enough for me. I've let myself be too concerned about feeling lazy and lesser compared to the more serious, faster, more competitive runners. But I realized that it's ok to want something different for myself.

I agree with PASTAFARIAN that the key is to find a plan that you know you can stick to and works with the days that you can commit to run. I also think your goal plays into the right plan as well and now that you have finished your first marathon, you know what you would like to do differently and can find a plan that will help you achieve your new goal.There is not a once size fits all plan really, in that everyone needs a little something different to help them reach their specific goal.

I used Higdon's novice 1 for my first marathon and was able to fit it into my schedule well. While I felt that it prepared me to finish which was my goal, I do not think it prepared me enough for a time goal which is why I looked into different plans for my second that will help me reach a time goal. I am using Hansons for my second as I think the higher mileage and less focus on a "long run" will help me more than Higdon would, but that is just based upon my personal experience.

I think you can easily find a plan that supports the 5 or so days that you already run, and then decide if you want a plan that focuses on higher mileage than what you previously used and/or a plan that integrates different types of workouts (intervals, hills, speed, etc). Watching your mile time more closely when you complete the runs will help you pace the next marathon better and is key for some of the longer or mid mileage runs. The good news is that if you start a plan and don't like it, there are so many more to choose from.

This is "typical" but as I said, it's been a little too much of a "do what I feel like" thing, so it does vary.

M-F: T25
Monday: longest run of the week, 10-12+ miles. It was longer leading up to the marathon, and I've settled back into this shorter run lately.
Tuesday: 5-7 miles
Wednesday: 4-6 miles
Thursday: 6-8 miles (unless I have a half or longer on the weekend...then I'll cut this mileage down)
Friday: usually rest from running because T25 is a double on Fridays
Saturday: varies depending on whether I have a race
Sunday: 5-10 miles, but usually on the lower end (unless the weather is so nice that I just keep running)

ST: Tues/Thurs: pretty much my own thing again. I switch up between body weight and dumbbells. (And I've been bad about fitting this in lately.)

I haven't been training different paces consistently. I have some slower runs. I run intervals sometimes. I run the hills in the neighborhood a couple of times a week and a flatter rail trail a couple of times a week. This is where I'm looking for more of a plan instead of just feeling like it's a slow day or running until I don't feel like running anymore.

I I know that I should try cross training more, but I'm not sure if there is anything that I can do that I like as well as running.

Edited by: MALAMI518 at: 11/15/2015 (12:36)

I'm not asking for pace. It would be more helpful to know your typical workout schedule - for example: 8M on T and Th, LSD 13M on Sat, 30M bike on Wed & Sun, strength training on ...

That kind of thing.

As suggested by a couple of people, I did add a bit more information to my question. I'm a bit unclear about what type of beginner I am, too. I know I'm slow, but I'm not sure I'm going to get much faster either. Thanks!

And, yes, I want to keep running other races from 5K-half marathons.

Edited by: MALAMI518 at: 11/15/2015 (12:00)

Excellent questions but I don't know anyone can answer them without you providing a lot more info. Might be more helpful to list the plans you're considering and your current workout schedule because it's unclear what kind of plan you're looking for. For example Hal Higdon describes 3 different plans for 3 different types of beginners. And it's unclear what kind of beginner you are.

Personally, I think the best idea is to take your current schedule and incorporate the ideas that are acceptable training plans - rather than try to swallow a generic training plan that doesn't fit you well. (I'm assuming none of them do because 1) you would've chosen it already and 2) I personally don't like any of them either!) In addition, you surely want to incorporate local races into your schedule. None of the formal programs can easily accommodate local HM or 10M races.



Edited by: PASTAFARIAN at: 11/15/2015 (11:53)

For my first marathon, I read several training plans, but I didn't actually follow one. I just kind of ran what I wanted to run. I know that was one of my mistakes, so I'd like to pick a plan and follow it this time.

How do you decide which plan to follow? It seems that there are so many of them out there with different philosophies.

Also, if a training plan starts off with less mileage than I'm currently running, should I follow it exactly or stick with my higher mileage? I have 28 weeks until my next marathon.

My main goal is to finish. I'd prefer to finish without feeling like I'd rather die in miles 23-26. I also would like to beat my previous time, though that's not as important. I recovered easily after my first marathon even though I found the end of it to be complete torture, but I know that I wasn't trained well enough, and I had several other mistakes (pacing, fueling, hydration) along the way that I am going to try to correct.

A little more information about me (that I don't like to share but realize that it will help):
I'm 51 years old and have been running for just over 2 years. I've lost over 100 pounds since February, 2013. I am currently running 30-35 miles per week (5-6 days/week), some weeks a bit more than that and some a little less.

In addition to running, I do T25 (or something similar) every morning, and I try to get some addition ST 2-3 days a week. I don't have a particular plan for that either at the moment. I'm not good at cross training because I don't have a bike or have access to a pool. If I'm going to walk, I might as well run (yeah, I know that's silly thinking...) I do have a NordicTrack ski machine that I use some days. But I'd welcome cross training suggestions.

Edited by: MALAMI518 at: 11/16/2015 (08:14)