Wednesday, May 1, 2013

I'm So Excited

Since running my third half marathon on Sunday (and even prior), I've been having marathon thoughts.  I've now run three half marathons, two 15k's, and one marathon.  I think it's time to strive for another marathon!  I'm taking this whole week off from running to let my body recover and planning to start running again next Tuesday. 

I'm so excited because I have made an official Marathon Training Plan.  Making the plan is serious fun for me.  I just love scheduling runs and seeing all the potential on paper, and then working to achieve it!
 
September 2012 Half Marathon

I haven't run a marathon in two years.  The last one was a battle because I got sick a month before and ended up signing up for another marathon a month later, and by then I wasn't in nearly as good of shape having taken a few weeks off.  However, my husband and I struggled through the whole 26.2 together and literally laughed our way to the end because it was so difficult.  The homemade sourdough rolls we got at the end (part of the post race meal) were the most heavenly thing in the world.  We still talk about them often.

The training was a blast.  Honestly, I really enjoy the training just about as much as the race itself.  It's so much work and leaves me feeling so fulfilled.  There's nothing like going to work at 8 o'clock when I've actually been up since 5 o'clock getting in my run.  I sit down at my desk at work feeling like a champion.
 
New goal:  To run a scheduled marathon on September 22nd, 2013.  I've run the half marathon for this race in the city where I grew up twice, but I want to give the marathon a go!
 
Now most training plans are 12 or 16 weeks, but I really want to spend the summer running so I created a 20 Week Marathon Training Plan that takes me right until September 22nd.  It's a very gradual progression in the hopes that I do not overwork myself.  Of course, I do not expect to follow it perfectly, but it's a great outline.  The long runs are the most important and those I hope to follow the closest.
 
Training begins May 7th!
 
It's a 3 day/week running plan because I have found in the past that 3 days works best for me.  Rest days become crucial.  I might crosstrain on the other days, but as far as running, I like to stick to 3 days/week because it keeps me feeling good.

When I signed up for my first marathon, I literally printed off a 16 week, 3 days/week running plan and followed it religiously.  I had not run over 13.1 miles at that point so looking at the plan and seeing 20 miles was scary.  It's incredible though the way the body learns to handle those miles with the gradual build up of the long run each week.  I haven't run over 13.1 in probably a year now.   
 


Are you planning a marathon or any other races?  Are you already a marathon runner or aspire to be?  Share your thoughts! 

10 comments:

  1. That's awesome! We just signed up for our first marathon and I'm super pumped. Can't wait to hear about how your training goes!

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    1. That's so exciting! When is your marathon? Let me know how your training goes!!

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  2. Wow, I never get over how happy you areabout running. Good luck with your training, I expect to hear all about it! (and I hope it helps motivate me to run more than 1 mile before quitting, ha)

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    1. I'm telling you that first miles is the worst!!!

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  3. Your schedule looks quite reasonable. The 5 day a week running plans are so much wear and tear I think 3 days is much more manageable. I would strongly suggest doing heavy leg work strength training. The last two marathons (one was a 40 miler) were SOO much better than my first two because my legs were stronger and didn't get tired at all during the races. I am taking this year off from marathon training but I know I'll be back at it next year to try to get a sub 4 hour time.

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    1. 40 miler omg that's amazing! And thank you for the advice! I absolutely need some leg work to handle the miles...

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  4. I'm running the Sehgahuna Trail Marathon at Letchworth May 25th. You should do it!
    Check it out: http://www.yellowjacketracing.com/sehgahunda-trail-marathon-relay

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    1. ahhh so jealous! I really want to do that race one day. I'm no where ready for it right now...I'd probably make it through half haha. Good luck and have a blast!!! Can't wait to hear about it!

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    2. Haha me neither actually. I never have time to properly train because of school. But I'm more of a "let's just wing this" kind of girl. You can always do it as a relay too. That's how I did it my first time. I only ran 9.3 miles of the 26.2. It was a blast!

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  5. Good luck. There is only one first time. Enjoy every minute of it.

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