So, with my race diary filling up for next year I decided to start my training in plenty of time, with space for the dreaded injuries that so many of my friends have sustained during marathon training. I changed jobs at the end of November to a much easier department for 4 months so thought that was a good time to start.
I read nearly every marathon training plan out there, bought the fantastic Women's Running Marathon Training Guide and finally settled on a tried a tested Hal Higdon Training plan. I chose this plan as it didn't look too scary and lots of friends have used it for there first marathon.
Having read nearly every blog/book/article out there, there were several aspects of training I was keen to ensure I incorporated to help prevent injuries and ensure I can get around the 26.2 miles.
1)Run lots.
It sounds silly, but for me I've had to change mindset to be running nearly every day and at every opportunity. I now plan my life around my running, for instant meeting friends for dinner at 8 not 7 so I can squeeze a run in first, or running back from the supermarket whilst my husband drives, and actually it is making running much easier, although I am constantly in my running gear now.
2) Cross training
Whilst training for races before all I have done is running, and as much as I love it, it can get mindnumbingly boring, so this time I'm making sure I incorporate other forms of exercise into my plan. At the moment I'm loving spinning twice a week, but in the new year I'm going to try swimming once a week as well.
3 ) Rest days
I've discovered rest days need to be actual rest days, not days when your too busy to run so they then become a running rest day... I tend to have sunday as a rest day after doing my training monday to saturday. I'm trying to bake something new each week, chill with a film or relax with a book. Proper rest.
4) Sport massages
Now, I haven't booked in for a sports massage yet, but mainly a runner swear by them so I'm on the hunt for a physio/massage therapist to book in with once a month for some muscle therapy.
Moving on to my actual training so far, this is what the last few weeks have looked like;
Week 1
Monday - Military fitness with a hour of hill running carrying a car tyre
Tuesday - 3 miles treadmill speed work with a plan from Women's Running January Issue
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - 7 miles with lots of hills
Friday - rest
Saturday - Ice Skating (I can count this as cross training right?)
Sunday - Rest
Week 2
Monday - 3 miles
Tuesday - 3 miles speed work and 45 mins of Spinning
Wedsnesday - Rest
Thursday - 45 mins of spinning
Friday - 7 miles with hills
Saturday - rest
Sunday 7.5 miles in London
Week 3
Monday - on call at work
Tuesday - 3 mile hill run
Wednesday - rest
Thursday - rest
Friday - 3 miles in York
Saturday - 3 miles in Edinburgh
Sunday - Exhausted and ill
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| York Cathedral |
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| Edinburgh Castle |
Has anyone else starting training for a marathon? How you getting on?
