So, this is what recovery looks like:
Not much, but it’s a mile, it’s almost running (Not quite 9 min/mile), and I didn’t die.
I’m about a week out from finishing the course of Lyme antibiotics, and the swelling in my knee is getting back to being manageable. I think the body is almost willing; now to get the mind there.
On a completely other note, a friend is looking to run a marathon sometime next year. My advice was to do it. He’s in decent shape, and I think he’ll crush it. But, his question made me think: When I do go back into shape, how am I going to train?
Base Period
My first suggestion was emphasizing the importance of the base period – one of the things I’ve failed to do, and hope to do better, is to keep a good base. My ideal base, I think, would look like:
Mon |
Tues |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
3-5 miles |
Cross |
3-5 miles |
Cross |
3-5 miles |
8-12 miles |
Rest |
Tempo |
Cross |
Speed Work |
Cross |
Race Pace |
Long, Slow Distance |
Rest |
The base appeals to me – it’s about 15-25 miles a week, 30-45 minutes on work days, and less than 2 miles on weekends. Very manageable, very doable, but a solid base.
Build
From my experience and from most of what I’ve read, there are three fundamental principles for a build period:
- Periodization This is where you build for 3 weeks, and then cutback on the 4th week.
- 10-15% build on the long run only Only adding about 10-15% more mileage every week.
- Three 20 milers 20 miles is a funny distance. It’s a long, long way to run. But, it’s not so long that it destroys you like the marathon will.
Most marathon plans add mileage to the workweek runs. I’ve always had a hard spot with this, since, even as my training requirements grow, my work, sleep, and family requirements don’t shrink, especially on week days. I’ll fudge on this a little bit; move from 5K at lunch to 4-5 miles, but that’s adding 15-20 minutes/day instead of another half hour or more for the plans that go to 6-8 miles on weekdays.
So, rather than focus on whole weeks, I focus on the weekend mileage. My plan looks roughly like this:
Weeks to Go |
Distance |
Theme |
|
Weeks to go |
Distance |
Theme |
0 |
26.2 |
MARATHON! |
|
14 |
15 |
Build |
1 |
8 |
Taper |
|
15 |
14 |
Build |
2 |
13 |
Half/Race |
|
16 |
8 |
Recovery |
3 |
20 |
LONG |
|
17 |
14 |
Build |
4 |
13 |
Recovery |
|
18 |
13 |
Build |
5 |
20 |
LONG |
|
19 |
12 |
Build |
6 |
13 |
Recovery |
|
20 |
8 |
Recovery |
7 |
20 |
LONG |
|
21 |
12 |
Build |
8 |
13 |
Recovery |
|
22 |
11 |
Build |
9 |
18 |
Build |
|
23 |
10 |
Build |
10 |
17 |
Build |
|
24 |
6 |
Recovery |
11 |
16 |
Build |
|
25 |
10 |
Build/Base |
12 |
10 |
Recovery |
|
26 |
9 |
Build/Base |
13 |
16 |
Build |
|
27 |
8 |
Build/Base |
So, that’s about it. Need to set about getting back in shape, which means I need to set about getting disciplined again.
Everyone running in the fall – best wishes; can’t wait to be toeing the line again.