Well, I got through most of the first week of the "real" training (using the Hansons Marathon Method) and then went on vacation. I thought my time away would feel like a rest but quite the opposite was true - I came back feeling physically wrecked.
I had also started a couple of serious writing projects right before I left and was able to use the time away to really focus on habit-building around those - and came back not wanting to give those habits up or put them on hold.
So I woke up early on Monday morning facing the first of the Something of Substance runs for the week... and thought, Nope. This is not going to be sustainable.
I went ahead and put in the miles (though I pulled back on the intensity of it all) and that was fine, and then later that day I pulled up another possible training plan from the Runners' World SmartCoach program, which I've used before. And the next day I reviewed the concepts from Run: The Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel by Matt Fitzgerald, a book I highly recommend to all serious runners. And then I just let things float around in my head for a while.
And then on Wednesday I made myself some tea and pulled out a pencil and a calendar and made up my own training plan, one that I think incorporates most of the essentials (and most of the mileage) of the Hansons method while having a greater focus on the kind of running I like best, and will therefore want to do, and being a bit easier on my schedule as well, so I don't need to give up any newly minted writing habits.
And if I don't hit the time goals I had set my eye on with the Hansons method, well, there was never a guarantee of that anyway. I have yet to finish a marathon feeling sure and steady throughout, and that is really where my first focus needs to be. I think I know what I need to do in training to achieve that goal and I think my new plan actually allows more room for focusing on my weaknesses (in-race nutrition, proper carb-loading and tapering, consistent and persistent pacing) while giving me more opportunities to play, to enjoy my running.
Because that, my friends, is what it is all about.
Happy Running,
Annie
I'm really relating to your running posts more since my husband is getting more and more serious about marathon training. He's not nearly as cerebral about it as you are, but I think he should figure out how he wants to do this on his own. (I'd share what I'm reading here if he asked, of course.)
ReplyDeleteYour old Dad is a little slow -- it took me a while (years) to realise where the title of your blog comes from. All I can say now is "Hey, Chicago, what'ya say, the Crow is going to win today!"
ReplyDeleteOh, I hadn't thought about that. I like that connection. I think this comes more loosely from a children's book called "Go Dog Go". I don't even like that book much, but the rhythm of the title spoke to me.
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