I can’t believe it’s training time again.
I am signed up again for the Boston’s Run to Remember Half Marathon in late May … which was my very first half marathon last year, for those of you who have been following along for awhile. Having run the course before, this time I am bound and determined to get that sub-2:00 time, which means shaving about five minutes off my total time.
That’s doable, right? (Gulp.)
This time around, I am trying a new training approach. I am combining components from several different training plans — and philosophies — into one plan customized just for me. These include:
- The Toronto Women’s Half Marathon Plan for those wishing to run a 1:45-2:00 race (like me!). I like how the runs are group together: the first few weeks are endurance building, followed by strength building (translated: hills) then speed building.
- The Garmin Intermediate Half Marathon Training Plan (mostly for their hill runs)
- The Runner’s World Break-2:00 Half Marathon Plan, which is more traditional than the other two.
I also need to make sure the plan can realistically fit into my schedule and lifestyle, which is key when your husband (a) is training for the same race, and (b) travels for work quite a bit. Also, I have to factor in a few events we have planned and smaller races I’m planning to run.
I also don’t want to neglect my cross training, including Body Pump, boot camp and Bikram yoga, which are only offered on certain days of the week and have to be built into my plan (although I am sad to have to take a break from spinning, but there’s no way I can work that into my schedule without giving something up).
The end result is a plan I think is doable, challenging, fits in with my lifestyle and crazy schedule, and maybe — just maybe — will get me that sub-2:00 time I really, really want.
Here we go!
What races are you currently training for?
P.S. Don’t forget that I’m not a personal trainer or any sort of expert. This is just my attempt to find a training plan that works for me.
Nikki says
I am training for a half marathon too! I would love to go sub 2:00, but my best is 2:09.00….we shall see, though! 🙂
Clarinda @ Enjoying the Course says
I like making my own training plans, too. His luck getting your sub-2:00!!! I’m about 12 minutes away from that. Not really training to get there, but I just realized I’m not really that far off.
I’m currently training for a half in April and then Ragnar Zion the very next weekend. I’m focusing on the Ragnar since it’s trail running (not my forte).