bigbabyjesus's marathon training log

[bigbabyjesus]

Sup guys,

In my attempt to continually find ways to push myself and try new things, I'm officially embarking on a quest to run the Los Angeles Marathon that takes place March 3rd, 2007.

I have ran 5-10 miles a week for the last couple years (with some off weeks here and there.) Never more than 3 miles at a time except for a couple of 4-milers. I enjoy the feeling afterwards, and moreso dread the feeling of being fat and lazy, which keeps me running weekly.

I really want to push it to the next level. I think it will be extremely tough, though. Almost everytime I run I seem to not want to be there within 5 minutes of running.

One big thing I'm changing as I do this is to run outside (I just moved across the street from a nice 3.5 mile running trail in the South Bay of Los Angeles) as opposed to running on a treadmill which reeks of boredom and monotony.

Most books recommend 16-20 week marathon programs, but mine will be 23 1/2 weeks. This is because I want to run a half marathon in Los Angeles that takes place in the first weekend in December. I basically have 12 weeks to train for that, which should be fine since I already run 3 miles 3 a week regulary.

I don't really have a time goal, though I suppose I will train for 10 minute miles. I just can't run miles very fast without getting burnt out, tired or very sore quickly (right now I run 9:30 mile pace at the gym.)

Since my program is a little longer, and a little different because of the half-marathon, I've modified some of the programs recommended in some books.

Here's my training schedule up to the half-marathon. When it gets closer to that, I will figure out my exact marathon schedule.

It will be a little hard to read since it's something I threw together in Word. Basically, if it is X/m, that means minutes, and not miles.

Training start (abbreviated week): Week 1, September 4th

9/4: Rest, 9/5: Run 30/m, 9/6, Bike 30/m, 9/7: Run 3 miles

Week 2, September 9th

9/9: Bike 30/m, 9/10: Run 30/m 9/11: Rest 9/12: Run 30 min 9/13: Bike 30 min 9/14: Run 4 miles

Week 2, September 16th

9/16: Bike 30/m 9/17: Run 30 min 9/18: Rest 9/19: Run 30 min 9/20: Bike 30 min 9/21: Run 5 miles

Week 4, September 23th

9/23: Bike 40/m 9/24: Run 40/m 9/25: rest 9/26: Run 40/m 9/27: Bike 30/m 9/28: Run 4 miles

Week 5, September 30th

9/30: Bike 40/m 10/1: Run 40/m 10/2: rest 10/3: Run 40/m 10/4: Bike 30/m 10/5: Run 6 miles

Week 6, October 7th

10/7: Bike 40/m 10/8: Run 50/m 10/9: rest 10/10: Run 40/m 10/11: Bike 30/m 10/12: Run 7/m

Week 7, October 14th

10/14: Bike 40/m 10/15: Run 50/m 10/16: rest 10/17: Run 50/m 10/18: Bike 30/m 10/19: Run 6 miles

Week 8, October 21st

10/21: Bike 40/m 10/22: Run 50/m 10/23: rest 10/24: 50/m 10/25: Bike 30/m 10/26: Run 9 miles

Week 9, October 28th

10/28: Bike 40/m, 10/29: Run 60/m, 10/30: rest, 10/31: Run 50/m, 11/1: Bike 30/m 11/2: Run 7 miles

Week 10, November 4th
11/4: Bike 40/m, 11/5: Run 60/m, 11/6: Rest, 11/7: Run 50/m, 11/8: Bike 30/m, 11/9: Run 11 miles

Week 11, November 11th

11/11: Bike 30/m, 11/12: Run 50m, 11/13: Rest, 11/14: Run 40/m, 11/15: Bike 30/m, 11/16: Run 9 miles

Week 12, November 18th

11/18: Bike 30/m, 11/19: Run 40/m, 11/20: Rest, 11/21: Run 40/m, 11/22: Bike 30/m, 11/23: Run 5 miles

Week 13, November 25th

11/25: Bike 30/m, 11/26: Run 30/m, 11/27: Rest, 11/28: Run 30/m, 11/29: Rest, 11/30: Bike 30/m, 12/1: Run 20/m

12/2: Half Marathon!


I will update this log weekly. Any advice/opinions/comments/stories are welcome.

[Kaj]

Good luck -- this is an awesome goal and you'll love the feeling of accomplishment.

I'm not a great runner but have completed 4 marathons and 1 ultramarathon. My advice is simple: Do your long runs. Everything else is gravy. Training for my first marathon was up and down as I was in the middle of moving and starting grad school but I got all my long runs in (up to 24 mi). One week as an example I only ran twice (a 10 and a 20), while another might be 6 runs for 50 mi. I beat my 3:20 goal without really hitting the wall. Just get your long runs in every 2nd/3rd weekend (go to 3 weeks as they get longer) and you should be fine.

[StaticShock]

[ QUOTE ]
Good luck -- this is an awesome goal and you'll love the feeling of accomplishment.

My advice is simple: Do your long runs. Everything else is gravy. Just get your long runs in every 2nd/3rd weekend (go to 3 weeks as they get longer) and you should be fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT!

I've dropped this axiom before in a marathon thread, but it's worth repeating: When you get to the 20 mile mark you're only halfway done.

[surfinillini]

i'm in on this axion...

[Weir]

i think more impressive than running the marathon will be the time travel.

[bigbabyjesus]

[ QUOTE ]
i think more impressive than running the marathon will be the time travel.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't get the joke.

[Weir]

[ QUOTE ]
Marathon that takes place March 3rd, 2007.

[/ QUOTE ]

it's all ruined now [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[bigbabyjesus]

The first week was a half week and got done quickly.

I didn't do very well, to be honest. Both runs were mental struggles since I have decided to start running without music as to not destroy my hearing, and the adjustment is a lot tougher than I imagined.

I've been running 3 miles in 28-30 minutes for the past couple months so it's not like I'm pushing my body to a new limit, but it felt just as hard as the first time I did it.

Music always helped push me when I felt like quitting, and also helped time go by much faster in my mind. My first run without music, I figured in my mind it was 12 or 13 minutes; I was only at 7. Later in the run, I estimated I was at 25 minutes; I was only at 20.

I also skipped one of the bike workouts because I had gone surfing after my run and my legs were pretty burnt out.

I did my first run of week 2 and things were a little better, however.

It should be noted these are all still treadmill runs; I haven't bought a running watch yet.

[cts]

what's wrong with music?

this is the running gps watch I have, love it
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CSQ...rd_i=B000CSWCQA

gl!

[nation]

yea dude i don't know whats the big deal with music as long as u don't keep the volume too loud.