I promised awhile ago that I would post my training calendar. It’s basically Hal Higdon’s Novice Supreme Marathon Training Schedule. I had to modify it slightly (mostly I shortened it) to fit my schedule.

You can find mine HERE. Please note it’s an Excel spreadsheet that downloads. This way you can grab it and tailor it to you if you want. Or if you REALLY want to see an image but don’t want to download just post a comment and I’ll link you to a picture snapshot.   

Basically it’s organized like this:

I set it up so the white background is what I’m supposed to be doing every day. The yellow background is what I actually manage to do. This is a clean copy of the original version I just added the two races from this past weekend in so you can see an example.

The trick is to keep track of how many miles you are supposed to complete in a week and stick with it. If I can’t do today’s mileage I’ll try to switch it around with another day so I staying consistent. Do yourself a favor though and don’t just add up your mileage and try to kill yourself.

What do I mean?

This week I’m supposed to run 12 miles and walk 30 minutes. I did a half marathon on Monday which is 13.1 so technically I’m good for the week but I’m still going to go out and move a bit each day so I get used to putting in the regular miles. I’ve now completed six half marathons so I kind of know the drill.

But what if I hadn’t?

If you’re new and this is your first shot at the ball don’t add up your mileage on Saturday, realize you’ve done nothing all week and try to pull off a 12 miler. You will be sore and miserable and you will be conscious of every ounce you have ever gained through treats and frosty cold adult beverages. And you’ll hate yourself. Then you’ll quit. Not worth it!

If you were to ask me right now I’d tell you hell no I can’t do a marathon. Marathons are for crazy people! Notice where I am in my training. My big mileage this weekend would be five miles, not too a big deal for someone who has completed six half marathons. But I’m still starting small like everyone else because building the miles is so important for building confidence and staying healthy. That’s right, healthy!

If I find myself needing to make up miles I listen to my body. If I feel like I can do six miles that’s what I do. Sometimes I push a little more and sometimes I ease off. A major injury is going to derail your plans far more quickly then missing a couple miles during the week.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

P.S. Feel free to ask me any questions you have about running, walking, competing, regular workouts, gear, weight, etc. I really don’t mind sharing.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

-Robert Frost

I just completed my first double race weekend. I did a 5K on Sunday and a half marathon on Monday. I was mostly untrained. It was actually kind of ugly but it was nowhere near as ugly as my first race ever last year. Realistically I didn’t have to stick it out for the race but you know what? I like running. I like walking. I like jogging. Most importantly, however, I like FINISHING.

Think about it. How many things in your life do you ever really finish? You finish a job at work and there are 25 more waiting for you. Or you do an errand at home but your list is still three pages long. When you finish a race that’s it. Finito. They hand you a medal, give you a backslap (okay not really) and you leave with the confidence that you can now eat whatever you want and not feel guilty about it for the day. That’s a pretty fabulous feeling.

I’m blogging about both of them but here is something pretty to look at in the meantime.