Marathon or half marathon trainees...

angbieb

I am hoping to run a marathon in May and I bought a book about marathon training. It's schedule is so weird and complicated and I would like an easier one to follow! Is there one online?
Also, if you would post what you are training for and when your race is and any tips you have about running that would be awesome! Please share your experience knowledge with the rest of us!!!

Thanks!!

Angie

KimertRuns13_1

www.marathonrookie.com
I used a plan on there to train for my first half marathon earlier this year. I liked it pretty well. I've also used a plan from Runner's World that was great.

taramaureen

I'm using Hal Higdon's half marathon training schedule for novice. here's the one for full marathon:

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/MaraNovice1.html

mind you it assumes you've already got a good base and aren't a total newbie to running.

I'm training for a mud run in March, Tough Mudder in September, then the Sacramento Marathon in December.

thecrossfitter

I'm using Hal Higdon's half marathon training schedule for novice. here's the one for full marathon:

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/MaraNovice1.html

mind you it assumes you've already got a good base and aren't a total newbie to running.

I'm training for a mud run in March, Tough Mudder in September, then the Sacramento Marathon in December.

Just wanted to second the Higdon. I've used it for 2 half marathons and 1 full. Good stuff!

Amanda_Runs

I have trained for 3 halves in the past year and I just started training for my first full and I have used hal higdon's training plans every time. They work!

SimplyShanRunning

I'm using Hal Higdon's half marathon training schedule for novice. here's the one for full marathon:

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/MaraNovice1.html

mind you it assumes you've already got a good base and aren't a total newbie to running.

I'm training for a mud run in March, Tough Mudder in September, then the Sacramento Marathon in December.

Just wanted to second the Higdon. I've used it for 2 half marathons and 1 full. Good stuff!

I just started using this!! Very Good Indeed!!!:flowerforyou:

RMinVA

I always use plans from runnersworld.com. You can adjust the plan to one of 3 levels based on how hard you want to train, mileage, etc. For half marathons it only has your running 4 days per week. 2 shorts days of 2 or 3 miles, and the other 2 runs get longer with each week. Still allows time for cross training (xt), recovery, weights, etc.

So a typical week would be:

Mon - rest or xt
Tues - 2 or 3 miles
Weds - Speed work or temp run 4 miles (gets longer as you progress)
Thu - rest or xt
Fri - 2 or 3 miles
Sat - rest or xt
Sun - 6 mile long run (gets longer as you progress)

EricNCSU

I also recommend the Higdon's Novice that's what I'm using.

The Higdon's starts you off immediately at 3 miles. If you haven't done three miles then you can do what I did. Start of with Higdon's 5K trainer, which starts you off at either 1 mile or 1.5 miles I forget, and works you up to three, and then roll into the Half. It turns the 12 week trainer into a 20 week trainer, but for a race in May you have plenty of time, just count back the weeks so you know when to start.

The great thing about the Higdon's is he gives you just a distance. "2 mile run".... It doesn't matter how you do the 2 miles. Walk it all, run it all, run/walk intervals. Just complete the distance at whatever pace is comfortable for you. I'm still doing run/walk intervals, but I am up to 4 miles now! Unbelieveable! I would have never thought I could do that. And the walking intervals get shorter and shorter and shorter each time. But I'm working on distance, not speed.. still a 13 minute mile and I'm ok with that.

Good luck!!

Busichic

I used marathonrookie.com last year for my 1st marathon. Am using it again right now for a marathon that I am running in May. Best of luck to you, and enjoy that feeling when you cross the finish line!!! :happy:

bluiz13

bump....i use jeff galloway's plan for the half but will be looking at this hidgon plan cause i have seen several people mention it recently....i'm doing the disney princess 1/2 feb 26th and started my training in october....denise

Still_Fluffy

Higdon is the way to go. I've used it for all my halfs and fulls. Its easiy and works. All my running friends use it.

Lp80

Hal higdon's are the best

hbarney

bump

arc918

I send all newbies to Higdon.

aweightymatter

I'm pretty much using Higdon's as well. (I'm training with a group and they gave me a plan, but I compared it and it's pretty much the same.) As others noted above, I also started with the ability to run 3 miles easily.

I'm training for my first half-marathon, and it's at the end of January I started seriously training about four months out, in September. I should start tapering soon.

As far as what to expect, a major point I should note is that you should do this for reasons OTHER than losing weight. Maybe you want to push your body past its old limits, you want a sense of incredible accomplishment, and so on. But actually, running long distances for the first time, though it's counter-intuitive, will not necessarily make the pounds melt off.

Your leg muscles will be in a near-constant state of breakdown/repair and will retain water. You'll also need to eat enough to fuel really long distances, and your hunger will increase, maybe dramatically at first.

I actually gained a pound my first couple of weeks of hardcore training, and then it came off. Since then, my scale weight has remained pretty steady - BUT, my body recomposition has been pretty amazing (though I also strength train to supplement all the running). My legs look the best they have pretty much ever, and I'm smaller overall despite only having "lost" a few pounds.

Good luck!! I HATED running at first but now I love it. I use it as my natural antidepressant/meditation time!

savlyon

Higdon's d' bomb!!

Scoobiesnax

I used Hal Higdon's half marathon training schedule last year for my first ever half and I beat my goal time by 12 minutes.
This year I used John Stanton's marathon training schedule and beat my goal time for a full marathon by 4 minutes. They were very different programs but they were both effective.
Here's the link to John Stanton's ...

http://tgrunning.tripod.com/training.htm

I'm currently training for the 30k Around The Bay race in Hamilton, Ontario, in March...

Improvised

Well, cool. If I start January, I should be able to run a marathon in exactly 18 weeks, which takes me down to the actual day of my marathon goal in May. Thanks for posting this. Super stoked.

trijoe

I've done halves and fulls and lots of other races, and have always trained myself. Not what you were hoping to read, I know.

What's so difficult or confusing about this plan you have? Maybe we can start with that and help you figure it out so it's not so gosh darn difficult for you?