Unconventional Marathon Plan - Will I make it?
RunnerElizabeth
Posts: 1,091 Member
I'm training for my first marathon November 2, 2014. The problem is, I'm a single mom of a four year old and I work full time so fitting my runs in is a challenge. I had originally picked out Hal Higdon's intermediate 2 program to follow, but i know I will have to make modifications and sometimes run doubles to fit the miles in. I would be able to follow his novice 1 or novice 2 plans to the letter without doubles, but they peak at 36-40 mpw which I'm not comfortable with.
I had a bit of an epiphany yesterday. Monday I had an incident on the subway so i decided to run commute both ways with my daughter in the stroller on Tuesday. We usually spend 2 to 2.5 hours on the subway a day. We spent 93 minutes run commuting yesterday. That frees up some quality time for us. And it was pretty gentle on my body (i don't feel like i ran 9+ miles yesterday, i don't feel like i ran at all).
So i was thinking I could easily regularly run 40+ miles a week if i did 3 run commute days for 30 miles plus my long run, making it easy to peak at 50 in 4 days of running a week. I could even possibly work on adding a 4th Mon-fri so i could potentially peak at 60 instead.
If I'm running higher mileage but in shorter increments, except for the long run, will I be prepared for the marathon? Or am I better off with a low volume plan i can stick to if the only way I can get my miles in is by running 5 miles twice a day? Cutting 3 or 4 days of subway rides out of my life really appeals to me. Would it help if once every 3 weeks i ditched the stroller and ran 10 miles midweek all at once?
I had a bit of an epiphany yesterday. Monday I had an incident on the subway so i decided to run commute both ways with my daughter in the stroller on Tuesday. We usually spend 2 to 2.5 hours on the subway a day. We spent 93 minutes run commuting yesterday. That frees up some quality time for us. And it was pretty gentle on my body (i don't feel like i ran 9+ miles yesterday, i don't feel like i ran at all).
So i was thinking I could easily regularly run 40+ miles a week if i did 3 run commute days for 30 miles plus my long run, making it easy to peak at 50 in 4 days of running a week. I could even possibly work on adding a 4th Mon-fri so i could potentially peak at 60 instead.
If I'm running higher mileage but in shorter increments, except for the long run, will I be prepared for the marathon? Or am I better off with a low volume plan i can stick to if the only way I can get my miles in is by running 5 miles twice a day? Cutting 3 or 4 days of subway rides out of my life really appeals to me. Would it help if once every 3 weeks i ditched the stroller and ran 10 miles midweek all at once?
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Seems like a logical idea. So it's 4.5 miles 1 way?
I don't have nearly the life you do, but a year ago, I got a new job & I am required to take 1 hour lunch break- yay unions.
At first I hated it. I was used to working through lunch. I had no idea what I was going to do on the strict 1 hour.
I finally got in the routine of running over lunch. It was only 1-2 miles at first because I had to drive, shower, change, etc. but I've gotten really efficient about it over the year. I can usually fit it 3-4 everyday. Sometimes I am lazy & do 2.
ANYWAYS- it's really a strange schedule because after work, I go and run again 3-4 hours later.
Before I did my "lunch runs" I would just run 6-9 miles every day.
Now, after work, I sometimes slack & just do 4-6 because I ran at lunch.
This doesn't appear to be an ideal running plan for a marathon... But... Before I started working here, I ran a 4:09... In less than a year, I dropped to a 3:37.. What? Yes, that actually happened... Lol.. I think it's because 2x a day makes you perform in a depleted gycogyn state. I run on tired legs all the time.
Also, I cannot skip my lunch run. I literally don't know what else I would do, which is also a benefit.
My suggestions to you would be:
1- make sure you do your lunch runs on the weekend (lol)
2- try to do a medium long run 10-12 during the week.
3- do speed work
I think this is a great idea. I hope you do it.0 -
Though reading about that kind of mileage makes me cringe (I'm doing 20-25 a week right now and that seems like a lot!), it seems like a great plan that works well with what you've got going on! Hey, if it's faster to run than take the subway, then by all means -- do it! Let us know how the training goes with this unorthodox plan!
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I don't see why it wouldn't work. I think it's a great idea and if you can fit in a mid week mid distance of 10 or so that would be perfect..0
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Thanks! This makes me feel better! My trip is actually 5 miles each way, though i cut it short yesterday because I had to stop at the store on the way home.
I was thinking that more miles in a way i can manage is better than the alternative of a low volume plan. And i'll have more experience running when tired. And less time spent on the subway!
I figure by the beginning of August I'll have an idea if this is really working for me and i can revise at that point. The HH intermediate plan only had me running approximately 125 miles in July anyway and then the 160s for August so that seems like a logical time to switch to plan B if necessary.0 -
Hell to the yeah that will work. I don't know about Higdon but many plans have you doing 2 (or sometimes 3) "quality" runs per week. The rest of your runs are just filled in with easy miles -- the key is just getting in enough miles per week.
So if you have 3 days a week where you are getting 10 miles, plus your 20-ish long run, you have 50+ in a week. The only thing you might want to add is some speed work midweek -- intervals, a tempo run, or hill repeats. Good luck!0 -
Not that you need anybody else to agree, but i will too. I think a reasonable plan. The other thing to think about is IMO there are three keys to a good marathon: training, pacing and fueling/nutrition. Training is obviously the big rock, but the other two are good size stones and you can control those too and have a great race0
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I love that you have found a way to be creative here instead of just deciding that you are too busy to do it. Fantastic stuff.0
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I think it sounds like it will work. I read of quite a few success stories of people actually performing better having trained this way. Can't wait to hear a follow up and see how it went for you!0
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I certainly can't offer any advice on Marathon training. But running to work saves you time, money and get the running in. It's win, win, win! Sounds like a great plan!0
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And now i feel a whole lot better! I was afraid the answer was going to be "stay at home and bake cookies until your daughter is older." ;-)0
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And now i feel a whole lot better! I was afraid the answer was going to be "stay at home and bake cookies until your daughter is older." ;-)
We've got a mom in our marathon trsining group with twin girls (18 months). She asked if it was ok if now and then she showed up with a double stroller (we said of course!)0 -
Definately don't wait until your baby is older, when she is older she is going to be chasing you trying to catch up least thats what my girls tell me.
I work full time have 4 kids, recently my work got crazy busy I would work from 9 - 5.30 home settle kids and go back in from 8-10. Not allowing alot of time for running! so what I did was ditch the car completely and cycle the 3k each way into work, I break it into 2 really fast sprints. Then after work I go to the gym and batter out a quick 5k on the threadmill.
Its not alot but its keeping me going until things settle down ( p.s.I did fit in baking, camping and a long run last weekend so am happy out) 0 -
I think this sounds awesome for your marathon AND your time with your daughter, but I'm curious about whether you just work sweaty, or have access to a shower? I am so jealous of people who manage to fit working out into their work day. I used to have a gym and shower onsite, which was fantastic.0
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I think this sounds awesome for your marathon AND your time with your daughter, but I'm curious about whether you just work sweaty, or have access to a shower? I am so jealous of people who manage to fit working out into their work day. I used to have a gym and shower onsite, which was fantastic.
I have a gym in my office building and my daughter's daycare is there too. No need to work sweaty! And since I have the stroller it's easy to pack my work clothes for the day. I also buy a lot of my office clothes from Athleta and Title Nine, I can dress them up so I look professional but i can ball them up and shove them in the cargo carrier and just shake out before wearing.0 -
I like your plan! I like it b/c you're running twice per day, which means the second time you run you're running on tired legs, which will make you super strong. Seriously, I wouldn't worry so much about your weekly mileage. I run mostly only ultra marathons and I only run 40ish miles per week, and that's during my peak training. the other weeks are more like 35. You can do it.0
