Spring is finally here (well, I hope) and that means race season is just around the corner! There’s only a few weeks left for those of you training for the Wisconsin Half Marathon on May 1st so hopefully your mileage is increasing at a steady pace. If you’re running the full 26.2 mile race that day, or later in Rockford, Illinois on the May 16th, I’m sure you already know the most intense long runs are coming up in the next few weeks. Many of you may already be following training plans but if you’re a first timer who’s been flying solo I suggest looking into a specific guide- especially for the peak mileage weeks. I’m a big fan of Hal Higdon who has created a number of great training plans for races of various distances that are well respected by runners. Here’s a peek at his Novice Half Marathon Training Plan:
And a sample of the Novice Full Marathon Training Plan:
As far as marathon training goes there is a mountain of information out there. When you’re preparing for your first race-no matter what the distance- there are tons of questions that come up that seasoned runners probably haven’t even thought of in a long time. (See John Mosey’s 5K report for a good example of this!) Though I didn’t end up following Higdon’s plan to the letter, I used it as a general guideline for how many miles I should be running a week at any given time and how far my long distance runs should be on the weekend. I also picked up his book, “Marathon”, which I found inspiring on so many levels. Not only does he cover his own personal training and experiences running over 100 marathons but I loved the chapter that featured “regular folks” quotes about completing their first 26.2 mile race. He also talks about all the little details you might want to know about race day like “How should I fuel/hydrate during the race?” “What should I expect post-finish?” or “Omigosh what if I have to use the port-a-potty?”
Immersing yourself in all of this info can be daunting yet fun. I found that it helped my confidence a lot to read everything I could get my hands on regarding marathon training. I must have watched the documentary “Spirit of the Marathon” at least three times. (FYI: Even if a marathon is not on your radar AT ALL this is a fabulous and inspiring film.) If you’re not ready to tackle 13.1 or 26.2 just yet but thinking about it for the fall, you might want to check out these training articles from Runner’s World Magazine as you make your decision and map your path:
Runner’s World Ultimate Marathon Training Plan
Runner’s World Half Marathon Training Plan
As always, good luck!
I have to say, as a recent grad (again) of the Couch to 5K program, I have been really surprised at how “within reach” the half and full marathon are once you have a 5K base built. I’m not saying it’s easy (it’s not), but if you are willing to put in the time to train properly… it’s definitely reachable.
Also, as someone training for their first marathon, I will say that I *love* Hal Higdon’s Novice program. There is enough increase to see noticeable differences in ability, but not so much that it burns you out.
Hal Higdon rocks. He’s led me through 10Ks and a half marathon excellently. When I trained for my first (and only) marathon, I made the mistake of combining several training plans and not really committing to a single one. This meant a lot of slacker weeks. Adjusting a plan to fit your needs is a great idea, just be sure to put it down in writing and commit to it!
Tracey, Great website! Love the work you guys put into it. Can’t wait to to put you to shame on the race April 16th!
Glenn- Oh man, is the trash talking starting now?