marathon training

Already a week into the New Year - hard to believe, eh?

It's high time that I start cranking out some serious miles in my 2012 attempt to qualify for Boston. With a busy schedule that includes a full time job, a part time job, teaching classes at the Y, and taking a class for the first time in 5+ years - marathon training must be super efficient.

I have been looking at the FIRST method of training, and its three runs a week + two days of cross training really appeal to me.

Basically it entails one speed session, one tempo run, and one long run each week, with an added two sessions of cross training.

Because of the few runs each week, the paces are pretty quick to ensure you are working your tail off.

With my schedule of teaching classes at the Y (which will cover my cross training sessions), I think my weekly workouts will look something like this:



A little crazy, yes. Doable - I certainly hope so since I've committed to teaching classes through June. One of the classes (Women's Lift) I don't actually lift besides showing the participants proper form, etc.

My workouts this week looked like this:



I am going to have one hot strong little runner's body by June (that's my hope at least!).

I've seen FIRST plans that are 16-18 weeks in length, which would put me at running my first BQ attempt the first or second weekend of May.

I've been looking at the Wisconsin Marathon (May 5) and Lake Woebegone Marathon (May 12)  and both of these appeal to me because of their flat courses, but I am also being corerced to run the Cinncinati Flying Pig (May 6) marathon with some truely amazing runners from town. This is a hillier route, but a larger race and I would have my own pacer making sure I don't slack off during the race.

Decisions decisions.

One marathon is set in stone though, and I have been looking forward to it for a while. I ran my first marathon way back in 2009 with Ike and Maddie. Well, three years later, we are all planning on running together again (or at least the same race)...



That's right. My first international marathon.

My original plan was to try to BQ in Stockholm, but with the travel, time change, jet lag, etc, I don't want to put all of my BQ eggs in one basket, hence trying to pick a marathon the previous month.

However, if I can BQ in Stockholm, that would be pretty sweet.

Off to enjoy some unseasonably warm temps with a 10 mile run.

Let the marathon training begin!

route 66 marathon

Oh yes! I am about to put my body through hell just so I can run another marathon! Maybe not hell, but my days are now measured by how many miles I've run and my weekend plans will revolve around long 10+ mile runs.  Love me some marathon training!

I am planning on signing up for the Williams Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Why this race? Well, because the San Antonio Rock 'N Roll marathon is the same weekend as a work training that I can't miss. {I was planning on running the one in Texas so I could spend a week visiting Ike.} Also, Tulsa is only a short 8 hours away, so I can make it in to a fun road trip! And who doesn't want to visit Oklahoma in November?? Speaking of Ike, he is going to run it too! Or so he says...

I also chose this race because Oklahoma is a flat state, right?! From the course map, it appears that the route is relatively flat, but I could be wrong. It looks like there are a few bigger hills during the first half, but after mile 14 it's all downhill or relatively flat.  Anyone know anything about Tulsa?

I am really looking forward to the training, I love having a plan in place when it comes to workouts. Knowing what I am supposed to be doing helps to motivate me to get my butt out the door!  For this marathon, I will be following Hal's advanced plan 1 (for the most part) with some added weight training.

Here is the plan.

To help me stay motivated, and just for fun, Nic and I have come up with a few incentives for working out. (Nic is included in these incentives as he has been a lazy bum lately and hasn't been getting to the Y nearly enough).

Incentives:

• $1 for every hard workout
• Run
• Bike (high intensity - does not include biking to work)
• Core/hYped classes
• Weight training (30-45 minute session)
• Cannot earn more than $2 a day.

At the end of this training session (to end the day of the marathon), we will each qualify for the following bonuses:

Nic:

• $25 - toned/defined upper body
• $50 - biking to work on days when able (under discussion...)
• $100 - 6 pack (abs)

Kier:

• $25 - 6 pack and no more love handles!
• $50 - Sub 4 hour marathon
• $150 - Qualify for Boston!
• (If I qualify for Boston, I only get the $150 bonus, not the $50 for running sub 4-hours)

Oh yes - you just read that! According to my Fargo Half Marathon time (using the McMillan running calculator), I should be able to run a 3:42 marathon - which is just two minutes shy of a Boston qualifying time.  Two minutes...I can do that! Don't get me wrong, if I run a sub 4-hour marathon, I will be ecstatic!  Remember, I ran the TC marathon in 4:46:26...shaving off over an hour is not going to be easy. But then again, I am in much better shape that I was a year ago. It's all about having goals (and stretch goals)!

So there you have it...I am running a marathon, and hoping to qualify for Boston. :)