In the beginning (Can I really run a FULL Marathon?)
Hello! I'm Cass, and it's my first time training to run a full (26.2 mile) marathon. I'm not a running coach, or a certified trainer in any way, so let's just get that out there. I have no qualifications (aside from the ability to read and synthesize the information in scientific articles and over-consume other running blogs on a regular basis) for telling anybody how to train. However, if you're here you're probably like me - you want to know How, Why, When, and with What other people (but especially women) have been training.
With that being said, I'm going to be updating this blog with my personal training information. I'm not especially athletic, I never ran in high school, and I'm tackling this without a trainer or coach. While I have previously been a fan of the Popsugar training, and have heard a lot of good things about the Hal Higdon Method of training (who hasn't heard good things?) I decided to make my own training based on knowing myself.
Top 5 reasons I made my own program:
1) When training for the two previous half marathons I've run, I ended up with definite knee pain.
2) I was starting from scratch. I mean, when I started my training I was literally struggling to run a mile - talk about starting from the ground up!
3) This is my first time training without a running partner for at least the long runs - I wanted to make sure I was fitting the schedule to my life, not my life to schedule (not sure who I was kidding with that one!)
4) I wanted to specify my cross training activities, at least until I got into a really good routine. It's harder to skip a workout if it's very clearly laid out, and there are no choices to make.
5) I could design it on the 2018 calendar with all the activities set up on the exact day of the week and date the activity would be happening - which also meant I could adjust it right from the start for my trip home that will be coming up during my 15 mile long run week.
To start the blog, aside from the introduction I've given, I'd like to address my method of getting started. I wouldn't recommend a marathon as a first race to complete. I've completed a 10k, and 2 half marathons in the past. That was important, I think, in knowing my body and knowing the dedication training would require. That being said, I hadn't been running regularly since I completed my last half marathon in April of 2017.
Running can be a real treat, but it can also be a beast. I have long said that one thing I love about running is that you earn every step, especially as you increase distance. It takes a while to build up good running stamina, and it always feels so, so easy to lose it. So, in the idea of getting started running, take it slow, but remain determined. With adequate planning, you won't put yourself in a place where you have to ramp up miles fast. I know 5ks are considered the "everyman's" race, with families completing them together. But a 5k is 3.1 miles. I will be honest in that it took me about a month to get to a 5k. And probably two months to get to a comfortable 5k. I started out running one mile, 3-4 days a week. Then 1 mile 2-3 days a week, and 1.5 miles 1-2 days. The next week, I ran 1.5 miles 2-3 times, and 2 miles 1-2 times. And continued to slowly progress that way. I did not berate myself internally for walking when I needed to, but did always finish strong. Once I got a comfortable 5k, that's when I started really shaping my training plan
I was also taking a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) class once a week that did a lot of good cardio training and squats and lunges.
I'll talk more next post about my cross training, and why cross training is so important. I also plan to detail my training plan in an upcoming post - but I will say I only run 3 days a week.
Please comment with questions, thoughts, or anything else!
With that being said, I'm going to be updating this blog with my personal training information. I'm not especially athletic, I never ran in high school, and I'm tackling this without a trainer or coach. While I have previously been a fan of the Popsugar training, and have heard a lot of good things about the Hal Higdon Method of training (who hasn't heard good things?) I decided to make my own training based on knowing myself.
Top 5 reasons I made my own program:
1) When training for the two previous half marathons I've run, I ended up with definite knee pain.
2) I was starting from scratch. I mean, when I started my training I was literally struggling to run a mile - talk about starting from the ground up!
3) This is my first time training without a running partner for at least the long runs - I wanted to make sure I was fitting the schedule to my life, not my life to schedule (not sure who I was kidding with that one!)
4) I wanted to specify my cross training activities, at least until I got into a really good routine. It's harder to skip a workout if it's very clearly laid out, and there are no choices to make.
5) I could design it on the 2018 calendar with all the activities set up on the exact day of the week and date the activity would be happening - which also meant I could adjust it right from the start for my trip home that will be coming up during my 15 mile long run week.
To start the blog, aside from the introduction I've given, I'd like to address my method of getting started. I wouldn't recommend a marathon as a first race to complete. I've completed a 10k, and 2 half marathons in the past. That was important, I think, in knowing my body and knowing the dedication training would require. That being said, I hadn't been running regularly since I completed my last half marathon in April of 2017.
Running can be a real treat, but it can also be a beast. I have long said that one thing I love about running is that you earn every step, especially as you increase distance. It takes a while to build up good running stamina, and it always feels so, so easy to lose it. So, in the idea of getting started running, take it slow, but remain determined. With adequate planning, you won't put yourself in a place where you have to ramp up miles fast. I know 5ks are considered the "everyman's" race, with families completing them together. But a 5k is 3.1 miles. I will be honest in that it took me about a month to get to a 5k. And probably two months to get to a comfortable 5k. I started out running one mile, 3-4 days a week. Then 1 mile 2-3 days a week, and 1.5 miles 1-2 days. The next week, I ran 1.5 miles 2-3 times, and 2 miles 1-2 times. And continued to slowly progress that way. I did not berate myself internally for walking when I needed to, but did always finish strong. Once I got a comfortable 5k, that's when I started really shaping my training plan
I was also taking a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) class once a week that did a lot of good cardio training and squats and lunges.
I'll talk more next post about my cross training, and why cross training is so important. I also plan to detail my training plan in an upcoming post - but I will say I only run 3 days a week.
Please comment with questions, thoughts, or anything else!
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