The novice runner (me) might not unreasonably expect that training involves running increasingly longer distances. That is, until you expire, or the half-marathon day comes. Whichever is the sooner.But it turns out that this is not how seasoned marathoners-in-training do it. Oh no.
Unbelievably, you don't have to run every day.
In fact, according to some clever chaps in the University of Northern Iowa (no, I'd never heard of it either), you should only run 4 days of the week. Three of the days are relatively short distances (varying, but typically 3 to 5 miles) but the heavy lifting is saved up for Day 4. Day 4, it seems is almost a holy day in the running week. To adequately reach this acme of one's weekly exertion the compliant student should rest on the day preceding, and the day following Day 4. This "resting" is supposed to preserve my fragile frame from injuries that I cannot even spell.
I am already scared of Day 4. Day 4 is not my friend. Day 4 is my adversary. Day 4 doesn't shave or brush his hair nicely. Day 4 probably has tattoos.
And Day 4 gets meaner as the training period progresses. This week Day 4 will be just six miles - but he will be a brutish 12 miles in my final week. I shall have to take a map with me in the final week. I have never run that far in my life.
However, the plan requires me to run a pattern of 3, 4, 3, 6 miles (totalling16 miles) this week.
I'd value all the encouragement you can give me, so post a comment or sponsor me (and you can do both).
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Haha, you just wait til you get on to uphill intervals and fartlek...
ReplyDeleteThat book of your looks quite good. I'll have to borrow it off you. Not, of course, that I have any intention of ever running 13 miles. Or even any distance over about 5 miles. Just so you know.
Ok so I feel that you are not giving Day 4 it's proper perspective! Day 4 is in fact your friend. It is the thing that will enable you to stand (and maybe even walk!) when you have completed the half marathon. Don't under estimate the necessity for those long training runs. Oh and don't believe the books that say if you can run 10 miles you can do a half marathon - those last three miles hurt!!
ReplyDeleteOne other thought - why not just run your 6 mile route twice when you need to do 12 miles! It'll save carrying a map!
A map? Surely you have a sat nav that you can rely on? And while you are rifling through your drawers for that piece of equipment, could you not also find a gadget that would run the half marathon for you - a car perhaps?
ReplyDelete