This might be the week that I look back on and say, “What the hell was I thinking?”

Or, it could just as easily be “Thank god I listened to Paul.”

Either way – this was the week that I decided to modify my training program for the marathon. I don’t know if I’d advise anyone else to do this, but there were some things that I didn’t feel were working for me – specifically, too much speed work. I’m too big and too slow for a lot of speedwork. One day/week is enough for me. These huge, slow-twitch muscles need long slow runs.  I found the speed work was exhausting me.  It was leaving my leg muscles drained and weary.

I don’t have all the particulars worked out yet, but the training will look something like this:

  • Monday: rest
  • Tuesday: 60-90 minutes
  • Wednesday: speed work or hill repeats
  • Thursday: rest (maybe 20-30 minutes of crosstraining)
  • Friday: 60-90 minutes
  • Saturday: 45-60 minutes easy
  • Sunday: long run (2-3+ hours)

This plan should give me between 40 and 55 miles of training each week.

I’ll play with the pace on Tuesday and Friday – probably mixing in some marathon and 10K paces. Saturday will be @ > marathon pace. Wednesday will be @ 5K pace. The long run on Sunday willl be @ whatever I feel is right, but no faster than marathon pace.

At this point, I define my paces as:

  • 5K: 7:15
  • 10K:   8:00
  • 1/2 Marathon: 8:20
  • Marathon: 8:40

The 1/2 marathon and marathon paces might be wishful thinking, but it looks good on paper so I’m sticking with it.

Rest day tomorrow .. wooo-hoooo!

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