Marathon Training Plan

So last post, I answered the what and why questions. There is a very important question yet to answered, how am I going to get ready for this marathon?

Runner's World ran a 16 week training plan in their July issue called the "The RW Marathon Challenge" with modifications for busy runners, injury-prone runners, those looking for PRs, and first timers. I'm following the first timer plan with a few tweaks here and there. The first long run starts at 5 miles (which is completely attainable for me right now) and builds to a 20 mile long run before tapering. On the scheduled "rest" days I'll be just doing a short easy 1 mile.

The other component that I tend to neglect is strength training. Remember how I'm one of those people who have to learn the same lesson over and over again? When I look back, those times that I was running AND strengthen training AND cross-training where the times that I was the fastest, fittest, and happiest.

So, I'm dusting off my Jillian Michael's (did I ever mention how I'm obsessed with Biggest Loser?) "Making the Cut" and following her circuits for strength/cross training. I bought this book several months ago and have never made it past Day 4 of the workouts. I had busy as an excuse before, but no excuse now! I'll let you know how it goes.