Boston Goals and Plan

As most of you know, I have not been doing much running due to injury. While I am not running, I have plenty of free time on my hands. Of course I have spent it resting, cross training, and attempting to be productive but I have also been planning. Planning for when I can train again of course! So, I have been working on my Boston Training Plan! Now, it is taking longer than expected because I want to perfect every little thing but I wanted to address some potential goals and explain some of the aspects of the plan. I will post the plan when it is finalized.

Boston will be my third marathon. During my first two marathons I learned some important things:

1.) A marathon is a long time to run by myself. I much preferred running Philadelphia with my dad.
2.) I need speed workouts!!
3.) Down hills are brutal on the knees…

Therefore, during this cycle of marathon training I am developing a training plan that includes 3 very important aspects: Key Workouts, Cross Training, and Injury Prevention.

I am basically combining 2 popular training plans: the FIRST training plan which I followed when training for the Steamtown Marathon and Brad Hudson’s Level 2 Marathon Plan (found in Run Faster).

Key Workouts
~Track
~Tempo
~Long
~Progression
~Hills

Cross Training
~Spin
~Pilates
~Strength/Core

Injury Prevention
~Ice
~Knee Brace (if necessary)
~Cross Training
~Hills
~Foam Rolling

For my first 2 marathons, I trained for 16 weeks and they were about a year apart. I like 16 weeks for training because it allows enough time to build up mileage and intensity and includes a 3 week taper. That leaves a sold 10 week program. For this training cycle, I am going to plan for 15 weeks because I have not been running these past few weeks.

I will not do every key workout every week, but attempt to work in 10 day intervals. Sometimes this is tricky, in particular, with the long runs which will inevitably take place on a weekend. I am still trying to put all the puzzle pieces together to make it all fit. I also want to make room for cross training and core/strength work as these are also great ways to prevent injury.

Now, lets talk goals…

Past Marathons Goals
Philadelphia: Finish with Dad.
Steamtown: BQ Baby
Boston: ??

Just kidding. For Boston, my goal will be to improve on my marathon time and recover better. After each marathon, I have basically been wiped out by recovery. Each time, I have needed to regain my strength and speed when I started to train again. Now, what to train for? I have thought a lot about this and studied the plans and paces. I took the course into consideration and have decided.

I am going to train for a 3:20 marathon.

As I type that, I am second guessing myself because it sounds SO FAST. But I think I can do it. And if not, I’ll modify, but I at least have to try.