I have been looking for a marathon training program for the St. Louis Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. My goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon, so I am going to have step it up.
I have settled on a modified Hal Higdon Advanced 2 training program. The program incorporates more than one twenty mile run, which I have found works well for me. I have added a second day of rest a week as I tend to need two days off a week for rest.
Here are my plans to get me ready for the St. Louis Rock ‘n’ Roll and to qualify for the Boston Marathon:
The interval training will be Yasso 800’s run at a 3:30 pace. If you are not familiar with the Yasso 800, that means I will be running 800 meters in 3:30 and then jogging for 3:30.
Hill training will be done on the treadmill, as I live in a flat area. I use a plan that I found on Runner’s World that gradually works the treadmill up to an incline of 9.
Tempo runs will be run at an 8 min/mile pace.
Pace runs will be run at an 8 min/mile pace. I have the entire month of May and most of June to do speed work and some hill work.
I am not signing up for the Evansville Half Marathon. If I find in October that I am satisfied with my conditioning level, at that time I can go ahead and sign up for the Evansville Half.
Following is my training program:
St. Louis Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Training Program
Week | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
1 | June 24 Rest | 3 x hill | 3 m run | 30 tempo | 5 m pace | Rest | June 30 10 |
2 | July 1 Rest | 30 tempo | 3 m run | 3 m pace | 5 m run | Rest | July 7 11 |
3 | July 8 Rest | 4 x 800 | 3 m run | 30 tempo | 6 m pace | Rest | July 14 8 |
4 | July 15 Rest | 4 x hill | 3 m run | 35 tempo | 6 m pace | Rest | July 21 13 |
5 | July 22 Rest | 35 tempo | 3 m run | 3 m pace | 7 m run | Rest | July 28 14 |
6 | July 29 Rest | 5 x 800 | 3 m run | 35 tempo | 7 m pace | Rest | Aug 4 10 |
7 | Aug 5 Rest | 5 x hill | 4 m run | 40 tempo | 8 m pace | Rest | Aug 11 16 |
8 | Aug 12 Rest | 40 tempo | 4 m run | 3 m pace | 8 m run | Rest | Aug 18 17 |
9 | Aug 19 Rest | 6 x 800 | 4 m run | 40 tempo | Rest | Rest | Aug 25 Half Marathon |
10 | Aug 26 Rest | 6 x hill | 4 m run | 45 tempo | 9 m pace | Rest | Sept 1 19 |
11 | Sept 2 Rest | 45 tempo | 5 m run | 4 m pace | 10 m run | Rest | Sept 8 20 |
12 | Sept 9 Rest | 7 x 800 | 5 m run | 45 tempo | 6 m pace | Rest | Sept 15 12 |
13 | Sept 16 Rest | 7 x hill | 5 m run | 50 tempo | 10 m pace | Rest | Sept 22 22 |
14 | Sept 23 Rest | 45 tempo | 5 m run | 5 m pace | 6 m run | Rest | Sept 29 12 |
15 | Sept 30 Rest | 8 x 800 | 5 m run | 40 tempo | 10 m pace | Rest | Oct 6 22 |
16 | Oct 7 Rest | 6 x hill | 5 m run | 30 tempo | 4 m pace | Rest | Oct 13 12 |
17 | Oct 14 Rest | 30 tempo | 4 m run | 4 m pace | 4 m run | Rest | Oct 20 8 |
18 | Oct 21 Rest | 4 x 400 | 3 m run | Rest | 2 m run | Rest | Oct 27 Marathon |
Any suggestions or constructive criticisms?
One more day of rest. Take your three mile day and add it to another running day.
ReplyDeleteTempo or intervals in a week. Not both. Not at your age.
Thanks for the advice.
Deletedon't forget to listen to your body....if you are tired, sore, or otherwise not ready to do speed work, put it off for another day. after 50, the mind has to listen more to the body, or the body will rebel!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
DeleteI will keep that in mind.
I agree that you could take that 3 miler and either rest or do low impact cardio (bike/swim/elliptical) to reduce pounding but keep your fitness high. And if you're not doing speed work already, start with speed or hills rather than both, and add the second in if you're feeling good. Best of luck!!
ReplyDeleteI ran a marathon on 4/6. I am going to let my body recover and then start speed work.
DeleteNo advice as I haven't tried a marathon yet - but I think Will's advice to listen to your body is always sound. Wishing you luck with your training and looking forward to seeing how it goes!
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteWe are running the same marathon! It will be my first. The plan you have looks great! I hear the Rock n Roll is pretty hilly (although not as hilly as the Go St. Louis) so hill work is great.
ReplyDeleteI lived in St. Louis back in the 80's and remember it was hilly.
ReplyDeleteI have not been back there much over the last few years so this is going to be fun.