avondale
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2017
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Space Coast Marathon Training Plan Reflections
I've got about 10 days until the race and all my remaining runs are at easy paces. I wanted to get some thoughts down about the training plan before my race performance potentially changes my (current) views.
I looked back through all my postings in this log about the training plan to see how well I adhered to the training plan. The answer to that is: very, very well. I've completed 14 weeks as of my prior post. In those 14 weeks, I made significant changes only 4 times:
One of the biggest changes that I think DopeyBadger made in this plan compared to my previous ones was the speed work. Previously I had a lot of speed work that involved T-pace intervals, starting with 0.5-mile and rapidly increasing (in my body's opinion) the interval length. I never did those very well.
In this plan, I did a lot of CV-paced work. These intervals started a lot shorter, but with more numerous intervals, and built up. Even though CV is a faster pace, I definitely handled this approach a lot better and consistently hit my targets. I also had a lot of R-pace intervals and these also generally went very well. Later, when I had progression runs that went through T-pace and M-tempo runs with T-pace at the end, I was able to handle it.
It was also very helpful that some of the longest/fastest training runs were when the temperatures here got cooler, but that was by design. I very much prefer to run in cool to cold temperatures. In particular, the last two long runs of 14.5 and 16 miles were in relatively cool temperatures and I felt pretty good throughout for them. Also, the last three M-tempo + T runs were all in cool temps, which I am sure was helpful.
In terms of my other activity, I had a lot of tennis during this plan, which was expected. But mostly I managed to work out the schedules and it only affected my training plan the one time mentioned above.
I did try to prioritize sleep more than usual, so when I played a late tennis match, I would skip a strength workout in the morning and sleep more, for example. I also resisted the urge to add in an extra run every time I had a day off.
I may edit this to add other things that I think of before the race.
I've got about 10 days until the race and all my remaining runs are at easy paces. I wanted to get some thoughts down about the training plan before my race performance potentially changes my (current) views.
I looked back through all my postings in this log about the training plan to see how well I adhered to the training plan. The answer to that is: very, very well. I've completed 14 weeks as of my prior post. In those 14 weeks, I made significant changes only 4 times:
- In week 5, I added a 3EA run on an off day because I didn't have any tennis or other activities going on
- In week 7, for my 11.5LR, I kept the planned pace through 8 miles and then got dizzy and HR way too high, so went much slower for the rest of it. This was also a pretty hot and humid run.
- In week 9, I dropped a 5EA run due to a need to sub into a tennis match, so I only ran 4 times that week instead of the planned 5. However, a number of my weeks in the plan were intentionally only 4 runs per week.
- In week 12, I changed an 8EB run to 6EB due to traveling time constraints.
One of the biggest changes that I think DopeyBadger made in this plan compared to my previous ones was the speed work. Previously I had a lot of speed work that involved T-pace intervals, starting with 0.5-mile and rapidly increasing (in my body's opinion) the interval length. I never did those very well.
In this plan, I did a lot of CV-paced work. These intervals started a lot shorter, but with more numerous intervals, and built up. Even though CV is a faster pace, I definitely handled this approach a lot better and consistently hit my targets. I also had a lot of R-pace intervals and these also generally went very well. Later, when I had progression runs that went through T-pace and M-tempo runs with T-pace at the end, I was able to handle it.
It was also very helpful that some of the longest/fastest training runs were when the temperatures here got cooler, but that was by design. I very much prefer to run in cool to cold temperatures. In particular, the last two long runs of 14.5 and 16 miles were in relatively cool temperatures and I felt pretty good throughout for them. Also, the last three M-tempo + T runs were all in cool temps, which I am sure was helpful.
In terms of my other activity, I had a lot of tennis during this plan, which was expected. But mostly I managed to work out the schedules and it only affected my training plan the one time mentioned above.
I did try to prioritize sleep more than usual, so when I played a late tennis match, I would skip a strength workout in the morning and sleep more, for example. I also resisted the urge to add in an extra run every time I had a day off.
I may edit this to add other things that I think of before the race.
