Training for the Princess 1/2 and in need of experienced advice/input!!! Please help!

[UGAFan0829]

I need some help from some of you experienced runners out there...
I'm really fighting with my choice of training plans right now. I'm following the Run/Walk plan from MfM. However, after reading more of the book, I'm wondering whether or not I should be following the Walk/Run plan instead. My biggest fear and worry is getting swept. I'm currently on week 4 of the Run/Walk plan, and while I've been able to complete all the work-outs, they get a little tough, but I manage to push through them and have gotten my time to just a little over a 16 minute mile. I feel as though my time will get better in the coming weeks. But as I've read more and more of the MfM book, I've started to second guess myself. Now I'm wondering if I should switch to the Walk/Run plan. Again, my worry is that if I do so, I won't be able to keep my time down in order to keep from getting swept. I'm really scared and almost thinking about giving up--but this is one that that I actually want to finish for once in my life. Anyone have any advice/insight???

 

[syko]

Came and join in the Princess fun: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2147603

 

[cewait]

Wow, first forget about the sweeper. The vacuum salesman can be addressed later.

We need to focus on things other than that today then worry later about the end game.

I am not real sure what you are doing in the midweek work but I want you to ramp it up. You sound like you pace is getting better but we need to focus on strength. I want you midweek stuff to be really ‘huffy puffy’, ‘sweat pouring off’, ‘am I going to survive it’ levels of work. Work on hills to get the time/distance in your plan on these midweek runs. If you are a flatlander, get on a treadmill and push the elevation button to 6% and go for it. Later we want to add a little speed work to the midweek stuff to get a feel for turning the legs over quicker. The number one issue swept folks have is only turning the legs at ¾ speed! Speed work can come in many forms; we need to add it after we get over the initial shock of hill work. These efforts are between 6-8 on a scale of 10.

You long runs are different. You need to remain conversational – even if you are not up to a 16 minute pace. This is where we create endurance. We want to train the body to burn fat not sugar here. You still want the effort to feel hard but like you will still survive at the end. On a scale of 10 an effort of 5-6.

You may want to walk/run now if that is an issue. Frankly I would not get hung up on the ratio. As a beginner find what works and start there. You may walk 10 and run 1 at this point. What we are looking for is to slide the ratio to more of a run as we get fitter. So for the next two weekends use the ratio that works best. After a couple weeks shorten the walk and increase the run by a minute each; a minute for one; 30 seconds each….just move it.


YOU WILL DO THIS, but you need to work hard in the mid week then get your distances in the weekend runs.

 

[Disney Yooper]

I need some help from some of you experienced runners out there...
I'm really fighting with my choice of training plans right now. I'm following the Run/Walk plan from MfM. However, after reading more of the book, I'm wondering whether or not I should be following the Walk/Run plan instead. My biggest fear and worry is getting swept. I'm currently on week 4 of the Run/Walk plan, and while I've been able to complete all the work-outs, they get a little tough, but I manage to push through them and have gotten my time to just a little over a 16 minute mile. I feel as though my time will get better in the coming weeks. But as I've read more and more of the MfM book, I've started to second guess myself. Now I'm wondering if I should switch to the Walk/Run plan. Again, my worry is that if I do so, I won't be able to keep my time down in order to keep from getting swept. I'm really scared and almost thinking about giving up--but this is one that that I actually want to finish for once in my life. Anyone have any advice/insight???

I did the walk/run from MfM plan last year. I was shooting for a 15 minute walk/run and hit around a 14 minute walk/run. I went from being a couch potato in November to running the Princess Half in March. Don't give up. You can do this!!!!!

 

[UGAFan0829]

I did the walk/run from MfM plan last year. I was shooting for a 15 minute walk/run and hit around a 14 minute walk/run. I went from being a couch potato in November to running the Princess Half in March. Don't give up. You can do this!!!!!

Thank you so much for the encouragement-I really needed that!

 

[dizchick]

I think it sounds like your training is going great! You've made it through 4 weeks and have completed all your workouts AND your time has improved! I would say to stick with it since it seems like it's working. The workouts will feel tough and will make you really work at times - this is helping you to improve. You still have plenty of time before race day to continue improving and on race day the sweeper will be no where in site! Good luck!!

 

[swim-mom]

Believe enough in yourself that over the next several weeks "YOU CAN DO IT" and it will be worth it!!!

Sometimes the unknown is what we use a crutch not to get past our fears, but in reality it should be the driving force to help us accomplish them!

I will be 7 months post op from major cervical surgery, where I am fused 4 levels in my neck and have a plate and 6 screws and two pieces of cadaver bone! So trust me I know fear, but I also know I can do it!! And so can you