At the beginning of each training cycle, I set out my plan for the workouts I hope to do each week.  But I’ve never looked back after the fact to see what workouts I actually completed.  Until now!  (Since I’m in taper mode for the Asheville Marathon, I had a little time on my hands.)

Mississippi Blues Marathon Training  (Three Months Between Marathons)

For the Mississippi Blues Marathon, I started with a full marathon base thanks to Freedom’s Run Marathon and just focused on keeping my fitness for the three months between races.  I set up an 11-week training plan, including two weeks of taper.  Here’s what I actually did:

Week 1

• Orangetheory X 5 (Hell Week)
• Soulcycle
• No long run (as planned)

Week 2

• Soulcycle
• Pilates X 2
• 6 mile run
• No long run (instead of 10 miler)

Week 3

• Orangetheory X 2
• Pilates
• 14 mile run (as planned)

Week 4

• Orangetheory
• Pilates
• Yoga
• 15 mile run (as planned)

Week 5 (Thanksgiving)

• Orangetheory
• 5k
• Lift X 2
• No long run (instead of 10 miler)

Week 6 (My Birthday)

• Soulcycle
• Pilates
• 5 miler (instead of 17 miler)

Week 7

• Pilates
• Soulcycle
• 6 mile run
• 17 mile run (instead of 19 miler)

Week 8

• Soulcycle
• Orangetheory
• Pilates
• 13.5 miles (instead of 20 miler)

Week 9  (Christmas)

• Pilates X 2
• Orangetheory
• 6.2 mile run (instead of 10 miler)

Weeks 10 and 11 (Taper)

In summary, in this 11-week training plan:

1. I did two of my long runs as planned.  All the others were shortened.

2. I did four runs that were at least 10 miles.  I had planned seven.

3. My longest run was 17 miles instead of the planned 20.

4. I did two runs of 15 miles or more, instead of the four I had planned. 

5. I did Orangetheory six of 11 weeks, for a total of 11 speed workouts.  

Despite not following my plan perfectly, I was really happy with the result at the Mississippi Blues Marathon.

 

Asheville Marathon (Two Months Between Marathons)

For the Asheville Marathon, I again started with a full marathon base.  I set up a 9-week training plan, including a week of recovery and two weeks of taper.  Oh, and I am going for a PR.  Here’s what I actually did (usual walks and little run commutes not included):

Week 1 (Recovery)

• Pilates
• Soulcycle
• Orangetheory
• Nature walk
• No long run (instead of 10 miler)

Week 2 (Snowzilla)

• Pilates X 2
• Blizzard hiking (5 miles)
• Snow walking (10 miles)
• No long run (instead of 15 miler)

Week 3

• Corepower yoga X 3
• Pilates X 2
• 6 mile run/walk
• 10.3 mile run (instead of 17 miler)

Week 4

• Yoga
• One or two pretty insignificant runs

Week 5

• 8 mile hike
• Shorter hike
• 5 mile run
• No long run (instead of 10 miler)

Week 6

• Pilates
• Orangetheory X 3
• Two 11-mile runs (instead of one 18)

Week 7

• Pilates
• Orangetheory
• 6 mile run
• 17 miler (instead of 20)

Week 8 (Taper) (This Week!)

• Orangetheory X 2

Week 9 (Taper)

In summary, during this 9-week cycle:

1. I missed ALL of my long run distance goals.

2. Like MSB training, I ran 10 miles or more four times.  I did a 10+ miler in three of nine weeks instead of the planned six out of nine weeks. 

3. My longest run was again 17 miles instead of 20.

4. I did only one run of 15 miles or more, instead of the four I had planned.  For MSB, I did two.

5. I did Orangetheory four of nine weeks, a total of seven speedwork sessions

As you can see from both of these, my training is a little… loose.  But that’s what works for me.  And looking back through what I did for the Mississippi Blues Marathon is making me feel a bit better about my training for the Asheville Marathon.  But we’ll see!

How closely to your training plans do you adhere?  What sort of plan do you use to stay in shape between marathons?  And what are people doing for their long runs these days???  Because I’ve apparently being doing 17 miles…