I have been delightfully unplugged the last few days – removed from my laptop and only the occasional text on my phone. After kicking off the Christmas weekend with a frigid 7 mile run on Saturday, I have over-indulged in food, wine, family and laughter and I am good with all of it.
After a few lazy days, it’s time time to plug back in. With R’n’R DC about 12 weeks away, I’m back on a formal training plan. Recently, while tweeting with a few runners about training plans, Bart Yasso weighed in (one of the many reasons I love social media!) and suggested that based on my time goals and history, that I needed to increase my weekly mileage to closer to 35 miles, with at least one speed work per week. So I’ve decided to stick with the combination of Smart Coach and Hal Higdon’s Intermediate plan, similar to what I did for the Philly half, while upping my overall mileage — through a combination of more double digit LSDs and an additional easy run day.
It may sound crazy, but I feel much more settled when I’ve got a plan in place – for the last few weeks I’ve just kind of run on my own at whatever distance/pace I felt like. And while it was nice to have break, towards the end I was starting to feel like I was losing focus a bit.
Does a training plan help you to feel more focused or constrained?
I’m a definitely a plan kind of girl! Without a plan I feel lost. Plus it makes me happy to check off my runs – the little things 🙂
Totally need a plan! Right now, I even have 2 plans:
1) Pre-Boston – translation: get strong again after being laid up for a few weeks
2) Boston – true training is likely to start a little later than usual, but if I’m successful with plan #1 above, I should be OK 🙂
Happy training!
Welcome back to the land of the plugged-in. Sounds like you had a great weekend. I haven’t managed to stop with the overindulging yet. That’s the beauty of vacation.
Guess I better start giving some thought to RNR DC too. Thanks for the blog comment – definitely need to try and track each other down. No idea what my plans are yet. Running with one of my best friends for over 30 years, so it should be entertaining at least.
Happy new year!
I like having a plan in place… but like you, I follow the natural evolution of things 🙂
Gotta love advice from Bart Yasso!
I love being on a plan but I’ve been using the same one since 2007 and I’m sick if it! I tried switching to a higher mileage one this year and was instantly injured. Boo. Need to figure it out.
All the best with your training!
I like the focus of a training plan…but I usually tweak days around to work better with life. And how awesome is it to get advice from Bart Yasso?!
I have a hard time following a plan without getting injured, probably because I’m not good at “easy” runs or at making my long runs “slow.” Still, I’m thinking about looking up plans for the RnR Half. We have 12 weeks?
I do like the focus a training plan gives. My goal for next year is to get faster, so starting next week, it’s training time again!
Welcome back! How neat that Bart Yasso weighed in on advice for your training!
I NEED a training plan to stay focused. Got to keep the eye on the money, right?
Welcome back. And have fun training.
Hi Michelle,
Nothing wrong with a little indulgence….we runners DESERVE it!
Good to hear you’re back on your plan. I’m using a hybrid of Higdon’s Novice 2 and Intermediate to prep for Boston, as I’m the type who absolutely NEEDS a plan to prep for a big race. Following a plan never feels constraining to me, as long as you listen to your body and stay flexible.
Happy New Year!