Training officially begins- Week 16

In 16 weeks I will be running the New York City marathon.  This week I picked my training program for the upcoming marathon.  Based on my schedule I picked a free training program by Hal Higdon- I plan to run about 4-5 times a week with one yoga session.  When my boys get back to school, I will probably bike once a week, run 4 times and do yoga once. 

The long runs are the most important piece to marathon training.  I am going to do my long runs on Fridays. 

My training program (Marathon Training Schedule- Intermediate 1):

	Sun	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat
1	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	5 m pace	6	Yoga
2	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	6 m pace	11	Yoga
3	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	6 m run	12	Yoga
4	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	6 m pace	9	Yoga
5	4 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	7 m pace	14	Yoga
6	4 m run	7 m run	Bike	Rest	7 m run	15	Yoga
7	4 m run	5 m run	Bike	Rest	Rest	Half Marathon	Yoga
8	4 m run	8 m run	Bike	Rest	8 m pace	17	Yoga
9	5 m run	8 m run	Bike	Rest	8 m run	18	Yoga
10	5 m run	5 m run	Bike	Rest	8 m pace	13	Yoga
11	5 m run	8 m run	Bike	Rest	5 m pace	20	Yoga
12	5 m run	5 m run	Bike	Rest	8 m run	12	Yoga
13	5 m run	8 m run	Bike	Rest	5 m pace	20	Yoga
14	5 m run	6 m run	Bike	Rest	4 m pace	12	Yoga
15	4 m run	5 m run	Bike	Rest	3 m run	8	Yoga
16	3 m run	4 m run	Bike	Rest	Rest	2 m run	2 m run

Glenn picked a program from the Runner's World Smart Coach.  This program allows you to customize a plan based on your past results and current goals.  Glenn's plan has 3 running days and 4 cross train/rest days.  This should work well for Glenn due to his work and travel schedule. 

Last night at the Tampa Yankees game (New York Yankees minor league team) we casually pinpointed our mutual goals for the upcoming race.  After 2 months of running 60+ miles a month, I realize that a sub 4 hour marathon time might be a little unrealistic.  My main goal for training and running the race needs to remain focused on finishing injury free & strong. 

Our goals for our marathon are:

1. To run the whole race.
2. To remain injury free.
3. To beat Oprah's time :) .

To finish the race in 4 hours would just be a nice surprise.

"Therefore I do not run like a (wo)man running aimlessly..." (1 Corinthians 9:26)  When running a race or running with the Lord, run with purpose.  We are here for a moment- live with a purpose.