Doing My Own Thing

To train for my first half marathon, I searched for training plans until I found that I liked.  I ended up using this one from Pink Runner, and I liked it a lot.

This time around, I had a much more difficult time finding a plan that worked for me.

I started with Smart Coach from Runner's World.  I've heard of lots of people being successful with these plans, and I did like what I saw.  However, my struggle came when you plug in your weekly mileage.  Right now, it's low, but I would like to gradually move it higher.  Smart Coach gave me plans that either consisted of an 8 mile tops long run (I want to get up to 12) for shorter weekly miles and sometimes 5 runs a week for the higher mileage plans (something I don't think I can commit to).  I really liked that speed work and tempo runs were worked in, though.

5 days a week may work if I was here...but not in good ol' Illinois, during the school year!

After more searching, I found a pretty promising one on About.com: Running/Jogging.  In particular, I liked this one catered toward "Advanced Beginners."  It had the mileage I wanted, but lacked the speed work I am hoping for in order to meet my time goal.

More searching ensued, and I finally decided to throw in the towel.  It was time for me to make my own plan.  So, I looked at all three plans I mentioned and made a 12-week training plan for myself.  It looks a little something like this:

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Weds.	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total Miles
1	3 mi Easy	XT	4 mi Speed	XT	XT	5 mi Long	Rest	12
2	3 mi Easy	XT	4 mi Tempo	XT	XT	5 mi Long	Rest	12
3	3.5 mi Easy	XT	4 mi Tempo	XT	XT	6 mi Long	Rest	13.5
4	XT	4 mi Easy	XT	3 mi Easy	XT	7 mi Long	Rest	14
5	4 mi Easy	XT	4 mi Speed	XT	XT	8 mi Long	Rest	16
6	3 mi Easy	XT	4 mi Tempo	3 mi Easy	XT	9 mi Long	Rest	19
7	2 mi Easy	XT	4 mi Tempo	XT	3 mi Easy	7 mi Long	Rest	16
8	XT	3 mi Easy	4 mi Easy	3 mi Easy	XT	10 mi Long	Rest	20
9	4.5 mi Easy	XT	4 mi Speed	3.5 mi Easy	XT	8 mi Long	Rest	20
10	5 mi Easy	XT	5 mi Speed	3 mi Easy	XT	12 mi Long	Rest	25
11	XT	4 mi Easy	XT	5 mi Tempo	2 mi Easy	7 mi Long	Rest	18
12	XT	2 mi Easy	XT	3 mi Speed	XT	Rest	13.1 Race	18.1

As I planned, my essentials were:

• Start with low mileage, and gradually build up to about where I was last time. 
• No more than 4 running days per week.
• Speed work and tempo runs built in.
• 12-mile longest run.
• Sunday rest days.

(PS: Please excuse the green boxes; I'm highlighting my progress as I go :)).

If this plan works, I will be ecstatic.  I feel like I am taking a bit of a gamble, because I have never flown solo like this before, and I have zero experience when it comes to creating training plans of any kind.  Heck, I've only been running for two years in the first place. 

Why do I have Central Park on the brain today?

Training started yesterday, and my shin definitely gave me some trouble.  This is unsettling, but I'm trying some things to make it work.  I'm kind of intimidated by tomorrow's speedwork (using Smart Coach's suggestion of 2x1600 at an 8:47 pace with 800 jogs), as I have never really done it before (short of sprinting during the chorus of a song).  Wish me luck!

Have you ever made your own training plan?  Any suggestions for me?

Check out my guest post at Pink Giggles for more half marathon talk!  :)