Fall Training: Phase III

Earlier this summer, I wrote out a training plan to cover 20-21 weeks as I strived to get back on track and plan some fall races. However, after realizing 21 weeks is large chunk of time to plan for, I split my training into four phases.

Phase 1 covered the weeks I was teaching summer school.
Phase 2 covered the six weeks I was off this summer.

Phase 3 will cover the first five weeks of being back at work (which is actually back dated to this past Monday.

Phase 4 will be the last five weeks of fall training. These last two phases are split for no other reason than 10 weeks was a large chunk compared to the other phases I had settled on.

Although I can already tell you week 1 didn't go as planned, here is what I've set out to do.

Week     Mon       Tues       Wed       Thurs    Fri       Sat           Sun

8/31       5mi        XT           R           XT        5mi      10mi        R

9/7         8mi        XT           4mi       XT         R         12mi       5mi

9/14      6mi         XT           4mi       XT         XT         R         13.1mi**

9/21      XT          XT           6mi       XT         R          15mi       R

9/28      5mi         XT           5mi       XT         R          18mi       XT  

 

Some side notes:
XT - cross train: will be mostly kettle bells, kickboxing, and some TRX classes. I plan to double group fitness classes on Tuesdays.

R - rest 
** September 20 is the Med City Fall Half! 


As I noted back when I shared Phase 1, I am tentatively planning to end my fall training with a marathon. I have not registered, and I won't make a decision until after I complete these next couple of long runs. If I can't comfortably complete this first half, I won't push back to a marathon until next spring.

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Do you have your next race on the calendar?
How far out do you typically plan/train?
Would you come back from 4 months of no running and do a marathon five months of building back up? (Be honest! I'm curious!)