Officially Training!

Week 1 is underway!

As of Monday, I am training for the Med City Marathon! The race is May 29, Memorial Day weekend, and I have 18 weeks of training to get ready.

It's a pretty ambitious goal, but I am feeling ready for the challenge.

My plan is to follow Hal Higdon's plan for increasing my long runs; I don't have the base I'd like to have going into training, so I am really going to focus on strength training and long runs. I'll continue to build up more running the stronger I feel. I just don't want to risk injury by building up my long runs and increasing overall mileage at the same time.

My overall plan will be: 2-3 runs/cardio sessions and 2-3 strength workouts a week.

Mondays: Rest
Tuesday: kettle bells/interval conditioning
Wednesdays: cardio/run (if not running, there is a cycle box class on Wednesday nights, or I can do the elliptical.)
Thursdays: kettle bells/interval conditioning
Fridays: Rest or easy workout
Saturdays: long run
Sunday: short, easy run or cross train

Long Run:
Week 1: 8 miles
Week 2: 9 miles
Week 3: 6 miles
Week 4: 11 miles
Week 5: 12 miles
Week 6: 9 miles
Week 7: 14 miles
Week 8: 15 miles
Week 9: 13 miles
Week 10: 17 miles
Week 11: 18 miles
Week 12: 13 miles
Week 13: 20 miles
Week 14: 12 miles
Week 15: 20 miles
Week 16: 12 miles
Week 17: 8 miles
Week 18: 26.2 miles!!

It is probably the least specific training plan I've gone into training with, but I believe that if I stay consistent with workouts in general that it will be okay. I have mixed feelings about training for a marathon with the focus not necessarily on running as many miles as possible, but I've heard stories about it being a successful approach.

I won't know without trying - so here we go!

Are you typically a Type A or Type B personality when it comes to planning and training? I try to be Type A, but I get overly discouraged when I don't hit everything on the schedule; so maybe this approach will work out for me?!!?