Should I be running more miles for Marathon Training?
When I started marathon training last year I really had no idea what I was getting into. I saw the miles ahead but I really had no clue how I was going to execute them and how fast/slow they would be. As I approach week 9 of marathon training I’m beginning to notice that a lot of people are doing a LOT of different plans that calls for tons of different mileage, but which one is right?
I always thought that you needed to progressively build up when it came to mileage for a marathon. For example, last year I did a 16 week plan and my first long run was 7 miles. It went up every week after that, usually by a mile with some cutback weeks happening in between. Imagine my surprise when I saw one of my local running groups planning a 18 miles simulation run on the same week that my plan calls for a measly 11 miles, still building ever so slowly.
I had to check twice to make sure that they weren’t training for the Chicago Marathon which is about 4 weeks before the the NYC Marathon–but nope, 18 miles with 12 weeks to go! At first I was crazy intimidated, like I am nowhere near 18 miles, I likely won’t even be there for at least another 6 weeks (at least). It makes me feels a) I didn’t choose the right plan for me and b) I am NOT running enough miles per week.
I know in theory that every single plan is different. I also know that a lot of people run 18 miles for fun, and this is SO not me. Somehow even knowing that I will be running my 18 in October it still gives me pause and a lot of FOMO to be missing out on this epic 3 bridge 18 mile run. I am steady trying to be better about my training this year vs. last year. Unlike last year, My training runs are definitely not a chore, I can complete the shorter runs during the week with barely any issues. The long runs have been a bit harder to schedule with busy weekends and kids that haven’t returned to school yet but overall I am feeling good about my training.
Yet, I can’t help but feel a tad of jealousy? Nervousness? Doubt? Under achiever-ness? When I see all of my peers training way harder than me. My goal is to finish 30 minutes faster than last year. Was picking a conservative plan the right choice?
A major goal for my second marathon is that I also don’t want to completely hate running by the time I’m finished. Confession time: I hated running SO much for the first two weeks after the marathon was over. I only made up with running when I ran a decent 5 mile turkey trot on thanksgiving day 3 weeks later. It was pretty touch and go for a minute!
Continue As Scheduled
I will run my own race, my own miles and put on the blinders to everything else. I was so happy when I came across this article from Runner’s World that says:
Rule 2: Mileage requirements increase as performance goals increase.If your goal is simply to finish a race, you can run fewer miles than if your goal is to finish with a fast time.