Let the training begin!

Official 2010 White Rock Marathon training started today!  I have 18 weeks to get myself ready for a 3:50 marathon.  I'm actually training for a 3:45 but wanted a little wiggle room to qualify for Boston.  Whew ... I have a LOT of work to do.  I haven't been running much this summer because it's been so hot and this morning's 4 mile tempo run (8:45 pace) kicked my butt.  But that's ok.  I learned some stuff and I'll be ready for my 6 miler tomorrow.  This morning's splits were 8:36, 8:41, 9:15, 9:00.  The heat was killing me the last 2 miles.  So tomorrow I start earlier and a little slower.  Tomorrow's tempo run is a little different.  It's not based on pace.  It's based on effort ... I'm gonna give 85% effort the whole run.  I was running above that this morning and that's what got me too.

So here's where I started:  133.0 lbs, 23.0% body fat.  Those numbers need to be close to 125 and 19% by race day.  Training 6 days a week and eating better will bring that to where it needs to be very quickly.

What else can I say on this first day of training?  Not much.  Just wish I had been logging more miles this summer but that can't be changed so I move forward.  Last  thing I did this morning before heading out the door to run was put on my Never Tap Out bracelet.  That gives me a lot of motivation when I run so it will most likely stay on til race day!

My training schedule looks like this:

• Sunday:  Long, slow run (anywhere from 8-20 miles at 9:15-10:30 pace with 1 minute walk breaks every 10 minutes)
• Monday:  Rest
• Tuesday:  Tempo run - 8:45 pace (either 4 or 6 miles depending on the day)
• Wednesday:  85% effort tempo runs for the first 6 weeks, hills + 2 mile warm-up and 2 mile cool-down for 7 weeks, speed intervals + 2 mile warm-up and 2 mile cool-down for 4 weeks
• Thursday:  Short, steady run (9:00 pace 4-5 miles)
• Friday:  6 mile fartlek 8:15-8:45 pace
• Saturday:  4 mile steady, easy run

This is just a loose schedule.  I have all of the exact details written in about 3 different places.  And training of course gets a little different closer to the race ... add in some race pace runs and then a good taper.

Eating also changed today.  Back on my good food.  And I will also be doing some cross-training with the P90X DVD's.  Mostly arm workouts but I'm gonna try to add in some stretching and abs.

This is going to be a lot of early mornings and a lot of work but I am so excited about it and I'll be so happy when I make my Boston qualifying time!