So, has everyone got a training plan they stick to?

paulocon

Hi,

Just wondering if most people on here have a training plan that they abide to?

I've a young family so I just tend to go out for a run when they are all in bed - tend to have absolutely nothing planned even when starting into the run.

For example, this week I headed out Sunday evening with the intention of going for a jog and ended up doing 12 miles (planning on doing a half marathon in March). Tuesday night, I went for a 10km run with my neighbour and done the same last night alone to see what time I could get when pushing myself.

Wondering now if such an approach is detrimental long-term (overdoing it/not mixing up runs etc). I'm not a TV person so I thoroughly enjoy throwing on the iPod and heading out each night. Haven't run any races proper so far so I'm not overly worried about times, more so the enjoyment I get out of it.

scottreynolds

paulocon wrote: »

......I'm not overly worried about times, more so the enjoyment I get out of it.

............... sounds like your approach is perfect.

I find I work better with a training plan (I'm in recovery mode at the moment and have no plan and I fell lost) but everyone is different. I have kids etc and just prefere to have the plan up so everyone (other half) knows what to expect.

Highway_To_Hell

I find whenever I don't have a plan and target race that I find it easier to not go for a run.

With a plan in place I don't want to miss out on a run so as my actual run miles match my planned run miles. Like the OP I have a young family so I need to schedule/time manage my training so at the start of the week I can decide if my training will be pre-work, lunch time of evening (depends on activity and duration).

shels4ever

last year I had a plan that i followed most of the year, was a bit too long term , so not i have it broken down into phases of maybe 6 week, So usually have a plan for my next 6 week but it does change around depending on work but thats done at the start of each week.

robinph

I have no plan and often change how far I run part way round as well.

If you do not have a plan then you'l never feel guilty about not following it for some reason.

catweazle

I am doing my first marathon in connemara and I have started on a plan, as it is my first marathon it will get harder later into it but this weeks plan is driving me nuts

Mon Cross train
Tues 3 miles
Wed 5 miles
Thur 3 Miles
Fri rest
Saturday 5 miles
Sunday 11 miles

All at more than 35-45 seconds planned pace at least, firstly I am finding it very hard to run slower than normal and this is a much lower milage than I would do normally (except for 11 miles on sunday). Today after the 3 miles should i do something else, i will still have around 25 minutes spare during lunch. Should I go on the turbo at night if I have the opportunity.

Tomorrow I am unsure should I take the rest day or go swimming....I want to go swimming needless to say. I just dont want it to bite me in the ass when the running load increases after xmas

tyler71

I'm in exactly the same boat - doing my first marathon in Barcelona, but want to keep my hand in at swimming and on the bike - at the moment I'm making sure I get the LSR in at the weekend, some tempo or track work and a hill session in every week and hoping that the other sessions in the plan are for aerobic purposes and can be replaced by bike/swims -be interested in getting some more opinions on this.
Going a little off thread though, for the original poster, I'd say have a couple of types of runs in your head when you head out and try to vary them a bit, i.e. long and slow, fartlek, tempo and see which one you fancy when you head out but try to not do the same thing all the time.

rainbow kirby

I don't have a plan at the moment, it's just pretty much "roughly 30 miles a week, run 4-5 days a week, long run about 10-12 miles". Might start throwing in a speed session once a week when I'm back in college after Christmas - I'm being awful lazy if I *don't* start making use of the track at Belfield!

I used a structured plan when I was training for DCM, as a first-timer it was probably the best way of getting me to the finish line. I'd used structured plans for other races before that too, including my first half at the end of June, usually Higdon novice plans because I'm still a noobie really. At the moment though I don't have a *really* big goal race that I'd use a plan for, so I'm just plodding along by myself. I'll use a plan for DCM '10 though, if I want sub-4 I'll need something that's going to give me a bit of a kick in the arse.

Brianderunner

I just plan out the weeks mileage and sessions in my head, this is based on advice from elite runners, training websites and whatever has worked for me in the past. I would recommend keeping a running diary so you can look back on what worked for you and what didnt in the lead up to races.

Oryx

I have a rough plan for my week, like so:

Monday: circuits/kettlebells
Tuesday: turbo session
Wednesday: run 4/5 miles
Thursday: rest
Friday:bike and weights
Saturday: run 4 miles
Sunday: run 5 miles and swim 40-50 lengths.

At the moment Im just getting used to this and extending time and distance in all disciplines as its a new plan. But the structure is there, I know what days I train and what I do on those days. I think you need that more than anything.