Hanson Marathon Training Plan

Muppet Man

Hi Folks,

Has anyone any experience of the Hanson Marathon training plan aka "Less is more". The basic premise is to run shorter distances, but more frequently.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244--13791-F,00.html

Despite the shorter distances, the weekly milage is still considerable.

Stragenly, the 6 day week doesnt bother me too much but I would have some concerns over running 24 to 26 miles on the week of the marathon... and a 45 to 47 mile week just two weeks out... it seems totally nucking futs TBH...

I would be interested to hear if anyone has tried it. I'm considering it as training plan for my third marathon as I have the wall hard on my first two at 19/20 miles.

Muppet Man.

Clearlier

I haven't followed it nor do I know anyone who has but a couple of points that might be worth noting..

- the author was an experienced runner with years of experience of running marathons

- The last 6 weeks have 2 sessions a week at MP or close to MP, pound to a penny the author did a fraction of that type of work previously

I suspect that the author came into the training plan with good endurance so there was little need to emphasise this. I also suspect that his previous training had not emphasised paces near to marathon pace before. In short this plan suited him very well but this does not mean that it will suit you. You need to assess your own strengths and weaknesses and keep every element of marathon training in balance.

tunguska

Muppet Man wrote: »

Hi Folks,

Has anyone any experience of the Hanson Marathon training plan aka "Less is more". The basic premise is to run shorter distances, but more frequently.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244--13791-F,00.html

Despite the shorter distances, the weekly milage is still considerable.

Stragenly, the 6 day week doesnt bother me too much but I would have some concerns over running 24 to 26 miles on the week of the marathon... and a 45 to 47 mile week just two weeks out... it seems totally nucking futs TBH...

I would be interested to hear if anyone has tried it. I'm considering it as training plan for my third marathon as I have the wall hard on my first two at 19/20 miles.

Muppet Man.

How is running 26 miles the week of a marathon nuts? Thats very low mileage by any standard of marathon training.
Plan seems interesting, but I think you'd wanna be fairly confident in yourself to not get sucked into running 20milers. But having said that Muppet man, I think you're better off keeping it simple and not messing around with plans like this until you're very confident in your running. If you're blowing up in marathons at 19/20 miles what do you think is going on? Are you doing long runs at M-pace or are you just doing long slow runs? Its gotta be specific, you gotta be regularly knocking out 20 -22 miler runs with large portions at M-pace and segments of that run at higher than M-pace.

Muppet Man

Thanks Clearlier / Tunguska for the feedback... sorry for the delay I was off line for a week or so.

I suppose my traditionally training plan (which wasnt as formal as I would like), I would do two or three ~20 mile runs, followed with a 3 week taper. I think my mistake was running them too slowly. None of them would have been at anywhere near marathon pace. My Tapers week would half the previous weeks milage, so in my last week of taper I might only run 10 to 15 miles. Thats why I said 26 miles in the plan above, seemed (to me) too much for a final week. I suppose it depends on what your used to.

The pains I suffer in marathons are all in the calf muscles below the back of the knees (equal pain in both calfs )... Lungs and heart are always fine and its frustrating to have run/walk to the finish.

I might try the training plan above for two or three weeks to see how it works out... I do like some elements of the plan, like the speed work, which traditionally has been lacking. Being honest, I think the lack of a formal training plan is my downfall. I'm targeting Longford in August for my third marathon.

Thanks again lads,
Muppet Man.

Clearlier

Get a copy of Advanced Marathoning by Pfitzinger and Daniels and read it from cover to cover. You'll get an awful lot from it.