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If we do not hit our goal we will be forced to close the site.
Current status: https://keepboardsalive.com/
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DCM 2015: Mentored Novices Thread
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This is where my problem lies. Because I'm coming to marathon training so late, having focused on adventure racing and cross training all year, I'm not sure which plan suits me at this time. The past two weeks have been marathon focused and they consisted of:
Week 11: 37 miles - LSR: 13 miles
Week 10: 45 miles - LSR: 15 miles (9:38/mile)
I've signed up for the Athlone half (Week 7) and the Athlone three quarter (week 4)
I've looked at the HH plan and the Boards Novice plan and I'm unsure of which one to use from now or should I keep increasing my long runs by 1 mile each weekend?. Any suggestions or advice would be very welcome?
Hi Neady - welcome to the thread! Those of us who've been following your log and reading your race reports are in awe of your training and races, so we're delighted to have you here.
I was driving to work today and was actually thinking about how you would best prep for DCM. Obviously the experienced folks should review your program, but I don't think you need to change much to what you have already planned. You have strength and endurance in abundance and just need to build up your running endurance. You're already up to 15/16M and have slowed down your other runs.
Two links might be useful:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X4ruB5STPrJP1UXONBsWM-WTXFJQreeZbHiO6XHxohc/edit?pli=1#gid=33
This is where most Novices track their kilometres (ok, miles) and it also has the customized boards.ie and HHN plan. In my view, you're well able for the boards.ie plan and you should just build your long runs around the Athlone races you have planned.
The boards plan is up to 17M long runs, and there's another 19, 20, 15, HM Race, 20, and 18M LSRs to go. You have the Athlone 3/4 to handle one of the 20-milers, so if you can slot in another 18, 19, and 20 miler, you're good to go. Just build the mileage up and down around the races, like the boards plan does.
For the mid-week runs, I would just follow the boards-plan suggestions. Nothing beats 8M at PMP on a Wednesday morning
https://www.strava.com/clubs/dcm-boards-novices-2015
Chrislad set up a Strava club where some of us are storing the runs. We're not allowed to compare or Dubgal will spank give out, but it's great to see the other's progress and give kudos etc.
Delighted you've taken the plunge!0 -
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Just wondering what the thoughts are on splitting a lsr into two. I find it easier to run with company and have people that will run maybe 8 to 10 miles with me. If I was to do 8 to 10 miles myself first and then meet them for second half would the break of a few minutes be cheating as obviously wouldn't be stopping on marathon day or am I overthinking it? :-)
you might end up with a few answers on this Feena so apologies, I would say that would be absolutely fine, even if you break was 10 /15 mins, I don't think that would matter at all, I know I've stopped during marathon training to go and buy water in a shop etc which is not dissimilar and the extra company will help the miles go by 0 -
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3 miles today and calf was absolutely fine. Will continue with the stretching and rolling.
Can't believe that we're into Wk 10!! I'm going to run to work tomorrow so that will be a nice change from evening runs, I prefer running in the morning.
Thanks to all who contributed to the advice given about EP week training, have decided to take the Thursday off as well so I can run my LSR in the morning as otherwise I'll only be panicking trying to work, run and pack up the car that day. Something has gotta give, it might as well be work
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3 miles today and calf was absolutely fine. Will continue with the stretching and rolling.
Can't believe that we're into Wk 10!! I'm going to run to work tomorrow so that will be a nice change from evening runs, I prefer running in the morning.
Thanks to all who contributed to the advice given about EP week training, have decided to take the Thursday off as well so I can run my LSR in the morning as otherwise I'll only be panicking trying to work, run and pack up the car that day. Something has gotta give, it might as well be work
Now there's dedication for you. Fairplay.........enjoy both your LSR and EP0 -
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Really well done! Which club was the mysterious female runner from? just wondering if it could have been me ... I had a male companion in a blue top for a mile or so! (Finished a good bit behind you in the end, though, 71.14)
Hmm, I was wearing a grey top. I don't remember which club it was... maybe a green top? I DMed you a pic anyway 0 -
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Well done everyone who raced at the weekend, I'm working through the race reports with a curious craving for flapjacks and Guinness!
Quick update for last week:
Sunday - rest.
Monday - 3.75 miles @ 07:41 average. This is a lunchtime run with a couple of other guys, so I know it's too fast, but I've convinced myself it serves two purposes - 1) pushing myself a bit in midday heat when most of my other runs are in the cooler evenings, and 2) the mental challenge of sticking with the pace. Somebody talk some sense into me please!
Tuesday - 3:75 miles @ 07:27 avg. Oops, I did it again.
Wednesday - 7 miles @ 09:38 avg. Needed to step up the midweek mileage from just doing lunchtime runs for the most part, so ran home Wed evening.....
Thursday - 7 miles @ 09:21 avg. ...... and ran back in on Thursday morning after leaving the car in work. Wanted to do some PMP miles on this run but felt a bit too fatigued so took the sensible option and took it easy.
Friday - 3 miles @ 08:44 avg. Felt like a recovery run compared to Mon/Tues. Shortened the route to make sure I had time for a slower pace.
Saturday 17 miles @ 09:30 avg. Felt stronger at the end of this run than I did for my first 17-miler a week earlier.
Sunday - 8 hours on my feet marshalling at DCT in the pissing rain. Glad I'd got the LSR done the previous evening!
Couple of questions for the wise elders:
1) I've got 30 mins at lunchtime to complete a run - 3.75 miles at sub-8min/mile or 3 miles at 9-10min/mile? (LSR Sunday = easy Monday obviously).
2) Running doubles - I've started as above, run home one evening and back in the next morning. Any advice if I wanted to switch this to a double, 7 miles each way?0 -
Well done everyone who raced at the weekend, I'm working through the race reports with a curious craving for flapjacks and Guinness!
Quick update for last week:
Sunday - rest.
Monday - 3.75 miles @ 07:41 average. This is a lunchtime run with a couple of other guys, so I know it's too fast, but I've convinced myself it serves two purposes - 1) pushing myself a bit in midday heat when most of my other runs are in the cooler evenings, and 2) the mental challenge of sticking with the pace. Somebody talk some sense into me please!
Tuesday - 3:75 miles @ 07:27 avg. Oops, I did it again.
Wednesday - 7 miles @ 09:38 avg. Needed to step up the midweek mileage from just doing lunchtime runs for the most part, so ran home Wed evening.....
Thursday - 7 miles @ 09:21 avg. ...... and ran back in on Thursday morning after leaving the car in work. Wanted to do some PMP miles on this run but felt a bit too fatigued so took the sensible option and took it easy.
Friday - 3 miles @ 08:44 avg. Felt like a recovery run compared to Mon/Tues. Shortened the route to make sure I had time for a slower pace.
Saturday 17 miles @ 09:30 avg. Felt stronger at the end of this run than I did for my first 17-miler a week earlier.
Sunday - 8 hours on my feet marshalling at DCT in the pissing rain. Glad I'd got the LSR done the previous evening!
Couple of questions for the wise elders:
1) I've got 30 mins at lunchtime to complete a run - 3.75 miles at sub-8min/mile or 3 miles at 9-10min/mile? (LSR Sunday = easy Monday obviously).
2) Running doubles - I've started as above, run home one evening and back in the next morning. Any advice if I wanted to switch this to a double, 7 miles each way?
Some nice work there, and fair play for the marshalling.
1) Seems obvious, but why not try to match this run as closely as you can what the plan says for that day? If it's an easy day, easy. If it's Weds session day and the session calls for higher mileage, can you run it later on or as part of your run commute? Very valuable to get the speed work in as much as possible per plan.
2) Don't have much experience with doubles but if it was me, I would worry a bit about ramping up the mileage too much. No harm once a week maybe if you're already up to fairly big mileage (50ish miles/wk) but a 14 mile midweek run, even if easy, looks odd if you're loosely following Boards Plan. You need to find a good balance between total miles, adequate recovery, pace and length. And if you depart too much from the plan, well then it's a different plan.
What's your current mileage?0 -
Well done everyone who raced at the weekend, I'm working through the race reports with a curious craving for flapjacks and Guinness!
Quick update for last week:
Sunday - rest.
Monday - 3.75 miles @ 07:41 average. This is a lunchtime run with a couple of other guys, so I know it's too fast, but I've convinced myself it serves two purposes - 1) pushing myself a bit in midday heat when most of my other runs are in the cooler evenings, and 2) the mental challenge of sticking with the pace. Somebody talk some sense into me please!
Tuesday - 3:75 miles @ 07:27 avg. Oops, I did it again.
Wednesday - 7 miles @ 09:38 avg. Needed to step up the midweek mileage from just doing lunchtime runs for the most part, so ran home Wed evening.....
Thursday - 7 miles @ 09:21 avg. ...... and ran back in on Thursday morning after leaving the car in work. Wanted to do some PMP miles on this run but felt a bit too fatigued so took the sensible option and took it easy.
Friday - 3 miles @ 08:44 avg. Felt like a recovery run compared to Mon/Tues. Shortened the route to make sure I had time for a slower pace.
Saturday 17 miles @ 09:30 avg. Felt stronger at the end of this run than I did for my first 17-miler a week earlier.
Sunday - 8 hours on my feet marshalling at DCT in the pissing rain. Glad I'd got the LSR done the previous evening!
Couple of questions for the wise elders:
1) I've got 30 mins at lunchtime to complete a run - 3.75 miles at sub-8min/mile or 3 miles at 9-10min/mile? (LSR Sunday = easy Monday obviously).
2) Running doubles - I've started as above, run home one evening and back in the next morning. Any advice if I wanted to switch this to a double, 7 miles each way?
No way would I reccomend adding a 7/7 double when you are running only a single 7 already. Running a double might sound like an easy way to add more mileage but there is a break in period in my experience where your body and mind has to get used to running twice a day.
Doubles are also introduced slowly and not as something to instantly double your mileage. If I was adding another double to my week instead of a single 7 mile run, I would start with a 4/5 at the very most. As you are in marathon training and looking to increase mileage, If you are going to increase mileage, I would look more at increasing that midweek single run to 8, 9, 10etc or bumping mileage on your shorter runs gradually instead of doubling as you want to train your body to run on tired legs.
That's my thoughts but whatever you do, do not jump into doubles at 7/7, that's a huge jump and looking for trouble.0 -
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The boards plan is up to 17M long runs, and there's another 19, 20, 15, HM Race, 20, and 18M LSRs to go. You have the Athlone 3/4 to handle one of the 20-milers, so if you can slot in another 18, 19, and 20 miler, you're good to go. Just build the mileage up and down around the races, like the boards plan does.
Delighted you've taken the plunge!
Nop, thank you so much for the advice, it's greatly appreciated. I lost sleep on Sunday night worrying about which plan I should use This marathon training business is a whole different Beast 
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Well done everyone who raced at the weekend, I'm working through the race reports with a curious craving for flapjacks and Guinness!
Quick update for last week:
Sunday - rest.
Monday - 3.75 miles @ 07:41 average. This is a lunchtime run with a couple of other guys, so I know it's too fast, but I've convinced myself it serves two purposes - 1) pushing myself a bit in midday heat when most of my other runs are in the cooler evenings, and 2) the mental challenge of sticking with the pace. Somebody talk some sense into me please!
Tuesday - 3:75 miles @ 07:27 avg. Oops, I did it again.
Wednesday - 7 miles @ 09:38 avg. Needed to step up the midweek mileage from just doing lunchtime runs for the most part, so ran home Wed evening.....
Thursday - 7 miles @ 09:21 avg. ...... and ran back in on Thursday morning after leaving the car in work. Wanted to do some PMP miles on this run but felt a bit too fatigued so took the sensible option and took it easy.
Friday - 3 miles @ 08:44 avg. Felt like a recovery run compared to Mon/Tues. Shortened the route to make sure I had time for a slower pace.
Saturday 17 miles @ 09:30 avg. Felt stronger at the end of this run than I did for my first 17-miler a week earlier.
Sunday - 8 hours on my feet marshalling at DCT in the pissing rain. Glad I'd got the LSR done the previous evening!
Couple of questions for the wise elders:
1) I've got 30 mins at lunchtime to complete a run - 3.75 miles at sub-8min/mile or 3 miles at 9-10min/mile? (LSR Sunday = easy Monday obviously).
2) Running doubles - I've started as above, run home one evening and back in the next morning. Any advice if I wanted to switch this to a double, 7 miles each way?
Hi Conor Mc, I am with Murph and NE. The plans says easy runs on Monday and Tuesday so why not stick to that. In relation to the double even more advance plans don't add in doubles until they are absolutely necessary to achieve high mileage targets. And even then they would have a particular goal i.e. am recovery run to prepare for pm session or double recovery to aid recovery from previous day session, etc. If you are already running 6 days throwing in a 7/7 double looks like you may be mileage hunting with no particular training stimulus in mind and could in fact have a negative impact. As the lads said if it is mileage you are craving then add an extra mile or two onto you Wednesday MLR but be careful of trying to do miles for miles sake rather than with a particular goal in mind......that being said looks like you put in a good shift last week so keep it up. Be patient and there will be plenty of time to experiment when you graduate 0 -
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bloody thinking about is running, eating, sleeping - This is what we all do.
Anyone who did the Athlone 3/4 was advised that it was a LSR and under NO circumstances were you to race it, that help?
Are you not around for the Dublin Half on Sept 19th? The races in the Boards plan are to gauge progress and for confidence on race day. It is good to race and get into a routine how you prep for it with tapering/what you are going to wear and eat coming up to it. It's recommended for race day experience so you don't start off too fast also.
I'm down in Cork - long trips up to the big smoke take even more away from the family (who have been ultra understanding so far!!!), but I might see if we can spend a 'family day' incorporating the zoo etc
Helps re Athlone - must be a lot of sub 3.30 marathon runners in that field!!!
EDIT: Just checked the boards page for this race last year - they have pacers who set the pace for this race as your LSR for your target DCM time (am I making sense). Might be good for someone like me!!!
Cheers0 -
I'm down in Cork - long trips up to the big smoke take even more away from the family (who have been ultra understanding so far!!!), but I might see if we can spend a 'family day' incorporating the zoo etc
Helps re Athlone - must be a lot of sub 3.30 marathon runners in that field!!!
Cheers
Yahoo, I helped and advice was taken, so proud.
Sure they can do the zoo and you can race as you won't be much company after the half
Re: Athlone, they obviously didn't listen so don't make the same mistake. I'm told the final 3 miles are all hills and not pleasant so study the course if doing it and you are not to RACE it
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I'm down in Cork - long trips up to the big smoke take even more away from the family (who have been ultra understanding so far!!!), but I might see if we can spend a 'family day' incorporating the zoo etc
Helps re Athlone - must be a lot of sub 3.30 marathon runners in that field!!!
EDIT: Just checked the boards page for this race last year - they have pacers who set the pace for this race as your LSR for your target DCM time (am I making sense). Might be good for someone like me!!!
Cheers
Hi JacEim, I did the Athlone 3/4 last year, its a fantastically well organised race and yes, the pacers run your LSR pace, you will need to be very disciplined and stick to it though, I was very happy to plod around. Its a tough course but it is scheduled with DCM in mind so absolutely put it on your list if you will definitely keep to your LSR pace
Edit to say Auld man king paced this last year if I'm not mistaken so he might contribute to this discussion0 -
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Actually feeling a complete lack of confidence at the moment. I don't know if it's the weather getting me down, or other life stresses going on, or what but I feel zero confidence in my running or training at the moment
I guess I should more accurately say I feel no confidence in myself. I'm still sticking with the plan though and was happy enough to have hit all my mileage last week. This week is 26 miles with a 14 mile LSR on Sunday. The plan will change a bit in September so maybe that will help.
Anyway, I'm not looking for pity or compliments or pep talks or anything either, just wanted to be honest about where I'm at. I'll report back on my LSR at the end of the week. Cross fingers and toes it goes well.0
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