OBX Marathon Training

It's not the will to win that matters - everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters. ~Bear Bryant.

Based on conversations with several runners, it seems as though the OBX Marathon and Half Marathon is the fall race of choice by the RMEC and many others around Rocky Mount. By my estimation I am guessing over 30 will be signed up to race on Sunday, November 13.

Now comes the fun part. . . the training. The marathon is so much more than a 26.2 mile race. It is a four month journey of planning and preparation. If you only focus on the race, you miss what is truly the most enjoyable aspect of running. Training for a marathon by yourself is brutal. That is actually why the RMEC was originally created. We were a 20-person marathon training team. It is now time to get back in that mode of thinking.

Unlike the first time we trained, we are most likely using a variety of training plans now. There is no perfect plan for everyone. The most important thing is sticking to whichever one you have selected. Obviously I can't schedule weekend runs that meet the exact requirement of every one's training schedule so I am picking what is most common. Below is the schedule of the weekend long runs:

The plan above has two 20 mile runs. Some of you like to do more, and others only do one. I went with a middle-ground. The advantage of scheduling two 20 milers is it gives you a cushion should you get injured. For the half marathon training, I just used the intermediate plan from Hal Higdon's website.

I must admit, I have been in a bit of a "running rut" here lately. I think getting focused on a fall marathon is exactly what I needed. I am looking forward to training with everyone, and hope to see us build our weekend runs back to groups of 20-30 runners again very soon! Run Happy!

Who is racing OBX?