Long Run Schedule

I have had several people ask about a creating a summer "long run schedule" again. We have done this the last two years as a guide for those doing their marathon training. I did my best creating this, but there are several reasons why it is far from perfect for everyone.

1. Not everyone is training for a marathon. Some are going shorter, and some are doing 50ks
2. Not everyone follows the same plan. Some run a single 20 miler, and others run multiple runs over 20 miles
3. Not everyone is training for the same race.

So why do I even take the time to create the plans? Well, it lets you know what runs we will have planned each weekend. There will be weeks when you need to adjust the route for your needs. Maybe you need to cut off a bit some you don't run too far. Maybe you need to run a mile loop when you get back to the Teeter to add some distance. Bottom line is you need to focus on your training plans.

If you are training for a half. On most weekends we have a distance that should be close to your needs. Once again, you may need to add some tweaks to get the right distance for you.

So here are the plans:

I focused on the six most popular races the RMEC. All of these plans (except for Steamtown) are based on two 20-mile training runs. So this falls somewhere between a typical novice plan and an intermediate plan. For some of you you may do more or less. Once again, this was just a guide to create our Saturday run schedule.

For those who are training for your first marathon or first half marathon, I will remind you. ONLY FOCUS ON THIS WEEK. Don't look ahead on the plan and panic. If a 20 mile run seems impossible right now. . . it should! That is why we train. You should know what your ultimate goal is, but remember there are many steps to get there. Take them one at a time. No one can climb an entire flight of stairs in one jump.