Bonn Half Marathon: My pre-conditioning schedule
Having not laced up a running shoe in anger since 2004 I took the plunge and entered the April 14th, 2013 Deutsche Post Bonn Half Marathon. All this took place in mid-July, 24 hours after my thrombosis removing operation and in a typically male-and-macho burst of 'life-changing' enthusiasm... all whilst pumped full of pain killers; IV and oral!
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| Failed! |
Breaking News 20th April 2014: OK, so that was less than successful. This time on a more positive note - I was invited to join www.go4cycling.com for their Paris-Roubaix weeked. A dream of a lifetime. The Saturday 142 km with 34 km of pave challenge and Sunday pro-race 'Belgium hopscotch' all required a slight shift in training focus.
So, let's re-focus and get the legs doing what they have evolved* to do - time to get a toe hold and re-learn to run slowly for long distances. I shall endure, allegedly.
A plea on Facebook for a training ideas and plans led me to the following run-walk program by Jeff Galloway. His basic conditioning 8 week schedule has been adapted to allow for continued cycling but is in essence as he presented it - with the dual primary aims to offer an injury free approach to increasing running mileage whilst allowing the body to adapt to the use of minimal footwear. A big thanks to all my Facebook friends for all the tips especially Tony Poole for the Jeff Galloway pointer. Should I achieve this then running injury and pain free... well, that will be a first. Memories of being unable to drive home from the track due to shin-splints and groin pain, will be consigned to history. Hoping not to overtrain and also to continue with the body transformation.
My 'steady as she goes' body transformation so far... 2007 = 122 kg, today (April 2014) = 94 kg.
2014 Goal #1: 89 kg... break that 90 kg barrier - a real psychological hurdle (91.8 kg is as close as I got!) If I can before the start of the 2014 Tour de France (ne reason, it just seems a fun and achievable date!)
2014 Goal #2: breach the 85 kg body mass boundary (anytime before 2015!)... this was my Rugby League playing 'weight' when I was at my fittest, fastest and healthiest (aged 19-24). The latter being my primary motivation today - no more hypertension medication please!
Here's my adapted programme... starting today with my best friend and soulmate for company (doesn't having a friend along really add to the simple pleasure of running?)
I'll use the Half Marathon pre-training Conditioning Program to get me up to the 10 km level.
Pre Bonn half Marathon (14th April 2013) Training Schedule (12 week running programme to commence January 2013)
Aim: gradually improve impact conditioning, improve cycling base fitness and technique.
Goal: injury free, further mass loss (body comp' change), increase energy levels (in conjunction with food regimen)
Challenges: sleeping pattern, diet.
Source/Reference: http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/condition.html
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8 Week Conditioning Program
(for those who need a little more fitness before the half or full marathon training program begins)
Note: This pre-conditioning training should not be stressful or painful. When in doubt, ease off. Bold = completed
Note: This pre-conditioning training should not be stressful or painful. When in doubt, ease off. Bold = completed
Week 1(runners will run for 5 seconds/walk for 55 seconds on the run/walk days)
Sun: 15 min run/walk ... ... 27th April, 2014
Mon : 15 min run/walk
Tues: 20 min run/walk
Wed: 17 min run/walk
Thurs: 17 min run/walk
Fri: 17 min run/walk
Sat: 19 min run/walk
Sun: 15 min run/walk ... ... 27th April, 2014
Mon : 15 min run/walk
Tues: 20 min run/walk
Wed: 17 min run/walk
Thurs: 17 min run/walk
Fri: 17 min run/walk
Sat: 19 min run/walk
Week 2 ( runners will run for 10 seconds/walk for 50 seconds on the run/walk days) ... ... 4th May, 2014
Sun: 19 min run/walk
Mon: off
Tues: 19 run/min walk
Wed: 19 min run/walk
Thurs: off
Fri: 21 min run-walk
Sat: 21 min run/walk
Sun: 19 min run/walk
Mon: off
Tues: 19 run/min walk
Wed: 19 min run/walk
Thurs: off
Fri: 21 min run-walk
Sat: 21 min run/walk
Week 3 (runners will run for 10 seconds/walk for 50 seconds on the run/walk days) ... ... 11th May 2014
Mon: 19 min run/walk
Tues: tbc
Wed: tbc
Thurs: tbc
Fri: tbc
Tues: tbc
Wed: tbc
Thurs: tbc
Fri: tbc
Sat: tbc
NB... at this point last year... A HORRENDOUS COLD, URT infection, Man-flu, Plague... you name it, I had it!
(historical reference, e.g., Tues: 25.xi.2012. Feeling good for the first time in three weeks. Left it an extra day or so to allow the immune system to return to its Thor-esque levels. So, 20 mins on the Inside Ride e-motion rollers (Serotta Ottrott) + The Sufferfest 'Fight Club'. 1 h 20 mins of indoor cycling in all. Feel great!
NB... at this point last year... A HORRENDOUS COLD, URT infection, Man-flu, Plague... you name it, I had it!
(historical reference, e.g., Tues: 25.xi.2012. Feeling good for the first time in three weeks. Left it an extra day or so to allow the immune system to return to its Thor-esque levels. So, 20 mins on the Inside Ride e-motion rollers (Serotta Ottrott) + The Sufferfest 'Fight Club'. 1 h 20 mins of indoor cycling in all. Feel great!
ILL, AGAIN!!! Right, enough is enough - work, DIY, illness (family and me), and various other things demand a re-focus. Jogging paused until health and life-style permit! Frustrated!)
Week 4 (runners will run for 15 seconds/walk for 45 seconds on the run/walk days) ... ... 18th May, 2014
Sun:17 run-walk intervals
Mon: 21 run-walk intervals
Fri: tbc
Sun:17 run-walk intervals
Mon: 21 run-walk intervals
Fri: tbc
Sat: tbc
Week 5 (runners will run for 15 seconds/walk for 45 seconds on the run/walk days) ... ... 25th May, 2014
Sun: tbc
Sun: tbc
Mon: 30 min run/walk
Tues: Rest day
Wed: tbc
Thurs: Walk 30 min + 25 run-walk intervals
Fri: tbc
Sat: 3.5 km run/walk
Sun: off/walk+ recovery cycling
Tues: Rest day
Wed: tbc
Thurs: Walk 30 min + 25 run-walk intervals
Fri: tbc
Sat: 3.5 km run/walk
Sun: off/walk+ recovery cycling
Week 6 (runners will run for 20 seconds/walk for 40 seconds on the run/walk days) ... ... 1st June, 2014
Sun: 06.i.2013 off/walk
Sun: 06.i.2013 off/walk
Mon: 30 min run/walk
Tues: run/walk 30 min
Wed: rest
Thurs: run/Walk 30 min
Fri: REST + sauna
Sat: 5km run/walk
Sun: off/walk+ recovery cycling
Tues: run/walk 30 min
Wed: rest
Thurs: run/Walk 30 min
Fri: REST + sauna
Sat: 5km run/walk
Sun: off/walk+ recovery cycling
Week 7 (runners will run for 20 seconds/walk for 40 seconds on the run/walk days) ... ... 8th June, 2014
Sun: recovery cycling
Sun: recovery cycling
Mon: 30 min run/walk + planks
Tues: walk 60 min
Wed: 40 min run/walk
Thurs: walk 60 min
Fri: off + sauna + planks
Sat: 7.5 km run/walk
Sun: off/walk+ recovery cycling + planks
Tues: walk 60 min
Wed: 40 min run/walk
Thurs: walk 60 min
Fri: off + sauna + planks
Sat: 7.5 km run/walk
Sun: off/walk+ recovery cycling + planks
Week 8 (runners will run for 20 seconds/walk for 40 seconds on the run/walk days) ... ... 15th June, 2014
Sun: recovery cycling
Sun: recovery cycling
Mon: 20 min run/walk
Tues: rest
Wed: Bonn night 10km fun run
Thurs: tbc
Fri: sauna!
Sat: tbc
Sun: tbc
Tues: rest
Wed: Bonn night 10km fun run
Thurs: tbc
Fri: sauna!
Sat: tbc
Sun: tbc
Now... let's head on to the trails!
Half Marathon Training - in full...
My plan is to adapt the following from mid-December, now late-April ... the conditioning programme is working very well. No need for the run-walk timer as the Garmin Edge 800 bike GPS computer is proving perfect for the task with its programmable workout tool. Easy and very, very useful.
The following is taken from http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half_marathon.html
Half Marathon To Finish—for runners and walkers (scroll down for the "Time Goal Schedule")
How to Train for a Half Marathon by Jeff
This program is designed for those who have been doing some running or walking for a few weeks. If you think that you need more conditioning before starting the program, use the “Conditioning Program”.
Note: This is the minimum that I’ve found necessary to finish with strength. If you are already running/walking more than this amount and are able to recover between workouts, you may continue to do what you are doing—but be careful.
1. I don’t recommend that first-time half marathon participants try for a time goal. Do the first one to finish, running/walking at a comfortable training pace.
2. To begin this program, you should have done a long run/walk within the past 2 weeks of at least 3 miles. If your long one is not this long, then gradually increase the weekend run/walk to this distance before starting this program.
3. (Runners) What is my current level of performance? Read the chapter in the book on “Choosing The Right Goal...”. After you have run 3-4 “magic miles” (MM), multiply by 1.2. This tells you what you are currently capable of running in a half marathon right now (at a very hard effort), when the temperature is 60° F or below and when you have done the long runs listed in the schedule. Even in the half marathon itself, I don’t recommend running this fast—run at the training pace that was comfortable for you on your last long runs.
4. (Runners) What pace should I run on the long ones? Take your MM time and multiply by 1.3. Then add 2 minutes. The result is your suggested long run pace per mile on long runs at 60F or cooler. It is always better to run slower than this pace.
5. Walkers and runners should pace the long one so there’ no huffing and puffing—even at the end.
6. When the temperature rises above 60° F: runners slow down by 30 seconds a mile for every 5 degrees above 60° F. Walkers slow down enough to avoid huffing and puffing.
7. Run-walk-run ratio should correspond to the pace used (Runners).
8 min/mi—run 4 min/walk 35 seconds
9 min/mi— 4 min run-1 min walk... this is my goal for the Bonn half.
10 min/mi—-3:1
11 min/mi—2:30-1
12 min/mi—-2:1
13 min/mi—-1:1
14 min/mi—30 sec run/30 sec walk
15 min/mi—30 sec/45 sec
16 min/mi—30 sec/60 sec
8. Walkers use the walk-shuffle ratio that works for you to avoid huffing and puffing
9. It is fine to do cross training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if you wish. There will be little benefit to your running/walking in doing this, but you’l increase your fatburning potential. Don’t do exercises like stair machines that use the calf muscle on cross training days.
10. Be sure to take a vacation from strenuous exercise on the day before your weekend runs/walks.
11. An optional pace run TT is noted on the Tuesday run. To get used to a pace you want to run in the race itself, time yourself for a mile, and take the walk breaks as you will do them in the race.
12. Have fun!
How to Train for a Half Marathon by Jeff
This program is designed for those who have been doing some running or walking for a few weeks. If you think that you need more conditioning before starting the program, use the “Conditioning Program”.
Note: This is the minimum that I’ve found necessary to finish with strength. If you are already running/walking more than this amount and are able to recover between workouts, you may continue to do what you are doing—but be careful.
1. I don’t recommend that first-time half marathon participants try for a time goal. Do the first one to finish, running/walking at a comfortable training pace.
2. To begin this program, you should have done a long run/walk within the past 2 weeks of at least 3 miles. If your long one is not this long, then gradually increase the weekend run/walk to this distance before starting this program.
3. (Runners) What is my current level of performance? Read the chapter in the book on “Choosing The Right Goal...”. After you have run 3-4 “magic miles” (MM), multiply by 1.2. This tells you what you are currently capable of running in a half marathon right now (at a very hard effort), when the temperature is 60° F or below and when you have done the long runs listed in the schedule. Even in the half marathon itself, I don’t recommend running this fast—run at the training pace that was comfortable for you on your last long runs.
4. (Runners) What pace should I run on the long ones? Take your MM time and multiply by 1.3. Then add 2 minutes. The result is your suggested long run pace per mile on long runs at 60F or cooler. It is always better to run slower than this pace.
5. Walkers and runners should pace the long one so there’ no huffing and puffing—even at the end.
6. When the temperature rises above 60° F: runners slow down by 30 seconds a mile for every 5 degrees above 60° F. Walkers slow down enough to avoid huffing and puffing.
7. Run-walk-run ratio should correspond to the pace used (Runners).
8 min/mi—run 4 min/walk 35 seconds
9 min/mi— 4 min run-1 min walk... this is my goal for the Bonn half.
10 min/mi—-3:1
11 min/mi—2:30-1
12 min/mi—-2:1
13 min/mi—-1:1
14 min/mi—30 sec run/30 sec walk
15 min/mi—30 sec/45 sec
16 min/mi—30 sec/60 sec
8. Walkers use the walk-shuffle ratio that works for you to avoid huffing and puffing
9. It is fine to do cross training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if you wish. There will be little benefit to your running/walking in doing this, but you’l increase your fatburning potential. Don’t do exercises like stair machines that use the calf muscle on cross training days.
10. Be sure to take a vacation from strenuous exercise on the day before your weekend runs/walks.
11. An optional pace run TT is noted on the Tuesday run. To get used to a pace you want to run in the race itself, time yourself for a mile, and take the walk breaks as you will do them in the race.
12. Have fun!
Half Marathon - Time Goal for runners
Note: This is the minimum that I’ve found necessary to prepare for the goal. If you are already running more than this amount and are able to recover between workouts, you may continue to do what you are doing—but be careful.
1. I don’t recommend that first-time half marathoners try for a time goal. Run the first one to finish, running mostly at a comfortable training pace.
2. To begin this program, you should have done a long run within the past 2 weeks of at least 5 miles. If your long one is not this long, gradually increase the weekend run to this distance before starting this program.
3. What is my current level of performance? Read the chapter in the book on “Choosing The Right Goal...”. After you have run 3-4 “magic miles” (MM), multiply by 1.2. This tells you what you are currently capable of running in a half marathon right now (at a very hard effort), when the temperature is 60° F or below and when you have done the long runs and speed training listed in the schedule.
4. What pace should I run on the long ones? Take your MM time and multiply by 1.3. Then add 2 minutes. The result is your suggested long run pace per mile on long runs at 60° F or cooler. It is always better to run slower than this pace.
5. Pace the long one so that you aren't’ huffing and puffing—even at the end.
6. When the temperature rises above 60° F: Slow down by 30 seconds a mile for every 5 degrees above 60° F on long runs and the race itself.
7. Run-walk-run ratio should correspond to the pace used.
8 min/mi—run 4 min/walk 35 seconds)
9 min/mi— 4 min run-1 min walk
10 min/mi—-3-1
11 min/mi—2:30-1
12 min/mi—-2- 1
13 min/mi—-1-1
14 min/mi—30 sec run/30 sec walk
15 min/mi—30 sec/45 sec
16 min/mi—30 sec/60 sec
9 min/mi— 4 min run-1 min walk
10 min/mi—-3-1
11 min/mi—2:30-1
12 min/mi—-2- 1
13 min/mi—-1-1
14 min/mi—30 sec run/30 sec walk
15 min/mi—30 sec/45 sec
16 min/mi—30 sec/60 sec
8. It is fine to do cross training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if you wish. There will be little benefit to your running in doing this, but you’ll increase your fat-burning potential. Don’ do exercises like stair machines that use the calf muscle on non-running days.
9. Be sure to take a vacation from strenuous exercise on the day before your weekend runs.
10. At the beginning of the program, after you have run 2 MMs, you can choose a goal that is as fast as 30 seconds per mile faster than predicted by the process indicated in # 3—r any goal that is slower than this. (Read the “leap of faith goal” segment of the “Choosing The Right Pace” chapter.)
11. To prepare for your goal, 800-meter speedwork is included on non-long-run weekends. To compute your pace for the 800-meter (2 laps around a track), take half the time of your goal pace per mile, as you decided according to #10 above, and subtract 15 seconds.
12. Warm up for each 800-meter repeat workout by walking for 5 minutes, then jogging very slowly for 5-10 minutes. Then do 4-8 acceleration-gliders (see the segment about this in “Drills” chapter of Galloway Training book). Reverse this process as your warm down, leaving out the acceleration gliders.
13. Walk 2:30 to 3 min between each 800-meter repeat.
14. At the end of the first lap, walk for 10-30 seconds—but don’t stop your stopwatch. The time for each 800 should be from the start until you finish the second lap.
15. If you have recovered from the weekend workout on Tuesday, run a mile at race pace (noted as “p” on the Tue line). After an easy warmup, run 4 of the cadence drills (CD) and 4 acceleration-gliders (Acg). These are described in the Drill section of my Galloway Training book. Then run a mile segment at goal pace, taking the walk breaks as you plan to do them in the race. Jog for the rest of your run.
16. On long runs and the race itself, slow down when the temperature rises above 60° F: by 30 seconds a mile for every 5 degrees above 60° F or more.
17. It is fine to do cross training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if you wish. There will be little benefit to your running in doing this, but you’ll increase your fatburning potential. Don’t do exercises like stair machines that use the calf muscle on non-running days.
18. Be sure to take a vacation from strenuous exercise on the day before your weekend runs.
19. Have fun!
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