My Personal Marathon Training Plan

I decided to purchase a plan for my marathon training.  I wanted more than "run 5 miles today."  After looking at several, I chose one from a link on Runner's World.  It is a 16 week plan. Here's a bit more:

Runner's World Break-4:00 Marathon Plan  

Ideal for runners who want to break 4:00 in the marathon.  (I would really like to run my marathon in 4 hours, my first half marathon was just under 2:00, so we shall see!) 

Plan Overview:

Weekly Routine: 2 days of rest, 5 days of running

Weekly Mileage: 25-50 miles

Long Runs: start at 9 miles, peak at 22 miles

Speedwork:  strides, marathon goal-pace runs (MP), tempo runs, Yasso 800s 

Perks of the Plan:

• Daily emails with your next workout to keep you on track
• Create your own routes or search our library of routes for tracking your workouts
• Map, graph, and share workouts with your friends by email, Facebook, and view in Google Maps or Google Earth
• Upload workouts from one of more than 80 training devices (Garmin, Suunto, Timex, Polar, more) or easily record your workouts manually
• Track your fitness and gain confidence
• Complete nutrition tracking to monitor your diet
• Get support and answers on the message boards

I know some of this will seem very confusing and I plan to start a weekly "Wordy Wednesday" to explain the various running terms that pop up - just one real quick "LSD" = long slow distance, not a required drug to complete the distance!  I arranged it so my long run is on Saturday instead of Sunday.

Here is a look at Week One, which I will start on February 5th:

Sunday - Rest Day
Monday - 4 miles easy
Tuesday - 4 miles hills
Wednesday - Rest Day
Thursday - 4 miles easy
Friday - 4 miles easy
Saturday - 9 miles LSD

Total for the week - 25 miles

Week 6 looks like this:

Sunday - Rest Day
Monday - 5 miles easy w/strides
Tuesday - 6 miles hills
Wednesday - Rest Day
Thursday - 4 miles with 2 miles @ MP
Friday - 6 miles easy
Saturday - 15 miles LSD
Total for the week - 36 miles

Week 13 is when the rubber really meets the road!!

Sunday - Rest Day
Monday - 5 miles easy w/strides
Tuesday - Yasso 800s (10 miles total)
Wednesday - Rest Day
Thursday - 6 miles easy
Friday - 5 miles easy
Saturday - 22 miles LSD

Total for the week - 48 miles

And finally, Week 16 - Marathon Week!

Monday - Rest Day
Tuesday - 5 miles w/3 miles tempo
Wednesday - Rest Day
Thursday - 5 miles easy
Friday - Rest Day
Saturday - 3 miles easy
Sunday - Race Day!

Total for the week - 39 miles