My training plan calls to run for 5 days a week with two rest days. It is HARD sometimes. For me at least I have noticed that the days AFTER I rest seem to be much harder. I guess that is the opposite that you are feeling? I run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of every week and my Tuesday run is always hard, Wednesday a little easier, and Thursday USUALLY the easiest. I know my 3 mile run yesterday was VERY hard!

I agree though with the post above that as the weather cools down it becomes a lot easier!

Hey Caitlin!

I am physically okay running back to back, but what happens to me is I burn out mentally. By day 4, I’m proud. By day 5, I’m bored. It’s a bummer because after the 4 days I’m starting to feel like an awesome dedicated runner again, but it gets to me every time!

And hell yes to “at least you did it”. Any run is a good run 🙂
-Mel

I think it just takes a lot of getting used to. I run 7 days a week for the most part and hardly feel it any more. It certainly wasn’t like that at the beginning, but the more you stick it out the better it gets

I’ve been a runner for 16 years now and have always done heavy training (and was always tired and in pain). Recently had a baby so this time around I’m following the Jeff Galloway run/walk method and only run 3 times per week as per his training schedule. I feel better than I have ever trained before running 4-5 times per week!! I may not be the fastest on race day but I’ll feel good and get it done. Maybe you need to adjust your training…it’s best to get to race day healthy and not overtrained! Talk with your local running club for advice…Good luck! Enjoy your blog!

I’m doing 3-4 QUALITY runs over 5-6 QUANTITY runs for marathon training. It’s making me feel more focused and have less “bad” runs.

I usually do anywhere from 4-6 days a week depending on my schedule and how I am feeling. I think adding a 5th day for cross training would totally be worth it. Nothing intense, but doing some cycling or light spinning and yoga I think will actually benefit you more than wear you down. I find that works better for me than just running.

I work out 6-7 times per week, but that incorporates yoga, strength training, and other cardio besides running. I only run 3-4 times per week. I’ve listened to my body and find that my knees and hips can’t handle repeated days of running. It’s still possible to train though, I just had a huge PR in a 10K while only running 3 times per week (one 6 miler, two 3 milers per week).

I always thought I had to push through the pain, but listening to what your body is telling you is really important and it won’t hurt your training I don’t think.

Dry heaving definitely sounds like your body telling you something!

Oh I agree.. it’s hard to fit 5 or 6 heavy duty workouts in anyways during a busy week, not to mention having the energy to fuel them.

I think you should do what’s best for you. Is it really necessary to train that hard? I have no idea because I’ve never ran a marathon, but if you’re exhausting yourself then that’s probably not very good.

I go to the gym about 3 or 4 days a week. On the other days I try to stay active, I run errands, I work, etc.

I’m still kind of a noob when it comes to running (just ran my first half) but I can only manage four days of running, one day of walking. Any more than that and I feel like I don’t have time to fit in everything else in my life and my legs just hurt. I say keep up the good work.

I’ve trained for and successfully completed two marathons. Both I wasn’t running more than 3 days a week, however, I was working out 6 days a week and doing cross-training. In my opinion, getting the weekly mileage in isn’t as important as building your endurance. The most important parts to marathon training is building endurance/cardio threshold and the long run. If you stick to 3 runs a week and add in a XT day of spin I think you would still do great. Perhaps do what the other person suggested and alternate this every other week.

Also, mentally I think it’s imporant to not make yourself just “suck it up” with marathon training. If you’re not happy you need to modify your plan. It’s important for your mental recovery. Otherwise you will finish the marathon and while elated, physically you will just bonk and be done with running for awhile cuz you are sick of it. Make marathon training a positive experience for you (as positive as double digit long runs can be anyway) and modify your plan to what will do that.

Just my two cents 🙂

I think you could get away with 2-3 days running mid week and a long run on the weekend for your marathon. The most important part of the training plan is building the endurance for the long run. The rest of it helps but you don’t want to make this a miserable experience. During my training for my last marathon I did maybe 2 or 3 days of 4-5 mile runs, spinning/swimming/strength when I had time and stuck religiously to the long runs on the weekend to make sure I had endurance. You can do it! Don’t burn yourself out early on in the process.

I aim for 5-6 days a week running, but it usually ends up being 4-5 instead. I try not to take too many days off in a row, though.

Ouch that run does NOT sound like fun 🙁 Is it still super hot in FL? That would probably wear you out even more. I work out about 6 days a week with three of them being running days.

I usually run 7 days a week and sometimes I feel like it isn’t enough 😉

I guess I am addicted!

Hi Caitlin.

I used to work out every day! Now I look back and it seemed to really interfere with my life and I didn’t know it. I still aim for five days a week but if it doesn’t happen, that’s okay. And I stopped running because, well, I hate it. Yay for spinning!! To me, it is so much more fun than running. Also I like the communal aspect of classes.

I run either 3 or 4 days a week, per my training schedule, which mainly depends on how I’m feeling and the weather. One running day is an option between running/cross training, so I never feel like I have to go.

I definitely feel better if I have at least a day inbetween runs

I can 100% relate to what you’re feeling. Towards the middle of my marathon training I actually got a little discouraged/nervous because my shorter, “easier” runs were often anything but.

I had quite a few times where I did lower mileage than the plan said because my body was just still worn out. Especially as the long runs got into higher mileage – I found my body takes awhile to recover from those long, long distances. I tried keeping 1 strength session a week into my routine (I ran M/W/Th with the long run saturday usually), but I skimped on that a lot too because of either a lack of energy or how quickly it would make me sore. And cross-training definitely hit a back burner.

In my experience, it didn’t get any easier as the miles got higher. Actually, these past 2 weeks of tapering have been my best, quickest “short” runs in at least a month, if not more and I know it is because my legs and body are better recovered and rested.

So my opinion, if you’re feeling a bit worn down or not fully recovered, don’t be afraid to lower the planned mileage a tad. Or maybe change a speed workout to a regular “easy” run or change a run to a cross training day. I know a lot of people can handle the high mileage just fine, but my body is stubborn and wants longer recovery. 🙂

First off, your eats have been killa today! Love it!

Ans I wish I could help with the running thing, but I suggest doing what works best for you. Training schedules freak me out anyway! I don’t run, but I workout (elliptical+weights) 3 times a week and walk all over campus all the time. Throw in going out and dancing at least once a week…haha!

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I try to run every other day because otherwise I have bad runs too. You are running a lot and it is so hot in Florida-I’m sure that adds to it. Your legs need a break.

I definitely agree that running every other day is more doable. Right now I exercise 4-5 days a week, taking the weekends off most of the time, and sometimes having a “rest” day in the middle of the week if I’m feeling tired or sore. Good luck!

I wouldn’t push yourself too hard on the running front. I know marathon training is stressful and you feel pressured to run X number of miles each week, but it’s not worth it in the end when you just burn out. I aimed for 40+miles last year and ended up burning myself out so much that I took the summer of from running seriously and picked up a bunch of x-training to do instead. I just completed my third marathon this past Sunday with a time of 3:47, and that’s with no formal training plan, a lot of x-training, strength training, yoga etc. I don’t believe you need to run so many miles and drive yourself into the ground. Running should be fun and enjoyable. If you don’t want to run, spin or bike instead. As long as you are keeping up your physical fitness level, you should be fine with reduced mileage.

Ever since I got shin splints training for a half marathon and then stress fractured my foot trying to train for another, I have made a rule for myself that I will NOT run 2 days in a row. I very infrequently have “bad” runs anymore. I tend to do something about 5 days a week. Usually it’s 2 days of yoga/elliptical/strength training. I bet you could cut out that extra 3 miler and tack a mile onto your MWF runs.

excellent sammy! i love your different creations! im hooked on the hummus/sprout sammy, but just the other night i made a new one with the following:
hummus
sprouts
mashed black beans
mozzarella cheese
it makes a delicious grilled cheese! i’m not sure if i made it up or remembered it from your blog 😉
it’s been fun eating less meat and still being able to get enough protein!

in regards to your question, i work out 6 days a week and rest on sundays.
i run M-W-F and Saturday morns. then do the 100 pushup challenge routine after that (except sat).
t-th i do and hour of strength training and 15 minutes of abs.
i try to walk the doggie 3 days a week (poor thing should prob get out everyday)

anyways, i wish i knew what to tell you to do but i’ve never trained for a full marathon! maybe someday! 🙂

I ran a marathon at the end of April – I only ran 3x/week (2 x 8-10km; 1 x long run – when I got to 20km on the long runs, my distances looked like: 20, 22, 20, 24, 20, 26, 20, etc. to 38km two weeks before the race.

I strength trained 2x/week and rested the remaining two days.

Not only did I finish within my goal, I felt amazing and the next day I was ready to run the distance again!

I also only did speed work on one of the shorter runs.

Why not just swap one of your shorter runs with a bike ride? (I wouldn’t suggest spinning because it’s too intense)

And I would keep in mind that the goal for a first marathon is to finish! Don’t get stuck on the times. You want to be able to doing this for the next 20 years, not just the next two months so take care of yourself!

I aim for 6 days a week. I do one day of pilates, one day of yoga, 2 days running (even when I was training for the Army Ten Miler I did max 3 days running… it’s just too much otherwise), and 2 days strength/cross training (elliptical, walking, bike, whatever) 🙂 It works for me!

I have “good runs” and “bad runs” as well. I always try to remind my self that not all runs are “good runs,” but they all count 🙂

I work out 7 days a week, run half-marathons, and generally fun 4-5 of them (as many as it takes to hit my weekly mileage). I’ve found that splitting some of my longer mid-week runs (7-9 miles) into two runs (one before work, one after) helps with the boredom and with my schedule. Doing a variety of hills, speed, and regular runs is nice as well (especially if you have to be on the treadmill). I keep the long runs on Saturdays when I have more time to get a couple of solid hours at once!

Taking a couple of spinning classes during the week is a nice break in between runs 🙂

mmm that cucumber and cream cheese sammy look so good!!!
i try and run as often as possible… i dont mind running on sore legs but man it sucks when im too sore to run and then i do NOT run.
-muffy

I definitely hear ya on the “fresh legs” thing. I always take the day off before a race even when I was running almost every day. When I trained for my first marathon last year I was running 4-5 times a week and noticed that some days I felt awesome and other days were like the experience you just wrote about. Sadly I have no words of wisdom, I would say just power through and chalk it up to some days are just better running days then others. Love your cucumber and cream cheese sandwich by the way 🙂 And thanks for commenting on my blog.

Hey I totally agree with not wanting to run back to back! So I chose a 3runs/week schedule to train for my 1st marathon. I’m two months out till my marathon, and it’s working out great! I do once shorter but speedy run, one mid-distance slower run, and one long run. I swim and lift weights on the other 3 days. The weights help me run stronger, and the swimming… oh the swimming! It is a god-send for me. It REALLY loosens up the leg muscles after a long run. Oh, I also throw in some yoga too, for good measure. So far, this schedule allows me enough time to recover from my runs and slowly build up endurance and power. I definitely don’t think you need to suck it up and run on stale legs for the next 10 weeks. I’m convinced it can be done on three runs a week! (PS my boyfriend is only running once or twice a week for this marathon, and he’s doing fine, too!) 🙂

I am training for a marathon too, my plan calls for running 5 days a week with one cross train day and one rest day. I was following this plan unitl this week when I hit a WALL, I had to take one day off (it was yesterday) but even that was not enough I had 8 miles today and it was KILLER to the max!!!!!! I am learning from experience and asking others that marathon training plans are 2- deminsional and we only see 1: the traning side. There is also the rest and recovery side that is just as important. SO listen to the body.

Right now I am running 5 days a week and strength training 2 days a week in preperation for a 1/2 marathon. I feel like I get more out of my training with more running days but it’s all really in what works best for you!! When I worked 12 hour shifts last year, I could only get in 4 running days and that was fine also. I just prefer more running days at this point in time! Guess I’m a little addicted:)

I only run 3 or 4 times a week, but I work out about 6 times a week. I would love to run 5 or 6 times a week, but I know I’d get injured. When I was on a swim team, I swam 9 times a week (we did double practices 3 days). I love working out a lot, but I try not to do something super intense multiple days in a row.

Do you think the dry heaving had anything to do with your breakfast? I know you never run on an empty stomach but maybe the pancakes were too much?