Choosing My Summer Training Plan

I’ve been running (or not running) without any schedule for the past few weeks.  I’m ready to start running regularly again and for me, that means following a training plan.  Without the structure of scheduled workouts, I find excuses to sleep in or do a lot of short, easy paced runs.

I had a few things in mind as I considered training plan options.

• Adaptability.  I planned on playing field hockey this summer and running more races.  I wanted a plan that might accommodate both of those activities.
• Speedwork.  I neglected interval and tempo training for the past year as I’ve done back-to-back marathon training cycles.  I wanted a plan that had some fast workouts every week.
• Long Runs.  I guessed I would want to start marathon training in early August.  I wanted a plan that had a few long runs over 14 miles so I could maintain endurance over the summer.

Daniels’ Running Formula, 2d Edition.  (Amazon.  There’s also a 3d edition).  The 5K to 15K training plan in this book is one of the first training plans I followed as a new runner.  I really like the interval workouts – there are short and long repeats as well as traditional tempo runs.   The Daniels plan is 24 weeks, which is more time than I have, but I could always start mid-way through.  Since he doesn’t give daily mileage guidance, the plan is very adaptable.  I could tailor a program around the three quality workouts he describes each week and make my long runs the distance I want.

Run Faster by Brad Hudson and Matt Fitzgerald.  (Amazon).  One of the things I like most about this book is that it attempts to teach new runners how to become their own coach.  The plans are pretty adaptable in that as you become more knowledgeable about your response to the training, you’re supposed to change the workouts.  However, I think it might be difficult to substitute workouts for cross-training and races.  The 10K Level 3 is 14 weeks long and peaks at 62 miles in Week 12.  The long runs are in the 12-14 mile range.  There’s an interesting mix of speedwork in the plan but the workouts are mostly short intervals and tempos.

Hansons Coaching Services.  (Website).  I’m very interested in the Hanson plans. I’ve integrated some concepts into my previous marathon training plans – like doing more marathon paced workouts –  but I haven’t followed it exactly.  The website only gives a week’s worth of details on the training plans, so I purchased the Advanced 10K plan for $14.99.  It peaks at 60+ miles in Weeks 8 and 10.  It’s 13 weeks long and features two “tune up” races before the goal race.  The long runs are mostly in the 12-14 mile range with a few 16 milers.  The plans don’t provide any information on how the coaches would advise making adjustments, but there are races in the schedule, so it might be easy to figure out.

And the winner is…  Hansons.  Daniels probably has more of the things I’m looking for but after looking at some of the workouts, I thought the speedwork might be too much for me right now.  And, based on my race result today (more on that later), I’m dropping the Alexandria Running Festival Half Marathon from my racing schedule next week.  I need some rest.