sounds about right…
Mr. Dawn went with me to my classroom today. First day back is tomorrow. With a whole new set of classes that I’m teaching this semester I had a lot of work to do. Midway through stapling and three-hole punching this semester’s assignment tables he pointed out that they were ALL labeled “January 2010.” Awesome.
His suggestion was to “walk them through an exercise in crossing out the zero and making it a one.” His next idea? I could also incorporate the collating and stapling into the same exercise….sounds like fun huh?
Seriously this seems to be the theme of my life. I feel like I’m about a year behind on everything. I had a fantastic break full of fun, family, and festivities. Literally every day could be an entire post all to itself. Not sure if I’ll get around to that… I did not run as much as I had hoped, but very early on I decided to embrace that and just roll with the punches as far as exercising went.
Meanwhile, midstream, I decided to change training plans. Yes, we are 15 weeks away from the marathon. No this is not ideal.
You know that whole new set of classes I mentioned? Yes. My life has changed pretty dramatically in the last three weeks. As in moved to a different building on campus, added three different classes to my prep and will be working more hours. I decided that my previous schedule with it’s 45-60 miles a week just wasn’t going to work. I needed something that had more flexibility. I am going to take this training seriously, but I won’t be able to have the singular focus that I have in the past. After reading about Keri’s experience with the training plan from “Run Less Run Faster” I decided to pick up the book and take a look for myself. Immediately I was in love! I seriously think that this plan was written specifically for me.
The general idea: run three days a week one long, one tempo, and one speed, then crosstrain two days. AMAZING! I LOVE LOVE LOVE to crosstrain and always do it even when my plans don’t call for it. Today when I was typing out the workouts into a spreadsheet I got really excited about the speed work and a little intimidated by the tempos. Looks like it will challenge me without overwhelming me.
Yes, I will miss my high(er) mileage weeks, but I know that this is right for me.
I love this book and the training plan – I have used it for the last three training cycles and am using it again for Fargo. Good choice! Good luck with all the new classes tomorrow.
Sorry you are so overtaken with new classes. That is hard!
I am really excited for your new training and can’t wait to see how it shapes up for you. I know you will do great with it, especially since you are so dedicated to the XT- which I AM NOT. (ha ha). Now that I am following Keri’s blog too, i can see that she gives some good credit towards the book.
Glad you are back!
Happy New Year!!!
I need to read this book! I keep thinking I’m going to but never seem to have time to get around to it! I’m glad you’ve found a plan that you feel so good about! I think finding the perfect plan is more stressful than the training!! You are great with the crosstraining. I’m not the best with that. Perhaps something to work on for me in 2011. Can’t wait to see how it goes for you!
Thanks for sharing your plan!! This sounds like a PERFECT plan for someone that is being pulled in several directions!
I think I know my next purchase in prep for my 5/14 marathon!
Good luck with your courses this week and semester!
Read the book, loved it! Haven’t been disciplined enough to follow it. My friend Jon uses this plan and he BQ (3:09) last year
just one thing to ask: how many preps do you have? if you add three more (?)
OH MAN!!! I WANT THAT BOOK!! That sounds ideal! I really do well when I have variety and a schedule. I love to bike too, and always feel like I have to make a sacrifice so I can run. Any chance you’d share your spreadsheet with us??
Nellie
http://midlifecruiser.blogspot.com
So glad you found this book! Hope it works out for you!! yay! Thinking of you this week as you return to work!
Have a good day back. I’ve heard good things about those plans too – good luck with it!
I have heard so much about this book. Will definitely have to check it out! Good for you for realizing the other training plan was too much with all the stuff you had going on. Good luck!!
this is the plan that nicole used last time!! We really do need to meet up sometime when life slows down (as if that will ever happen, right:) Good luck with your new routine and class!
Please let me know what you think of the book! I’ve been hearing a lot of good reviews and I could use a good read!
im interested to see how this works for you. i tried it for long beach but it wasnt enough running to keep me ontop of things. i got lazy easier with this plan than i did with hal’s. i’m excited to try pfitz!
Part of good training is knowing when to switch it up, so ideal or not it’s for the best. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this plan!
Sounds like we had very similar experiences with training (or lack thereof
) over the holidays. But you seem to have a really good attitude about it, which is great!
Good luck with the Run Less, Run Faster approach. I’ve heard a lot of great things about it and think it can be ideal when you have a busy schedule. I’ve thought about trying, but I have a hard time giving up some of my runs. My solution has just been to be more flexible, and cross train when I want to. Looking forward to following your training and seeing what you think of it!!
(Also, I think you’ll be fine changing plan 15 weeks out…still plenty of time!
)
Oooooooooo I can not wait to see how this plan works for you. Spike just picked up the book and I’ve been perusing it here and there and I think I want to try it for my next marathon endeavor after Cleveland (which will hopefully be Boston 2012). Best of luck on the plan!!!