I’m heading for the hills of Kentucky and West Virginia this June for the Hatfield-McCoy Double Half Marathon. The races take runners through the historic sites following the Hatfield-McCoy feud in Goody, Kentucky and Matewan, West Virginia.
Because the halves are back-to-back, I’ve decided to do a full marathon training program. It’s an 18-week program, which means week 1 started last week. It totally snuck up on me. Wintry weather here in the DC area + car issues made it difficult to get most of my runs in this week.
So yeah. Basically, I am off to a great start so far…
No worries though. I have 17 more weeks to try and redeem myself.
I’m going with another one of Hal Higdon’s training schedules — a slightly easier version than the one I did last summer for the Marine Corps Marathon.
My training goals for this season:
1. Cross-train — ahh my favorite (not). This was an area I failed in last training season. I was either too busy or too lazy to do anything other than run. My goal this time around is to cross-train at least once a week. I’m planning on trying out new machines at the gym… new machines like the elliptical (which I have never in my life used) and that stationary bike thing. People say those are good cross-training activities. This will be good.
2. Incorporate hill workouts into training — The Hatfield-McCoy is a bit hilly. I don’t want my legs to die on me. So… hill workouts. Also, I’m running in San Francisco in July. No further explanation needed.
3. Complete at least 3/4 (if not all) of the total weekly miles scheduled — Getting all of the mid-week runs in can be tough, especially when the mileage is higher. This plan has slightly lower weekly mileage totals, so I’m hoping it won’t be as much of butt-kicker as last time.
As for race goals, I’m aiming to finish each half in 2:25 (or less, obvi). That’s almost 10 minutes slower than my PR, but given the tough course and likely the heat (the race is in June), I think 2:25 for each half is a challenging and realistic goal (for me).
So, here’s how Week 1 of training (Feb. 8-14) went:
Monday, Feb. 8 – nothing
Tuesday, Feb. 9 — nothing at all
Wednesday, Feb. 10 — 6 miles on the treadmill
Thursday, Feb. 11 — I had plans to go to the gym after work, but my car died on me 😦
Friday, Feb. 12 — nothing
Saturday, Feb. 13 — super windy day. no runs outside. no runs at the gym, because no car…
Sunday, Feb. 14 — 4 miles in 12-degree weather (see image above). I was cold for the rest of the day (BUT I RAN!)
Total miles for the week: 10
Total miles for 2016: 83
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And I leave you with 13 phases of training for a marathon… I am currently feeling phase 2.
Phase 1: You. Are. So. Pumped.
Phase 2: The commitment starts to sink in.
read there rest of the phases…
Happy Monday. Have an awesome week of running.
Running the States 
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