A scheduling nightmare

Planning a training schedule is like doing a math exam – both of which I did NOT enjoy. For previous trainings, I’ve relied on the Running Room or my Running Guru to plan my schedule. I’ve never had to do it on my own, until now. Because I won’t be joining the Running Room clinic this time around, as it conflicted with my pilates, and because my guru retired, I was forced to plan my own schedule. And because I wanted to change my training a bit from the Running Room’s I couldn’t just pull out a generic training template. So, today at lunch, I hunkered down with four months worth of calendar and a pencil and started scribbling and erasing away: LSD Run. Pilates. Trainer. Skipping. Tempo Run. Pilates. Skipping. Recovery Run. Trainer. Etc. Etc. My head was spinning by the end of it.

But I came out with a plan, sort of, and some revelations. First of all, with all this cross training, I’m not going to have a life. Second of all, where do I fit in a break day? With the Running Room, you always had at least two days off, but with all my cross training, there’s no time for a day off. So dear runners, I need some advice: How many days do you train before shutting it all down for a day? 7? 14? 21?

Also, I’m looking for an alternative to the track and possibly to speed training altogether. Almost every speed training segment I’ve done has caused me injury, IT band, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, etc. And I’m sure it’s because I have no means of control when I’m giving her on the track. I’ve tried to control my body, but it doesn’t listen. So rather than risk injury again, I want to do something different. I’ve already started to incorporate skipping into my regime, but is there something else I could/should be doing?

And with regards to the bike trainer, I’m not sure how long I should be going on the sucker for. I’ve never ridden on the trainer (tomorrow will change that) so I have no clue how mind numbing it will be. So, how long do I schedule myself on the trainer for without wanting to poke my eyes out from sheer boredom?

Once my calendar sheets were all filled out, I was able to nail down when and where I could incorporate a half marathon race into the schedule: May 15, Toronto – two weeks before Marathon Day. Mario and I have been wanting to go back to  Onterrible to visit with his moms, but we weren’t sure how exactly to fit the visit in with my training. When I saw a half marathon on May 15 in Toronto and saw on my calendar that I’m scheduled for 23 km that day, well, 1 km warm up + 21 km race + 1 km cool down = Kismet.

TONIGHT’S RUN:

  • 7:30 p.m. BG before: 6.9 (granola bar, no bolus)
  • Temp basal: -50 per cent
  • Distance: 3.5 km
  • Time: 22 minutes
  • 8 p.m. BG after: 6.7

Mario and I were really hoping to have Winter Wonderland kind of run, as the weather peeps were hyping up a major snowfall for this evening, which was supposed to start late this afternoon. I’m not a fan of the snow generally, but when it first starts falling and there’s just a light dusting on the ground, where no dog or slush has yet had a chance to ugly it up, it is quite beautiful. But alas, all we got was preparatory blue salt.

3 thoughts on “A scheduling nightmare”

  1. Hey katie, I would never go more than 6 days without a complete rest day. Maybe you can get around it ironman styles-2 sessions in one day such as a run in the morning and pilates in the evening? 🙂

  2. Hilary nailed it sometimes you have to double up :o)
    Every fourth week should be lower volume for recovery. As for the running thing I am currently following my 1/2 iron plan and just doing the running portion. There are no hills and no block of speed work; however, intervals are built into most of the runs. For example a typical 1 hour run is 15 min warm up with 2-3 one mile intervals at threshold pace with 5 min recovery between intervals. With the remainder (as we feel) and then 5 min cool down. Every 4 weeks we do a 5k time trial to adjust our paces. Today was test day hahaha. We are doing the chilly chase sunday so it’ll be a 10k test I guess. 1:06 is my 10k personal best so I am interested to see what happens sunday. Oh and we don’t get walk breaks. Kim carries a stick to be sure I keep going……not really she would have to be behind me for that to work.

  3. I spent a week before Christmas writing up my marathon training plan so I know the feeling! But I think having it all down on paper makes it look easier somehow. I like at least one rest day a week (last year I did two, this year is just one) but I think it is what ever feels good for you. I like to think my training isn’t set in stone, so I can give it a try and make changes as I go.

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