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Marathon Diary: My Marathon Training Program

Experts say that if you want to achieve something, write it down on paper. I live by that—and I swear by it. I even take it one step further by detailing exactly how I’ll go about to achieving that goal.  (I know a lot of you runners do the same.)

When it comes to running, I am just as anal. As soon as I commit to a running goal, I pore over various training programs and choose one that’s best for me at that particular time.

When I started running in 2006, my first goal was to run 5k in Pinay in Action. I downloaded Runner’s World 8-week program and followed it to the letter. (Beginners, click here to download the same program I used, same program I printed out for hubby when he was starting.)

This time, for the Singapore Marathon, I pored over various Marathon Training programs:

Jeff Galloway – run/walk program, best for beginners
Hal Higdon – various marathon programs to choose from novice, intermediate, advanced, best you read his book
Smart Coach – personalized program
F.I.R.S.T. (Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training) – 3x a week running program

And, after all the research, the winner for me was F.I.R.S.T. Why?  The program recommends three high-quality runs each week—intervals, tempo, and long run—leaving me with enough time for strength training, stretching, massage, cross training, and most importantly, it allows me to have a life outside of running (in case you forgot, I’m a wife, mom, and entrepreneur, too!)

Blog_MarathonProgram
– My program on Excel Spreadsheet. Good thing Jun (Solemates) created a template so I just typed my numbers in! hah! - 

I didn’t follow it to the letter.  I made a few adjustments for the program to work with my schedule and a friend had to make major revisions when I did my accidental marathon at QCIM a few weeks ago (whooops!), but I’ve followed the three mandatory runs as much as possible, no matter how I feel that day.  I always cringe when I think of the intervals on Tuesdays, I dread the tempo runs on Thursdays, and I am always giddy like a school girl on Sundays when I get to do my favorite long runs. Crossing my fingers that it’ll help me reach my goal on marathon day!

Posted on 11.11.09 to 05 Training. Tags: . Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 11 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

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11 Responses to “Marathon Diary: My Marathon Training Program”

  1. Hi there. After reading your post, I’m thinking of giving FIRST a try. I’ve done Smart Coach for both marathons with acceptable results but maybe it’s time to change it up a bit. At first glance (Don printed out his program), I couldn’t figure it out. But nice idea with the template. I’ll ask Don to make me one.
    Good luck in Singapore!

    Dorothy said on Nov 11 09 at 1:09 PM Reply

  2. Wow! that is awesome… i am your avid fan TBR. hope to meet you in person. just created my own page today at wordpress. can i add you to the blogroll?

    teresa g ybanez said on Nov 11 09 at 2:42 PM Reply

  3. good luck as always jaymie. ;)

    vimz said on Nov 11 09 at 5:22 PM Reply

  4. Wishing you all the best, Bull Runner. I hope I’ll be writing about preparing for a full marathon sometime soon.

    Namaste.

    Leland Pasion said on Nov 11 09 at 9:05 PM Reply

  5. Good luck and hope to see you on race day, im also running the fullM :)

    TRF said on Nov 11 09 at 9:08 PM Reply

  6. my friend and i are also following the FIRST program for our training for Singapore marathon. It was recommended by my wife’s uncle who’s training for the Honolulu marathon.

    God bless in Singapore! no doubt you’ll finish strong! hope we do too.. :)

    sherwin said on Nov 12 09 at 12:03 AM Reply

  7. I’m planning to use the FIRST program for my first marathon. Just wondering if I will follow the 5-32k runs recommended. Did you follow the 5-32k runs in the FIRST program? This is the most aggressive long run program I’ve seen.

    atty-in-the-run said on Nov 12 09 at 1:59 PM Reply

  8. Nice. I swear by FIRST as well! Even my coach “endorses” and uses it. Their detailed programs and target times are great benchmarks for training.

    Good luck in Singapore!

    Raoul said on Nov 12 09 at 11:10 PM Reply

  9. good luck sa upcoming marathon natin :)

    ibetlacbay said on Nov 13 09 at 1:02 AM Reply

  10. Good Luck in Singapore Marathon Jaymie!!! Was nice seeing you at Timex :)

    Ani de Leon said on Nov 18 09 at 10:52 PM Reply

  11. I dreaded the interval trainings too.
    Hope to see u in SIN! And let me know if you want to hit up Racers Toolbox – guys who gave me my training program for NYC.

    Andrea said on Nov 23 09 at 2:54 PM Reply

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