1.I cross T/Th and do very little cardio. 15 mins on the elliptical to warm up 30-45 of ST and 60 mins of yoga.

2. Just add what feels good. When I added my 4th day it was the same milage as the other days. Now I mix it up. 2 low milage days, 1 medium milage and 1 long.

In the summer I bike, rollerblade, walk... In the winter I just run 3-4 days/week...

When I can get in a 4th day of running I just do what I feel comfortable doing, my body tells me... usually it's a slow run though

Hey all! Just caught up on your conversations regarding marathon prep and cross training. Such good info, thank you for sharing it!

I will officially begin my first-ever Half marathon training at the end of this month. I'm extending the length of the training from 12 to 16 weeks to be sure that I can do it gradually and comfortably.

In the meantime, my focus has been on getting plenty of other forms of cardio, 1-2 runs per week, and really getting back to strength training. Lifting and doing toning work for some reason has always fallen by the wayside. So far I've been doing some really great, challenging gym classes!

Happy running,
FPSJ

i highly reccommend AGAINST this.
the training program was designed to be 12 weeks for a reason.... mileage builds in peaks and backs off having recovery weeks....there are meso cycles built iin, where you are working on specific things, and the program is designed to peak at the right moment, etc etc... Im sure there are plenty, PLENTY of 16 week, or even 18 week half marathon programs out there.
How were you planning on extending it? were you going to repeat weeks?

mkroyer-- Yes, I was planning to just do each of the first 4 weeks twice before moving on to the next.... Especially since the Hal Higdon website encourages this practice, even up to as long as 24 weeks.

I do agree with MK, however I am guilty of doing the same thing. I have a 14 week schedule that I'm working with for my 2nd HM and I added a cut back week that wasn't in there and I'm using my schedule from last year so that I have high/low options on my milage during the week (not on my long runs though) in case I'm feeling over worked or tired or whatever.

I guess I'm a little more lax about the whole thing, whether or not that's a good thing or not I don't know. But if you really want a 16 week schedule there are many many many out there to choose from to find one that acomplishes what you want. But be sure above all, to have fun!

What are the risks/downfalls of extending the schedule?

Morning!

Yesterday was NOT a good day for me, for a bunch of reasons, but after this morning's run I feel so much more optimistic. Is this that "runner's high" I keep hearing about but don't really believe in?

Although I've finished the c25k program, I went by time and not distance, so I hadn't actually run 5k before . . . until this morning! In fact, I was distracted and missed my mile marker on the trail, so I actually ran 3.4 miles this morning - my longest run yet! I did it in 38:44, which I know is pretty slow, but it was comfortable and I felt great.

If you had told me 3 months ago that I would be able to run for 38+ minutes without stopping, gasping for breath, and clutching the stitch in my side, I would never have believed you. If you had told I would choose to spend my early Saturday AM running instead of sleeping or reading or just hanging out in my jammies, I would never have believed you. What a difference 3 months makes!

I ran a 10k this morning just for the heck of it. Easier and harder than last week's half marathon. I guess with both of my previous half marathons I didn't try to kill myself upfront because I knew I had to go the distance. The 10k was more challenging because I decided to really turn up the heat and push it hard. When I crossed the 5k mark I looked at my Garmin and it said 27:05. Darn, I wish I had run only the 5k b/c that was a personal record for me. Anyway, I finished my first recorded 10k with a time of 54:02. Not great for you young girls, I know, but great for an old lady with Parkinson's Disease. I have run a lot farther than a 10k, but skipped right from a 5k to a half as far as races go.

I noticed that the people who ran this 10k were nothing to scoff at. No weekend warriors or slackers. These were a serious group of folks.

I start training for the Dallas White Rock Marathon (my first full) on August 1st. I am having a difficult time figuring out what to do in between. I have a 5k scheduled for next weekend and then nothing. I have brain surgery (again) on May 25th and need my gall bladder out somewhere in there too. I hope these two things don't completely derail my running. The full marathon is on my bucket list and by God, I will get across that finish line one way or the other. EVEN if I never complete another one, I want the bragging rights.

Sorry about the long, rambling post.

I beat myself! I ran in my second 5K race today. My only goal was to beat my first 5K time of 34:09, but when I was laying in bed this morning, I thought "wouldn't it be cool if I could run it in less than 30 minutes?" Then I thought, "Nah, not gonna happen, just stick with beating yourself." During the race, I felt like I was running faster than normal, but my Nike + was telling me my pace was slower than normal. I can't see the actual time on it; it just tells me my "current pace" and it was saying 11:30+ minute miles. I was bummed, wondering how I felt like I was running faster, how I had a cramp in my side from running faster than usual, but somehow I was running slower. Then as I got near the finish line, I gave my kids a thumbs up sign just as I noticed the clock......it was at 29:09, then I ran like heck to get to it before it changed to 30:00. Final time 29:28.5. Lesson learned, never wearing Nike+ for a race again, not accurate enough, and that can really mess with the mindset. Super fun race for Mother's Day, DJ, BBQ by the pool, and flowers for the ladies. FUN!

If you're extending at the front of your training, I'd say nothing. I think the problems are more if you were to extend it at the back, pushing your peak too far from the race or doubling up on the peak risking over training, stuff like that. But just extending the first for weeks of your schedule, especially if this is your first, shouldn't be a problem and is probably a good idea.

4 miles for me Friday and 8 today for Mother's Day. It was a beautiful sunrise run. I decided to keep it low, there are plenty of long runs in my future. I'll be hitting a new long distance in my training for my half so I'm super stoked about that. I'm also a little nervous.

I'm at 344 miles for the year. Doing the math it will be pretty difficult to break 1,000 as I'd hoped, but I'm ok with it. It will be difficult because I'm hoping to lower my milage significantly between my HM training and FM training so if the reason I'm not breaking 1,000 is because I'm prepping to run a full marthong then it's worth it!

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mommas out there!

Thanks ncuneo and mkroyer for all of the pro pointers! And great work to everyone else

My side was aching during the second mile of my 5K yesterday. I don't normally get them, so I chalked it up to a side stitch from running, thus breathing, faster than normal. The pain was not unbearable and I ran through it. It probably lasted for a half mile, then disappeared......until today. My right side is so sore today; I noticed it before I even got out of bed. I am wondering if I strained the muscle, or do side stitches normally ache the next day?

Sigh. I stepped on a nail this morning and it hurts a lot. Luckily didn't impale since I still have lightning reflexes as far as pain is concerned. Bloody mess everywhere but I should be OK in a day or two.

I've been running 2-3 miles on pavement outside about 3 times a week. I can't seem to get my "old" stamina back and I get really bored after about half an hour. I hate to think that it's because I've gained back ~6-8 lbs that I can't run as far or fast.

Easy 3 miles on the beach this morning. I think this was my first beach run since I started running - what have I been waiting for?

I finally realized what I love so much about training - being allowed to run shorter distances. I know that sounds weird, but I love a good 3 miler, sometimes it's not enough but a lot of the time it feels really good. When I do it just because I feel like I'm slacking off, but as a part of training I'm doing what I'm "supposed" to do...kinda silly mentality, but isn't that what all of this for to just feel go no mater if that's 1 mile or 12? Extreme example I know, but you get the picture.