The Training Plan

With the training plan due to kick-off tomorrow, I thought it would good to give you a rundown of what it actually involves. I have to admit, 'kicking-off' is probably not the right phrase, as it starts with a rest day.

The plan is broken down into three week cycles which increase with intensity.  As well as various runs, building in length and pace, there are 'strength' and 'cross-training' to help build up my base level of fitness.  These will fade out towards the end of the training, with race-specific focus the key.  And of course, there are the coveted rest days.

The three weeks cycles are broken up midway, and at the end with 'race weeks'.  As well as the Droitwich half on the 2nd March, I'm also registered for the Dewsbury 10k on the 2nd February.  It's a good step along the way in my training, and means also a good chance to get used to what a race day entails - other than the inevitable hard work and pain!

At the moment, it's not the intensity of the runs that worries me - I'm doing the Parkrun at just under 8mins/mile at the moment - but the length of the runs.  I've never actually done anything over 5k, and so although we build gradually over time, and with longer runs having slower pace, it's still rather daunting.  Still, I can hardly do 13.1 miles on the back of only ever running 3.1...