Inside my “official” marathon training – 20 weeks to race day!
For those who have no idea what it is like to train for a marathon, all I can say is, “join the club!” Neither do I. But this past week marked 20 weeks until the NYC Marathon – a key milestone where training programs officially begin. Now, a week into my first ever marathon training program, I am filled with countless thoughts flowing through my head. I want to do my best to share it all as I go through this unfamiliar process. No matter whether I succeed or fail by the end of this program, I think we may all learn something.
Over the course of this blog, I’ve shared my thoughts, learnings, and experiences where I have developed some level of proficiency during my journey. The time I’ve put in to studying and employing various tools to improve my life has given me insight that I can confidently share with expertise in the methods, science, and application of it all. That said, when it comes to running a marathon, I have no expertise. This November will be my first one.
While I don’t have any experience running a marathon or training for one, I do have expertise in one related area. I’m an expert in failing at it – and that’s something. Over the 10 years of this journey, I tried before and realized that I was nowhere close. From that experience, I learned that the first thing I had to do was get my body where it needed to be to give it a shot. As I got back into running a year and a half ago and realized that the marathon was a possibility, in my mind I told myself that I was training for it. I ran races. I increased my distance. I increased my speed. And I completed multiple half marathons. I made easy what previously was impossible. But as this week marked the official beginning of my training program, I realized that up until now I wasn’t training for the marathon, I was training to be able to train for running the marathon.
Michael Jordan is famous for making up things to the point where he believes them to motivate himself. While not quite at his level, I realized that I do a bit of the same. Over the years I’ve told myself I’m training for a marathon. Similarly, when I climb, I tell myself I’m training to be able to be able to do big wall climbing one day. But really, I’m simply telling myself whatever motivates me. I dream of running a marathon so that motivates me to run. In climbing, I would love more than anything else in the world to summit El Capitan. In much the same way as was the case for the marathon 10 years ago, summiting El Cap is currently impossible. But sometimes the only difference between possible and impossible is the barrier we build in our minds. Sure, there are physical requirements that may be beyond our current abilities. But our mind is the space where we either limit ourselves to what we are currently able to do or imagine beyond those to what we may be achievable with enough focus, determination, and hard work. Targeting the “impossible” removes the artificial barriers we place on ourselves. That’s how I made it to today, where I am now officially training for the marathon.
To be honest, even just two weeks ago, I didn’t have much of a plan for marathon training. I knew I had to reach certain milestones with long runs throughout the next four months, and I knew that focusing on running and strength training will get me there. But I also believed that if I simply adhered to my general routine of working out most days, I’d keep getting better and would be just fine. I was confident that would be enough to finish the race, and simply crossing the finish line is my number one goal. But deep down, I also realized that I want to finish the race in the best possible time I could achieve, and I dream of finishing in less than five hours. Would I feel shattered if it takes me longer? Not a chance. I could cross the finish line in the dark with the runners in the back and fulfill my biggest dreams as long as someone is still handing out medals when I get there. But . . . if I put absolutely everything I have into this training, then no matter where I finish, I will know that I not only reached the dream of crossing the finish line, but I also will have crossed it in the shortest amount of time that I possibly could – whatever that may be.
With that realization, just a day before training began, I landed on the program I will follow. I chose to be ambitious too, as I’m skipping the beginner level and am following a plan designed for intermediate runners. At this point, 20 weeks out, I can always pivot down, but once it starts, I believe it would be unwise suddenly take a big leap up to a higher level.
Already one week in, the first thing that has occurred to me is that sticking to this plan is going to rock my world. While my workout routine to date has been a consistent one where I often workout six or seven times a week, it has often prioritized fun over substance. The most I’d ever run was three times a week, but typically, it was once or twice. I rarely decided my schedule until I woke up in the morning and determined my workout based on my WHOOP recovery score and what I felt like doing that day. If I want to go to my climbing gym for fun rather than put in any work that focuses on my body, I could do it. But I can’t do that any longer – at least not for the next four months! If it’s a long run day and I wake up in the red on my WHOOP, I’m running. If it’s a shorter run day and I want to work on climbing problems, I’m running – and only then, if I have time, will I also go climb at the gym. Yes, there will be days missed. My body will likely dictate that at some point, as will my job. But within the frame of all that’s possible, nothing that’s optional should get in the way of my program.
So, with that, here’s a little insight into how training — and recovery — has gone during the first week (the day and training plan workout are listed in bold) . . .
Sunday June 15 (20 weeks until the marathon): 30–40-minute easy pace run
8-mile run (1:25:14): My plan all along for Sunday was to do a long run, particularly since I hadn’t run since Thursday. What I hadn’t planned on until a day earlier was that I was going to be following this training plan. I realize that it is best to stick to the program, but I ran for a bit longer than it called for today, as I enjoyed Central Park early morning in a refreshing light mist (because it’s always raining this year).
Golf practice (1:30:00): Feeling good after the run, I got some practice in at the driving range – again in a light mist. I had to prepare for my first round of the golf later in the week. I haven’t played since August 3 of last summer – the longest I’ve gone without playing golf in at least 15 years. It still surprises me how I’ve set this game aside for now, but certainly with no regrets.
Contrast therapy: Recovery is a must whether I’m doing the fun stuff or the hard stuff. Having done both, this was my regular Sunday visit to Remedy Place – my happy place — where I did a routine of ice bath (1 min), sauna and stretching (24 min), ice bath (2 min), sauna (18 min), ice bath (3 min).
Monday June 16: 30-minute cardio + strength training
Strength training (40:00): I got to the gym at 6:45 AM, a bit earlier than usual, as I had to fit two workouts in. First came strength training after a five-minute warmup jumping rope. It was a legs and core day. I’ll be having significantly more of these leg days than what I am used to from my typical strength training routine, as it is part of the marathon focus. I finished this session with 40 box-jumps (4x10) on a 20” box.
Boxing (30:00): Marathon training programs can be fun too, and I particularly like the plan I chose because running is blended with cross training. Nothing feels more like training than punching a heavy bag for 30 minutes.
Sauna (14:00): My usual post-workout recovery is stretching in the sauna.
Tuesday June 17: Four to five-mile run
4-mile run (39:35): Another early morning in Central Park on a misty day, as I began a faster paced run at 6:45 AM before work.
Sauna (16:00): A post-run stretch in the sauna.
Wednesday June 18: Cross training or OFF
Strength training (35:00): This one didn’t quite go according to plan. I got to the gym at 7 AM before an early work meeting on a wet day. It wasn’t raining when I arrived, but the ground was soaked and I slipped on a metal vent in the ground, scraping my left knee on the concrete (in shorts). After getting assistance covering up the bloody wound, I got in five minutes of jump rope followed by chest and core work. Thankfully, my wounds from the fall were only on the surface, and I didn’t seriously injure anything.
Sauna (16:00): A post-workout stretch in the sauna.
Thursday June 19: Four to five-mile easy pace run
4-mile run (45:22): Despite it being a short, easy pace run, this was the day that made me really feel like I am in beast-mode. The plan was to spend the day climbing with my cousins in the Gunks, but as I said before, if it’s a short run day, I’m running. To get it all in, I woke up at 3 AM, and I didn’t wait until I got to the park to start my run. I began as soon as I left my apartment for Central Park at 4:22 AM. The day started out with a beautiful morning. The feeling of running on the empty streets and the quiet park in the dark was serene. It’s great when the park is full and it feels like the entire city is enjoying a beautiful day outside, but it’s amazing when I have the park nearly to myself – yes, I did see two others on my run. I was back home by 5 AM and ready to go climb with my family . . .
Climbing (4:30:00): Well, a beautiful day climbing was also a wet day climbing. Even when the weather forecast says you’re in the clear these days, it doesn’t seem to happen. The rocks were wet when we arrived, and we took breaks during the day to wait out periods of thunderstorms. While the rain didn’t spoil the day with my cousins and Patty in The Gunks, it did shorten it, as we called it a day when the lightening seemed to stay for good around 2 PM. Even the simplest routes were tough on the wet rock, as you can see here . . .
Friday June 20: OFF
Sauna (16:00): Notice that I missed a day of recovery on Thursday. It happens, just not often. But I woke up early to get in some stretching and heat for my body before my first round of golf this year.
Golf (4:30:00): Yes, the plan called for an off-day, and this isn’t too far from that. This was a long-planned afternoon round with one of my best friends, and it was at least a beautiful walk on a nice course despite my rusty golf game. I shot 108 and that could have happened if I had been playing all summer. The only difference is that I’m far more relaxed about it than was when I cared so much more about my golf game. I might have finally unlocked the secret to enjoying this game again – stop caring!!! Plus, it’s always nice to get my handicap up before the next round!
Saturday June 21: Six to eight-mile run
7-mile run (1:16:01): This was the first day in a long time that I just didn’t “feel” like working out. My body felt great, but this was day 14 in a row of working out, and I had the rare desire to be lazy. But as I said before, nothing that’s optional will get in the way. I got to Central Park later than normal (due to laziness and writing this blog), and it was already getting hot on this first day of summer. I had my gels and hydration vest and embarked on the long run. It only took about two minutes before I was in that zone again. I found a comfortable pace and my Zen on this beautiful day, and while it started to feel hot towards the end when the temperature hit 80, I made it through the run comfortably. What a great way to start Summer!
Acupuncture: I’ve written before that acupuncture has healed numerous injuries this past year, but as I embark on my training, I’m far more focused on preventing them. Today was a preventive acupuncture day, as I gave my knees some extra love which I plan to do once-a-month regardless of how they are feeling.
Contrast therapy: There’s no better place to complete my first full week of training than Remedy Place. I swear they should engrave my name into their contrast suite! This time my routine was sauna and stretching (22 min), ice bath (2.5 min), sauna (20 min), ice bath (3.5 min).
What I’ve learned during week one of training is essentially what I mentioned above . . . it just got real! I now know that this is what marathon training is about, but more importantly, I know that all I’ve done up to this point is the only reason I can now train for real. The start of this journey is mission accomplished for another one. There will be tough days ahead, but for the first time in my life, my body feels ready for it all.
This was among the most beastly weeks I’ve had. Early workdays – and some long-planned adventures – meant that I found some super early hours of the morning to get in my training and recovery. I look at so many of the days above, and there was a time my body could not handle any of them. But training to be able to train got me here. I feel better at the end of the week than when it started. In fact, right now as I sit here writing this, I feel better than ever. But that’s not the point of all of this. There’s 19 more weeks to go, and that simple fall before I got to the gym on Wednesday is a cold reminder that nothing is guaranteed. Nothing that is, but the fact that I’ll share it all with you as I continue this journey – the good, the bad, and the unexpected. It’s all sure to happen. LFG!
Aaron