Marathon Training Program: Week 9

Week 9 of the 18 week schedule represents the half-way point in this training program.

This week was a third step-back/recovery week, following two more weeks of increasing mileage. The biggest difference from the previous week's schedule was a reduction of Sunday's long run from 17 miles to 12 miles.  I changed the distance on several of the runs slightly from the scheduled miles, the weekly total worked out the same.  I ran two extra miles Tuesday, three less  Wednesday, and one extra Sunday.

On Sunday, I ran the marathon route for my May 1 race, The Gusher Marathon, following the 13.1 mile half marathon course.  On race day, half marathoners will run the course once and full marathoners will run it twice.  I'll probably run the course again, when a similar distance next falls on my training schedule.  On race day, it shoud be an advantage to already have a feel for the course.

The next two weeks will be challenging: a 45 mile week and a 50 mile week.  Long runs increase to 19 and 20 miles!

9 weeks down, 9 weeks to go!