A Calgary Marathon Training Cycle Breakdown

When you start at 18 week training cycle it feels as though race day will never come.  Then all of a sudden, the final few weeks arrive, time seems to go into hyperdrive and suddenly race day is upon you, ready or not.  The big dance is one week away!  Here’s how the past 18 weeks have gone.  

VDOT Summary (what is VDOT):

Beginning of cycle: 43

End of cycle: 45.5

I’m pleased with that progess!  I didn’t expect to gain much fitness over the marathon cycle as my hope was to mostly take my fitness level from January and expand it out over the upcoming 42.2km race.  

Aches and Pains:

My body has held up nicely this training cycle.  Yay!  I had a bit of a plantar fasciitis flare as well as some tight calves early on.  I babied my feet for a bit by wearing shoes all the time (from morning to night, even in the house) which almost always resolves the issue and was successful this time too.  I’ve also struggled with some glute discomfort in my long runs.  I’ve been doing my glute exercises to try and combat it but it’s definitely a concern for me come race day.  The better my form is the less it bothers me, so there’s that big piece to work on which is always difficult in the late stages of a race for me.  Here’s hoping a solid taper helps that out!  

Jack Daniels Training Plan (2Q):

If nothing else, this training plan gives me a big mental boost going into race day.  Almost every week there are 2 big workouts.  I head into these workouts mostly recovered and mentally ready to go as I will have had 2-3 easy days of running leading into it.  So, heavy workload for sure, but only on two days.  This is my dream plan both mentally and physically.  Another big perk to this plans?? It, knock on wood, keeps me from injuring myself.  I used to get injured a LOT and since getting on Jack Daniels plans I am held back when necessary and letting myself rip on the tough workout days.  There is a very specific amount of “work” allowed at each intensity during each week and this seems to be a great balance for gaining fitness without beating myself into the ground.  The final point; the taper isn’t too aggressive which I like.  

One Week Until Race Day - How Do I feel?

As was stated in my last blog post, cue panic, nerves and lots of excitement. The panic and nervousness come from the anticipation of the pain for me.  The marathon will be hard. It will require not only physical strength, but mental strength to stay focused when my legs are screaming at me.  I know it will require me to dig deep and suffer and for some that anticipation is filled with excitement.  But I’m a wimp, so for me it’s mostly accompanied with nerves.  On the other hand there is legit excitement.  I love race day!  It’s the party.  The dance.  The energy on race morning is enough to bring tears to my eyes.  Every time.  Each race I take the time to look around and acknowledge that every person standing there has worked towards this one goal. They have trained for months just to start the race that day and hopefully get to cross that finish line.  I’m in awe of the fact that there will be people crossing that line in under 2hrs and 30min and there will be people out on the course for 6hrs.  We will all suffer.  We will all dig deep.  And we’re all in it together.  It’s these thoughts, moments before the gun goes off, that fill me with gratitude, love and joy. 

Based on my fitness over the past month, I’m feeling as though sub 3:30 is within reach.  While I’m not on board with setting a race goal at the start of a training cycle (see previous marathon blog post), I do buy into having a time goal close to race day to help with race strategy. This sub 3:30 goal will be tough. It will not be handed to me, as it never is in a marathon.  I will have to earn it.  I will also fully acknowledge that there are many, many factors that could go sideways, some in my control and some that are not.  No matter what, I will show up ready to work on race day.  

Looking forward to race day and seeing lots of local runners who participate in this race.  Good luck to racers of all distances at the Calgary and Ottawa Marathon Weekends!