Marathon Training - Feeling pretty Dopey in both great and awful ways lol (Patreon)

Getting sick during a training cycle is no joke. I was lucky during the first half of the year that I avoided anything major, but late August/September hit me like a ton of bricks: - Achilles Tendonitis reflare (it's a chronic issue, so I know when it's bad enough to keep me from running lest I hurt it even more - and it was that - Sinus Infection/Bad head cold/Who knows could have been COVID but I don't think so but whatever it was I was down for the count- Food poisoning right after I started feeling better

It was a triple threat, and other than a few 3 mile runs, took me out from the end of August through the 3rd week of September, nearly a month with only very minor training. Right in the middle of my marathon training cycle.

So - let's see what it looks like to get back on track after that. I use the Galloway method, pretty much exactly as it appears here with plenty of additions. My week generally looks like: M & W - 45m Peloton, Arms, AbsTue & Thu - 45 minute runs - Tue is Zone 2, Thurs is either Hill work (like it is this week, yay?) or a Magic Mile (middle of my workout I try to run a mile faster than I did the last time I attempted it) - also leg day post runFri - Rest yayWeekend - Long run

The last long run I had done was a abbreviated 9 miler - I should be up to 18 by now, but = off track, as above. Here's what my mods look like, accounting for the following: - Need to increase mileage without doing so too quickly and risking injury- Cardio is terrible - i've always had this problem even with roller derby bolstering my fitness :P And here's what changed, in detail. You can see how it ramps up differently. There's other changes too, but it's really just hitting the weights harder than I had been before. Let meknow if this was helpful and/or interesting - happy to keep posting more detailed running insights! TL;dr - Long runs build back up gradually, I added an easy 3 miles most Sundays, Tuesday runs increase to 55 minutes, and for Wine & Dine I'm doing the 10K and half. Here's every running change (was → now):

October

Thu Oct 1: Magic Mile → 45 min easy run (Magic Mile postponed)

Sat Oct 3: 3 mi long run → 5 mi long run

Sun Oct 4: nothing → 3 mi easy

Sat Oct 10: 5.5 mi walk → 4 mi walk

Sun Oct 11: 15 mi race sim → 8 mi race sim

Tue Oct 13: 45 min run → 50 min easy run

Sat Oct 17: 4–6 mi long run → 5 mi long run

Sun Oct 18: nothing → 3 mi easy

Thu Oct 22: Wine & Dine 5K → 45 min easy run (5K dropped)

Fri Oct 23: Wine & Dine 10K → rest (travel and expo)

Sat Oct 24: Wine & Dine Half → Wine & Dine 10K

Sun Oct 25: nothing → Wine & Dine Half

Tue Oct 27: 45 min run → 45 min easy recovery run

Sat Oct 31: 4–6 mi long run → 6 mi long run

November

Sun Nov 1: nothing → 3 mi easy

Sat Nov 7: 8.5 mi walk → 6 mi walk

Sun Nov 8: 20 mi race sim → 17 mi race sim

Tue Nov 10: 45 min run → 55 min easy run

Sat Nov 14: 4–6 mi long run → 8 mi long run

Sun Nov 15: nothing → 3 mi easy

Tue Nov 17: 45 min run → 55 min easy run

Wed Nov 18: Dopey sim day 1 (4 mi walk) → no run (Peloton)

Thu Nov 19: Dopey sim day 2 (23 mi) → 45 min hills

Sat Nov 21: nothing → 6 mi long run

Sun Nov 22: nothing → 3 mi easy

Wed Nov 25: no run → Dopey sim day 1: 45 min run

Thu Nov 26: 4 mi → Dopey sim day 2: 5 mi 🦃

Fri Nov 27: 10 mi → Dopey sim day 3: 10 mi

Sat Nov 28: 20 mi → Dopey sim day 4: 20 mi

Sun Nov 29: nothing → rest or easy walk

December & January

Tue Dec 1: 45 min run → 55 min easy run

Sat Dec 5: 4–6 mi long run → 6 mi long run

Sun Dec 6: nothing → 3 mi easy

Tue Dec 22: 45 min run → 55 min easy run

Sat Dec 26: 4–6 mi long run → 5 mi long run

Sun Dec 27: nothing → 3 mi easy

Tue Dec 29: 45 min run → 40 min easy run (taper)

Thu Dec 31: 45 min hills → 30 min easy run (taper)

Sat Jan 2: 4–6 mi long run → 4 mi easy (taper)

Sun Jan 3: nothing → 2–3 mi shakeout