My next training cycle is finally here! On April 26th, I’ll be running the Pro Football Hall of Fame Half Marathon. Many of the Medina Road Runners ran it last year, and after hearing great things, I put it on my schedule for 2015. I’m mostly looking forward to the race for the challenge. This won’t be an easy course, it has plenty of hills. But I want to challenge myself more this year, I want to push myself past my comfort zone.

I’ve learned a lot about my running over the past year. Last year I was in the best shape of my life, hitting the distance and times I didn’t think were possible. But something I noticed through my training plans was that I peaked at 14 weeks. During the Medina Half training, I ran sub 2:00 in Cleveland, at 14 weeks. Then during marathon training, I ran a 2:01, my second fastest half at River Run, again at 14 weeks. Coincidence? I don’t think so, which is why this time, my training cycle will be 14 weeks with one week of taper. And although I’ve used the regular 16 week training cycle since my first half, I think I know my body well enough that this is the right decision.

As always, I have things I want to focus on while training, whether it be running based or health based.

• Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night on weekdays, preferably 8
• Eat some sort of fruit and vegetable every day
• No alcohol on weekdays except for special occasions
• Core, core, core!

Here’s my training plan for the next 14 weeks. I’ve accounted for races that I plan to run, as well as the run streak. There are a few things to note.

• What is considered a rest day will be one mile to keep up the run streak.
• Thursday’s distance may increase due to whatever is scheduled for Second Sole run group.
• PiYo is listed, but I’m not 100% committed to the class. I may substitute for yoga or pilates videos.
• The second week of training I’ll be in Toronto, this could change the schedule based on time and facilities available to me.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Week 1	1 Mile	Speed-4.5, W/U, 6×400, C/D	1 Mile	Tempo 4	1 Mile	Long Run 7	Easy 3
Week 2	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-5, W/U, 4×800, C/D	Easy 3	Tempo 4.5	1 Mile	Long Run 8	Easy 3
Week 3	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-5, W/U, 3×1600, C/D	Easy 4	Tempo 4	1 Mile	Long Run 9	Easy 3
Week 4	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-6, W/U, Ladder, C/D	Easy 3	Tempo 4.5	1 Mile	Easy 6	Easy 3
Week 5	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed- 5, W/U, 8×400, C/D	Easy 3	Tempo 5	1 Mile	Long Run 10	Easy 3
Week 6	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-5.5, W/U, 5×800, C/D	Easy 3	Tempo 5.5	1 Mile	Flirt with Dirk 10k+5	Easy 3
Week 7	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-5 W/U, 6×400, C/D	Easy 4	Tempo 4	1 Mile	Long Run 11	Easy 3
Week 8	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-4.5, W/U, 6×400, C/D	Easy 3	Tempo 5	1 Mile	Long Run 12	Easy 4
Week 9	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-5, W/U, 4×800, C/D	Easy 4	Tempo 4.5	1 Mile	St. Malachi 5 Miler	Shamrock 5k
Week 10	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-5, W/U, 3×1600, C/D	Easy 4	Tempo 4.5	1 Mile	Super Saturday 5k	Spring TRAINing 10 Miler
Week 11	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-6, W/U, Ladder, C/D	Easy 3	Tempo 4	1 Mile	Long Run 12	Easy 3
Week 12	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed- 5, W/U, 8×400, C/D	Easy 4	Tempo 5	1 Mile	Easy 3	Towpath 13.1
Week 13	PiYo + 1 Mile	Speed-5.5, W/U, 5×800, C/D	Easy 3	Tempo 5	1 Mile	Earthday 5k	Easy 6
Week 14	PiYo + 1 Mile	Easy 3	Easy 2	Easy 3	1 Mile	1 Mile	Canton 13.1

 

Just under 14 weeks to go!