Base Training

Here is the training program you’ve been looking for: Base Training. Looking for a program to develop your base fitness before starting a marathon program? This is it.

Time to get in shape
For Novice runners–those who never have run before–this may mean getting into some semblance of shape so that they can begin my 18-week marathon training program. For those of you who have been running several years, Week 1, which is climaxed by a 6-mile long run on the weekend may not seem that tough, but it’s like Mount Everest for those who have never run before. This Base Training program will give novice runners a chance to gradually raise their fitness level so they can begin that first week of training with some chance of success.

Advanced runners often have a different problem. They’ve run a bunch of marathons and other races at different distances, and they want to improve their performances, not merely in the marathon, but in other distances they run frequently, like the 5K, 8K or 10K. These advanced schedules will tell them how to do just that, showing how to mix various forms of speedwork (interval training, tempo runs, hills, fartlek) into their training week. They also get a chance to race frequently (5 times in fact) with goal 5K and 10K races in the last few weeks.

The Intermediate runners fall somewhere in between. These are runners who probably have been running several years, may have run one or two marathons, have faithfully trained through the winter, maintaining a certain mileage base, and now they want to build on that base. They want to continue to maintain that fitness level–perhaps improve on it slightly–so they can start marathon training in better shape than before. The 12-week Intermediate schedule offers some speedwork and some racing and should provide what they want.

So here is Base Training in multiple variations. Whichever one of my programs you choose, I hope it will help you to achieve your running goals.