Runners - Giving up other workouts?

[marcylt]

You running ladies were so helpful with my rain plan last week, I'm hoping you can weigh in on another running problem I'm having.

I am FINALLY beginning to really love running. I am in my last 3 weeks of half marathon training and rolling directly into marathon training for the Chicago Marathon on October 7th. And while I'm excited to finally start loving running, I hate that it's making my other two favorite workouts nearly impossible to keep up - yoga and spinning.

I'm doing yoga on all of my running off-days - so at least 2 days a week. But with running 4-5 days a week, I don't have time for spin at all and I hate having to cut my normal 4 days of yoga back to 2. Take today, for instance. I ran a 10k race yesterday, did an easy 4 miles this afternoon, and now I'm supposed to go to yoga at 5:30 and my ankles feel sore and shot from the last week.

How did you transition into high mileage? Did you have to give up your "non-running" workouts except for cross and stretch days?

[stinkerbell6879]

What about trying a training program like FIRST (Or Jeff Galloway) , which you only run 3 days, tempo, speed, long run... Then you have a chance to spin on your cross training days? I try to stick to 3 days and I like that it does not feel that ALL I do is run, becuase even though I love it, I like to make sure and stay strong in other ways.

[Bob Loblaw]

Ugh, I struggle with this. Once marathon training gets intense, I tend to neglect cross training and lifting in favor of getting mileage in. So I'm no help but I'm curious to see the responses.

[finallykrisb]

I'm a huge fan of the FIRST program. And nothing has done more for my running than crosstraining. I have no intention of sacrificing that to get my miles in.

[jillybean222]

i only run 3 days/week and i XT 1-2x as well. i'm not breaking records w/ my mileage (usually only 20, maybe 25 if i have time for a really long run). i probably couldn't run a marathon on 3 days of training/week but half marathons are not an issue at all. i love XT - i think i am a better/faster runner than i would be if i was running 5-6 days a week.

[katinthehat]

Another fan of the FIRST program here

[runblondie26]

I think spin is beneficial for runners. I always feel stronger when I'm doing it consistently, even if it's just one day a week. I totally feel you on the time crunch though.

Can you run 4 days a week, and sub an easy run with spin on the 5th?

What plan are you following? I know Hal Higdon doesn't include cross-training in his beginner/intermediate plans, but many others do.

[shelbyann]

I pretty much forego other activities when I'm running high/marathon training (50+ MPW) mileage, except for a bare minimum core/strength routine (push ups and planks in my living room). For me, personally, the only way I ever got over my plateau to a marathon PR/BQ was to run...a lot more.

I think it's very do-able to train for a marathon while maintaining another activity or two a couple of days a week, though. No, you're probably not going to make it to yoga 4X a week if you're also running 4X a week. Maybe once a week.

When you're training for a marathon (if you're doing it properly) other things have to give. Even with a very low-mileage program like the FIRST program, each of those three workouts you complete a week is quality-oriented so you're not going to want to spin your ass off or whatever the day before. (The nice thing about spinning is that you CAN take it easy if you want to - as you should be if you're using it as marathon training XT - but it can be difficult to do that in a group class setting where everyone is pushing it.)

Anyway, my advice? Think of your marathon training as a "season" during which you'll focus more on running. After it's over, you can yoga and spin to your heart's content.

(Also, if I were you, I'd consider talking a couple of weeks off of running after your half, before going in to Chicago training. If you've just completed a half I'm sure you could pick up the full plan on week 3 without any issues.)

[clseale]

Jun 5, 2012 8:22:24 GMT -5 shelbyann said:

I pretty much forego other activities when I'm running high/marathon training (50+ MPW) mileage, except for a bare minimum core/strength routine (push ups and planks in my living room). For me, personally, the only way I ever got over my plateau to a marathon PR/BQ was to run...a lot more.

I think it's very do-able to train for a marathon while maintaining another activity or two a couple of days a week, though. No, you're probably not going to make it to yoga 4X a week if you're also running 4X a week. Maybe once a week.

When you're training for a marathon (if you're doing it properly) other things have to give. Even with a very low-mileage program like the FIRST program, each of those three workouts you complete a week is quality-oriented so you're not going to want to spin your ass off or whatever the day before. (The nice thing about spinning is that you CAN take it easy if you want to - as you should be if you're using it as marathon training XT - but it can be difficult to do that in a group class setting where everyone is pushing it.)

Anyway, my advice? Think of your marathon training as a "season" during which you'll focus more on running. After it's over, you can yoga and spin to your heart's content.

(Also, if I were you, I'd consider talking a couple of weeks off of running after your half, before going in to Chicago training. If you've just completed a half I'm sure you could pick up the full plan on week 3 without any issues.)

I really can't say it any better. Ditto all of this. When marathon training, you just have to accept that things will shift. I'm another one who finally saw great improvements when I came to terms with the fact that I needed to see 45-50+ mile weeks on a more frequent basis. The improvements were shocking.

The way I handled it this past cycle (and plan on handling it in the fall when I'm hoping to hit 60mpw) is that I do a complete body workout on my X-train day. Qucik cardio warm up, squats, lunges, leg lifts, push-ups, tricep dips, bicep curls, core. On my "off" day, I do yoga. Yes, technically that's not a true rest day, but I don't take a power yoga class & I use it for the much needed stretching. 2 of my other run days, I make sure I get in more core. I run 5 days a week.

This probably isn't ideal, but it's my best attempt at balance while marathon training. When I'm logging that many miles, I can't run less than 5 days a week.