Sooo...what do you do when you aren't in training?

[runaways]

I've been in marathon training for 7 months now and seen some ridiculous awesome improvements, and I don't want to just lose them all. But I also am not going to be able to train for another big race for quite a while. So, do you have a normal week schedule you follow? Weekly mileage goals? Just wing it? I want to have some kind of a plan in place so I don't just quit for lack of a goal.

[joenali]

I think it's important to spend several weeks not having a training plan and doing things you don't normally do. Swim, ski, snowboard, bike etc. especially if you have been on a plan for 7 months.

Then start planning what you want to do next and then when the plan calls for you start again, you are ready!

[joenali]

You want to be refreshed when you start again, not dread it.

[enfuego23]

I try to keep weekly mileage to 25 miles a week, sometimes more and sometimes less:) Sleep in, do other activities you enjoy, go out on date nights, try some new restaurants - that's what I did when I was burned out on training.

[ebeth]

Not much if the past 3ish months is any indication. I don't recommend that though.

In a perfect world I would have spent the last three months running less and faster to get some speed back, race a couple 5k, lift regularly, and try to drop some lbs.

[jchokie79]

Whatever you do, just don't do what I did which is NOTHING! I completely fell off the wagon and didn't run for two months. Building my base back up again for a Spring Half and I'm paying for it now!!

[al320]

Im lost when im not in training. I hate it. I dont get burnt out from training back to back, i fall apart when im not training.

So yeah, im a wreck when im not in training, and i just try to keep to some sort of schedule, but i get anxious and i hate it! Im no help, im a weirdo.

[clseale]

I plan on trying to do a combo of enfuego23 's plan, and ebeth 's "what I should have done" plan. 

[skwcm80]

I finished training for a half back in October, and I just officially started training for next half in April. In the last 3 months I've kept mileage in the high teens, I was hoping to keep my longs runs at about 10 miles, but I failed.

[jordylee]

Jan 12, 2014 18:07:50 GMT -5 al320 said:

Im lost when im not in training. I hate it. I dont get burnt out from training back to back, i fall apart when im not training.

So yeah, im a wreck when im not in training, and i just try to keep to some sort of schedule, but i get anxious and i hate it! Im no help, im a weirdo.

Exactly this.

[runaways]

Yeah I am thinking I'll shoot for 25-30 miles/week with some good strength training 2x/week. I'd also like to drop a few pounds. I'm just feeling very lost without the prospect of another marathon for a couple years at least.

joenali, I've got a half 3 weeks after the marathon and then I'm definitely planning to take a week or two completely off from any scheduled workouts.

[texassmith]

Well I think being done with training calls for a Houston GTG!

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

[runaways]

Jan 12, 2014 20:46:26 GMT -5 texassmith said:

Well I think being done with training calls for a Houston GTG!

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

I completely agree. If by "Houston GTG" you also mean "lots of drinks". Which I think is probably a safe assumption.

PS I really hope that this little front comes in a day late; it would make race day so much more pleasant.

[cinco]

Jan 12, 2014 20:52:33 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

I get pregnant.




j/k ... sort of :?

Seriously LOL. B/c it was true for me

I plan to switch a day of running for spin, and lengthen my strength routines. I enjoy the 25-30 mpw range. But I have about 3 more months so it may not be a good thing that I'm looking that far ahead.

[chitownbelle]

Jan 12, 2014 20:52:33 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

I get pregnant.




j/k ... sort of :?

Hahahaah!! 

This is what I'm TRYING to do!! 


I frequent the Stairmill and rower, and run on the treadmill, and do lots of stretching and weights.  I need to get back into classes, since I am running out of motivation to strength train effectively on my own.  I've picked running back up the past couple of weeks and will shoot for 15-20mi a week just for maintenance.  It's nice to get out and run and realize I can still handle a faster pace, but my body pays for it after.

[emuni04]

Jan 12, 2014 20:52:33 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

I get pregnant.




j/k ... sort of :?

LOL. That's my plan, too.

But I think PP's responses are excellent. Trying new activities while maintaining some mileage seems like a good way to go.

[shauni27]

Well since I started my relationship with running in 2010, I was training for something always until this past June. And so this summer and fall I wasn't training and I slowed way down, did more weights, ran only 10-15 miles a week, added spinning, etc. It was GREAT, but at the same time, I felt REALLY ready to start training again hard for this half marathon.