Pfitz vs HH: Can we talk training plans?

[jordylee]

Its freaking gorgeous outside and I am stuck at work. Can we talk marathon training plans? I'm debating whether I want to make the leap to Pfitz 18/55 for a fall marathon. I've done HH novice 2 twice, and a modified intermediate plan once. I think I'm a little more nervous about the 18wks than the actual mileage. I had some burnout after my last marathon, but I've been diving back in and rebuilding my base since Feb.

Who has done both? What did you think? Right now I want to do it... but I also plan to do a spring marathon next year so I don't want to be too sick of running at the end of it.

[chw57]

I am a 12 week person. I just get waaaay too burnt out with plans longer than that. Pfitz 12/55 is my favorite. Someday I want to attempt 12/70 but that will not be for a few more years

[runaways]

Apr 11, 2014 10:24:34 GMT -5 chw57 said:

I am a 12 week person. I just get waaaay too burnt out with plans longer than that. Pfitz 12/55 is my favorite. Someday I want to attempt 12/70 but that will not be for a few more years

This was pretty much going to be my suggestion. Can you work on getting your base mileage (if it's not already there) to the point where you can just jump into the 12/55?

[cinco]

I did the 12/55 for my fall marathons and it was perfect. I wasn't ready to train before 12w out b/c I was coming back from an injury and in the process of a big move. I felt plenty prepared. I wrote my plan this cycle following Pfitz 18/55, but I often cut back on the mid week long runs (doing 10 instead of 12 is common for me) and add a easy mile or 2 to the recovery runs. I'm not a strict follower by any means, with the exception of the long runs which I like mapped out ahead of time.

[jordylee]

I hadn't really considered the 12 week plan. I don't have any real reason, other than I hadn't thought of it. I like the thought of upping my base mileage for the 4 weeks or so before the plan starts then hopping in. Maybe that would help prevent the burnout I got the last time around too... you gals are the smartest

[hannahb]

I plan on using the 12/55 for my next marathon after so many on this board have had good results from it

[mrshandy]

*Lurks in thread waiting for responses*

I've been leaning towards the 18/55 since that thread the other day. I have Advanced Marathoning waiting for me at the library.

[jordylee]

Ahhh the more I think about it, the more I can't decide. I'm scared 12 weeks isn't long enough, since I've never done less than 16. But 18 is SO LONG!

[thom]

I think 18 is too long, personally. I did 16 this time around, and it's getting to feel like a long time of being "in training." (Even though I'm on a basic plan I modified like crazy anyhow.)

Realistically, you'll probably run similar mileage 14-18 weeks out either way, so why not lose the stress of 18 weeks and just go with 12-14. Good luck!

[clseale]

Apr 11, 2014 12:46:06 GMT -5 jordylee said:

Ahhh the more I think about it, the more I can't decide. I'm scared 12 weeks isn't long enough, since I've never done less than 16. But 18 is SO LONG!

It's really just a mind game, isn't it? In order to do a 12 week plan, you'll still be training in the weeks before it...it's just not written on a calendar. When I've done 16 week plans, the first week is always something silly like a 9-10 miler. In 12/55, the first week is 13, and by week 3, you're already into a 16 miler, with 10 @ MP. 

With that said, IMO, it did feel a LITTLE rushed. Not a ton, and I definitely got some really great runs in, but I think I might tweak it, and turn it into a 14 or 15 week plan. 12/15 only has one 18 miler and two 20s (I made one 22.) In the past, I've had two 18s, two 20s, and a 22. I'd like to tweak it so I have a couple more runs that are 18+.

[clseale]

Apr 11, 2014 13:25:25 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Thanks to jordylee, I've spent most of my afternoon so far while waiting for lab stuff to lab comparing the HH novice 2 and the Pfitz 18/55 and figuring out how I am going to modify a plan to work in a triathlon this summer.

A lot of it is contingent on what happens on Monday, ie if I get a special email in my inbox from a certain 773 area code.

Good luck!! Do you guys have any idea how many spots there are, after all of the qualifiers got in? 

[cinco]

Apr 11, 2014 13:21:26 GMT -5 clseale said:

Apr 11, 2014 12:46:06 GMT -5 jordylee said:

Ahhh the more I think about it, the more I can't decide. I'm scared 12 weeks isn't long enough, since I've never done less than 16. But 18 is SO LONG!

It's really just a mind game, isn't it? In order to do a 12 week plan, you'll still be training in the weeks before it...it's just not written on a calendar. When I've done 16 week plans, the first week is always something silly like a 9-10 miler. In 12/55, the first week is 13, and by week 3, you're already into a 16 miler, with 10 @ MP. 

With that said, IMO, it did feel a LITTLE rushed. Not a ton, and I definitely got some really great runs in, but I think I might tweak it, and turn it into a 14 or 15 week plan. 12/15 only has one 18 miler and two 20s (I made one 22.) In the past, I've had two 18s, two 20s, and a 22. I'd like to tweak it so I have a couple more runs that are 18+.

I agree it did feel a little rushed. I have a hard time wrapping my head around an 18w plan in the Summer though. It seems to drag longer than in the Winter. I liked that the 18w prepared me better for mid cycle races. I plan to mostly wing it for MCM, since I need a little more flexibility over the Summer. If I start slacking, I'll switch to the 12/55.

ETA: I started the 12/55 from about 6 months of low mileage. It wouldn't have felt as rushed if I were doing 25+ mpw ahead of time. 

[katinthehat]

You could also look at the Hanson marathon plan if you feel like totally shaking things up

[cinco]

Apr 12, 2014 8:44:28 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

You could also look at the Hanson marathon plan if you feel like totally shaking things up

I really want to try it, but I'm such a wimp. I am a huge believer of not needing to do more than 20, but I balk at 16. The mid week speed work and 10's vs. Pfitz's 12/13's I can get behind though.