Day in the Life - Training

The program I'm currently following

33 days.

As of today, that’s how far out I am from competing in my third half marathon – this one being in Chicago.

My plan, if all goes accordingly, is to set a personal record (PR) and then begin training for the daunting full marathon.

But yet again, saying it is easy… actually doing it is what counts.

With race day nearing, my training is beginning to reach its peak.

My weekly running miles are near the highest they’ll be in this training plan.

I’m also seeking to gain muscle mass and strength during the program through resistance training.

This is something that’s commonly neglected during endurance-focused training because it’s considered unimportant “at this time”… which isn’t true.

While it’s not the ultimate priority for endurance race preparation, resistance training is imperative to not only prevent injury but also boost performance — especially for races that involve a good amount of elevation change.

I feel obliged to include a disclaimer before discussing my training plan.

My schedule right now is incredibly flexible which enables me to stick to the program you’re about to see. For many, a highly demanding plan like this one isn’t possible unless you’re willing to put a large chunk of your non-working/school hours on the running trail and in the gym.

But because I have the time (and I love it), I’m taking full advantage.

Let’s get into the weeds.

Starting out with one of my favorite training days of the week.

Monday

Cardio (AM): Tempo Run

Strength (PM): Chest & Back (Low Rep Focus)

For my cardiovascular training, I complete a tempo run which for me, can be anywhere from 4-6+ miles. A tempo run simply means running at least part of the workout at a pace that is similar to or faster than the pace you hope to run during your competition.

To show you how this looks, last Monday I completed a 1-mile warmup followed by three 1-mile repeats each at my half marathon pace goal. Between each repeat, I jogged slowly for three minutes and then finished the workout with a 1-mile cooldown jog.

For resistance training, I target my chest and back on Mondays since my cardiovascular workout is relatively intense and taxes my lower body. In this session, I prioritize compound movements (e.g., bench press, rows) in the lower-rep ranges — between 4 and 8 typically.

Tuesday

Cardio (AM): Recovery Run

Strength (PM): Legs (Low Rep Focus)