Finding THE ONE
In my early 20s commitment was the farthest thing from my mind. I was a foot-loose and fancy-free single gal — I didn’t need nuthin’ or no one to tie me down. That philosophy served me well at the time, but as I matured I realized I was ready to settle down. I was ready to make a commitment.
My first wooed me with his promises. He respected my need for “me time,” never demanding my company for more than a couple of days a week. Our weekday trysts were short, yet intense; we saved our long encounters for the weekend. He made me feel great at first, but I began to sense things were moving too fast. I cut our weekday visits short, and sometimes avoided them altogether. I just don’t think I was ready for what he had to offer.
My second was recommended to me by my therapist. She thought his easy-going style would better fit my nature, plus he too respected my time. I was skeptical at first, but he soon won me over. Within five months I was professing my love for him in my diary; I just knew he was a keeper.
While others questioned my devotion to him — they felt our relationship made me less of a woman — I felt nothing but pure bliss. But a year into the courtship I started to feel pangs of want. I couldn’t put my finger on it, perhaps I was getting bored? Even though he assured me he’d provide everything I ever hoped for, the skepticism returned. I yearned for more. Within a month of our year anniversary we broke up, and I went it alone.
Three months later we hooked up again, albeit for a one-night stand. He was what I needed at that moment, but we both knew it wouldn’t last. I already had my sights set on someone else, someone much more exhilarating.
I’m now with my third and couldn’t be happier. Sure, he has a reputation of being a tough guy. He demands a lot and there are times I wonder if he’s asking too much of me. People who know him say it might not be obvious at first he loves me, but by sticking with him his true feelings will reveal themselves. But I gotta tell ‘ya: our sessions exhaust me; he’s insatiable!
You DO know I’m referring to my training plans, right?
Just as it can take dating several people before you find a compatible life mate, you may need to try out several training plans before finding one that fits your needs. You must not only factor in your goals — are you looking to run in a specific time, or merely to finish? — you should also be realistic about how much time you have to give to your training.
When I ran my first half marathon in the early 90s I didn’t follow a plan; I just increased my mileage until I felt I had run enough. There was no speed work or hill training involved, I just put in the miles. I don’t remember my exact time for that first race, but I know if was more than two hours.
My first formal training plan was, appropriately, the FIRST training plan. Its promise to get me to the finish with just three days running per week appealed to me. The key to the program is knowing at what pace to run your speed work and tempo runs. It recommends using a recent 5K or 10K race, however, I didn’t have one. Therefore, I just based it on what I hoped my finish time would be — 2 hours. Problem was, I wasn’t ready to run at that pace and so the weekday speed sessions really beat me up. I did come close to my goal, however, finishing the Seafair half marathon in 2:03:33.
After diagnosing my runner’s knee, my physical therapist suggested I try Jeff Galloway’s run/walk program. So when I signed up for the Seattle half marathon (four months after Seafair), I decided to give it a whirl. What a difference! I found I could run longer and my legs would still feel fresh. It was tough to incorporate walk breaks from the beginning, especially during the race, but I forced myself to do so. My times were much slower using his program — 2:18:57 for Seattle (although that included seven minutes waiting in a port-o-potty line) and 2:11:55 for Mercer Island — but I didn’t feel as beat up.
Jeff has his detractors — some people feel you’re not a true runner if you take walk breaks — but I didn’t care; his program was working for me. My darling had trouble with it as the walk breaks aggravated his knees, but he kept up with it. I figured since we’d be stopping to drink wine during the Marathon du Medoc, Jeff’s program would be ideal. And because he has you run a full marathon in training, your anxiety tends to be reduced on race day.
Once I had Medoc under my belt I started thinking about Boston. We had followed Jeff’s “to finish” program, but he also has plans for finishing within a specific time. I wasn’t quite ready to embark on his 4-hour program (my BQ time), but I thought I’d try his 4:20 program as training for the Goofy Challenge. Assuming I did well with that, I’d then follow the 4-hour program for the North Olympic Discovery Marathon.
While the “to finish” program simply increases your mileage over 26 weeks, the timed programs include hill and speed work. After taking a couple weeks off after Medoc for recovery, I started up the 4:20 program. I ran 30 miles the first week, over half of which was hill work. The hip issue that plagued me in Bordeaux returned with a vengeance, so I went back to my physical therapist. She not only admonished me for not doing my strengthening exercises, she ordered me to stop running for at least two weeks.
It was during my break I started researching other programs. While perusing the “Runner’s World” forum I kept seeing Pete Pfitzinger’s program mentioned as a great one for runners hoping to BQ. I ordered his “Advanced Marathoning” book, although I knew I wouldn’t be ready to follow the program until after running the Goofy Challenge.
Once my PT gave me the go-ahead to start running, I decided I wouldn’t follow any particular program; I just wanted to be able to finish Goofy injury free. But knowing I’d be starting up Pfitzinger’s aggressive program come January, I wanted to eliminate most walk breaks from my long runs (I’d just use them to take in fluids and gels). I gradually built up my mileage, working up to 150 miles for the month of December.
After finishing the Disney half (day 1 of the Goofy Challenge) my darling and I went back to the expo and saw Jeff Galloway was speaking. He certainly makes a good argument regarding walk breaks, and given we had to run a full marathon on tired legs, we considered using his strategy to get us to the finish. The next morning the deal was sealed when we met up with a fellow Taper Madness forumite who planned on following a 5:1 run/walk ratio. It was still a tough run, but there was no way I could have run the entire marathon, especially given the humidity.
Upon returning home from Orlando I started the 18 week/55 mile Advanced Marathoning program. It starts off with a bang — your first long run is 12 miles and it increases by one mile/week for the next three weeks. But I’ve found the mid-week runs to be the most challenging. With the FIRST and Galloway programs I never ran more than eight miles during the week (in most weeks it was no more than six); Pfitz’ program includes several 10-12 milers, as well as one 14-miler. He starts you off with basic endurance runs, then works up to more aggressive speed work.
While grueling, the plan is definitely making me faster and stronger. I broke the 2-hour mark in the half marathon in March, and hope to PR again in May at the Kirkland Half Marathon. Of course, my main goal is to BQ in June at North Olympic. I won’t follow Pfitz’ program for every marathon — I think I’d burn out quickly — but for those marathons where I want to PR, I believe I’ve found THE ONE.
Now if I can just get him to put the toilet lid down.
(This post is part of Take It and Run Thursday at the Runner’s Lounge. Head on over and check out what others have to say about training plans!)
April 10th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Fabulous post Betsy! Thanks for sharing. I was just having a conversation with a runner yesterday who felt really bad because she was doing the run/walk method – this is a must send to her.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Great info. I’m still not sure which program I’m going to follow to get ready for my first full in October, but this definitely gives me some other options.
And as for your closing comment. Cute, but here’s my beef with it: women are never happy when it comes to toilet lids. Men just can’t win because we’re darned if we don’t lift it up before we go, and we’re darned if we don’t put it down when we’re finished. If I was a girl, I’d rather have a guy who didn’t put it back down than one who wouldn’t lift it up. Just my two cents, as a guy. 😉
April 10th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Topher — fortunately I’ve trained my darling to do both!
April 10th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Topher’s right, but it’s because we men don’t stand up for ourselves. Before Betsy turned me into a shell of a man, I shared an apartment with another guy. We were constantly scolding women to put the toilet seat up after they were done.
They never seemed to stick around long.
April 10th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Great post, my fellow Betsy.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Great post you had me going for a while and thinking, wow this is really putting it out there! But you’re so right and alas I am still kissing female frogs to find my princess. Pfitz book is on my shelf so it’s a definite maybe!
April 10th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Seems like it is working, Betsy – so keep at it. I am considering Pfitz for my next marathon in the fall as well. Of course, I have to put this plantar fasciitis to bed once and for all. Your fellow Goofy-ite and forumite!
April 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Great post! I am going to look into the Pfitz plan–I was on a modified Hansen-Brooks before. I actually enjoyed having longer runs mid-week, but I think I just need to knock down the speedwork a bit. I like hearing what worked/didn’t work.
But the true test—will he remember anniversaries and buy you tampons?
April 10th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Great post! I like how you creatively pointed out the differences. 🙂
April 11th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I’ve heard good things about Pfitz…I may have to give it a shot. Great post!
April 11th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Funny!! Glad you are doing so well with the new one.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Long-time lurker here . . . Just want to say “great post” and that I’m having fun cheering you on via the Web. Keep up the great runs and blogs!
April 12th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Thank you Susan!
April 12th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hey Betsy,
Great post, you had me going…
I really like that you keep changing it up trying to find the right formula.
I still am experimenting with my running as well. Thanks for all of your input on the medoc, I am really psyched about running it. I did not realize you used run/walk and finished so well.
Today was a hot and humid one in CT, from 45 degrees a couple of days ago to almost 80 today. Was forced to run/walk just in order to breathe!!
April 15th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Love it Betsy! You totally had me going!
I didn’t know about this blog of yours. I was listening to Phedip the other day and thought “Huh…I know of a Betsy who is a runner and a personal chef…HEY! That’s the same one!” I mean how many running personal chef Betsys are there?
You Goofyed? That’s my 2010 plan. Right now I’m training for a half IM and am running Grandmas. I need to learn to do one thing at a time, though. My long runs have been relegated to week day runs home from work (next week, 20 miles…after a full day of work…pooooooo), so that I can do my long rides on Saturday.
Good to “see” you again!
April 15th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Hey Tory! 20 miles after a day of work? YUCK! I’m gearing up for a 20-miler this weekend, but I hear it’s not supposed to be very good weather. Double Yuck!