When you miss 2 solid weeks of training for a marathon, a slight bit of panic begins to set in. I am glad that I got sick at the start of the training plan and not at the end. That’s for sure. However, it always suck to loose so much time. One thing I’ve needed to do with this setback is to re-calculate, re-group, and adjust the training plan. As I looked over the plan, I think I’ve come up with something that should get me where I need to be by the day of the TCS NYC Marathon.

One good thing about being forced to take some time off the training plan is that it makes you appreciate what you’re chasing. It’s been slight torture to watch so many of my running friends out there doing what I should have been doing. The sad part of my alteration is that I’m not taking the two weeks between my long runs after 17 miles like the Galloway plan calls for. Also, I’m loosing one week of taper time. This is to accommodate my desire to get a 26 mile training run in before race day. When I talked with Jeff Galloway at the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend, he seemed to think that getting a 26 mile training run should help solve my blister problem that’s plagued me on my previous two full marathons. He also recommended something for my feet to help as well. Eliminating blisters will be key if I want to have that first sub-6 hour marathon time (and become an official finisher). So, I’m committed to getting in that 26 mile run. The nice part of this plan is that, if I get to October and don’t feel as strongly about that 26 mile run, I can add a 6 mile run right after running for 20 miles and a 6 mile run after 23 to get me to NYC. For now, this is the plan…

I’ve bolded the runs I’ve already done. The runs not bolded were ones I missed. My original plan is still with me. But, above is the one I’ll be following. With those two missed weeks, I really need to hit every run distance. The mantra for this cycle is…”Every Run Counts.” I can’t be afraid of slow runs. Running in summer will give me that. But, I really need to hit all the distances and let the speed take care of itself. This is my path to the NYC Marathon. I think it will all work out okay!