I’m now in my fourth week of marathon training, and it’s going really well. I’m training with my running club’s marathon group when I can, but otherwise I’ve combined a few training plans to best fit my schedule.

The club’s mileage is pretty aggressive, and a little too high for where I am right now. I’ve made it work by shortening the mid-week runs. I’m also looking at Hal Higdon’s Novice 2 plan for an “easier” schedule, as well as the Runners’ World Smart Coach-generated plan.

I’ve got trips to plan around, and I’m thinking I probably don’t want to run 18 miles the day before my Iron Girl triathlon … I like having options!

Of course, I’ve already made some modifications to my plan. Two weekends ago, on Saturday July 10, the group was scheduled to run 12 miles. I had a 5K on my plate and instead planned on running the two miles to the race start and making up the rest with a friend after the race.

Race morning, it started pouring just as I was getting ready to leave. I don’t mind running in the rain (as long as it’s not cold out!), but I decided I’d rather have my car near the race start so I didn’t have to carry too much stuff with me. It worked out well, since I changed into a dry shirt and socks after the race. Not that they stayed dry for long!

I was really happy with that race. I didn’t start too fast so I could better maintain my pace.

Mile 1: 8:42
Mile 2: 8:25
Mile 3: 8:29

I finished off the last .09 (Garmin-measured) at a  6:54 pace. Finish strong!

And I got a PR in that 5K — 26.11. The rain actually felt better than the heat/humidity we’ve been having lately, and I felt great during the race!

Post race, a friend joined me to run the course two more times. That only got me a little over nine miles, but we were soaked and had enough. I changed into dry clothes at home and finished out my 12 on the treadmill.

The following day, I had another 5K. I knew I shouldn’t race it but I kind of tried. Well, I took the first mile a little slow and expected to pick it up, but never did until the very end. My legs were tired!

Mile 1: 8:44
Mile 2: 8:52
Mile 3: 8:49

I finished the last  .09 (Garmin-measured) at a 7:16 pace. It was still a really good race for me at 27:01 (chip — odd for a smallish 5K, but they were testing new equipment on us!).

This Saturday I got a little creative with my mileage as well! The group was scheduled to run 14 miles, but I really wanted to run my club’s one-mile track race. Well, I didn’t really want to race one mile, (I don’t practice fast miles often and kind of dread it!), but it’s part of the club’s championship series and I’m trying to do all of the races!

Anyway, I started with the class but turned back early, picking up 5.5 miles. I drove to the race and jogged the track to hit six. The race made it seven miles (7:43 — slower than my 7:37 last year, but last year I didn’t run six miles first! Also HOT and HUMID!), and I picked up another three in the neighborhood to make it 10. That was good enough for me!

I made it back to the track in time to see the fastest group run. (I ran in the second-slowest group.) The winner finished his mile in 4:35. Wow! I can only hit that speed on my bike!

For my marathon, I’m raising money for the Rally Foundation for childhood cancer research. Read more, and please donate if you can spare a few dollars!