September 21st Preview

Here we go again, with another round of training beginning this Sunday… already, barely a week after a dozen of you completed the Oregon Marathon or Half.

This latest program aims you toward the EWEB Run to Stay Warm Half-Marathon on November 23^rd (with a month’s bonus training for the Eugene Holiday Half on December 20^th). We have a few new twists this time:

1. We go two weeks longer than before and start lower, with runs of five and six miles. This is more friendly to first-timers and to runners recovering from last week's races. 

2. I'm phasing out the team web pages and moving previews (such as this one) and results (on Sundays) to this blog. It's easier to post and edit here.

3. The Eugene Running Company is now accepting payment of your training fee ($50 this time). This lets your drop it off whenever the store is open.

Sunday’s route, with 8:00 start from the Running Company: Oakway and Coburg Roads to Ferry Street Bridge and don't cross. Turn right onto bike path, to Valley River footbridge and across. Turn left, to Ferry Street and across. Back to store. GPS distance is 4.80 miles.

Bring a drink for delivery at Valley River. Weather forecast: starting temperature about 60 and sunny.

WEEK 1 LESSON: YOUR PROGRAM

Question: What is the rationale behind this training program?

Answer: This half-marathon program is, fittingly, almost precisely half the one that our marathon Teams follow successfully. You train as the marathoners do early in their program – except that 13.1 miles is your end point, and 11 miles is your longest training run. You also train under conditions that mimic those of the race. The EWEB half-marathon course is flat, and our group runs are entirely so. If you want hill training, add some to your midweek runs. Our Sunday runs are on hard surfaces, because that’s where the race is run. You can seek out softer ground during the week. You run no faster in Sunday training than you will go in the race. Practice for speed elsewhere.