089 - Marathon 101 with Steve Magness: Insights & Strategy
Nov 7, 2024
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Steve Magness, a world-class running coach, shares invaluable insights on marathon training and preparation. He discusses the importance of setting realistic goals and building an aerobic base. The conversation dives into adapting training plans for both novices and elite runners, highlighting the balance between endurance and speed work. Steve also addresses the evolving Boston Marathon qualifying standards and emphasizes self-compassion when managing missed workouts. Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the joy and complexity of running a marathon.
Setting clear marathon goals is essential, as it influences training plans, focusing either on completion or achieving personal bests.
Building a strong aerobic base and incorporating long runs gradually prepares runners physically and mentally for the marathon distance.
For intermediate runners, integrating speed work is crucial, as it enhances speed, endurance, and makes marathon pace more manageable.
Deep dives
The Growing Popularity of Marathons
Marathons have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, prompting many people to take on the 26.2-mile challenge for the first time or return to the sport. This increase in participation has led to tougher qualifying standards for prestigious events like the Boston Marathon, as more runners are achieving sub-three-hour times. Coaches and experienced runners discuss the implications of fast-growing marathon communities, particularly regarding the adjustments in qualifying times and how increased competition impacts potential qualifiers. The discussion explores opinions on whether qualifying standards should be lowered or if buffer times should remain to maintain the spirit of the Boston Marathon as a challenging event.
Setting Goals for Marathon Training
Determining the right goals is crucial for effective marathon training, distinguishing between finishing the race and aiming for a personal best. Runners need to assess whether their primary objective is simply to complete the marathon or to achieve a specific performance milestone based on desired finish times. This goal-orientation influences training plans significantly; for instance, those aiming to just finish may focus more on time on their feet, while performance-focused runners will pay closer attention to fueling, pacing strategies, and intensity in their workouts. The distinction helps shape training questions, considerations, and workout strategies that target the individual’s specific ambitions.
The Importance of Long Runs
Long runs serve as a fundamental component of marathon training, especially for beginners seeking completion rather than speed. The focus should be on gradually increasing the duration and intensity of these runs to help the body adapt to the physical demands of a marathon. Runners preparing to finish should prioritize increasing their long-run distance, with typical training suggesting peaks of around 20 miles. It’s emphasized that consistent long runs provide necessary conditioning for the body to withstand the rigors of 26.2 miles while also developing the mental stamina required for race day.
Incorporating Speed Work
Incorporating speed work into a marathon training regimen becomes essential for intermediate runners looking to improve their performance. Speed work allows runners to enhance their speed and endurance by training at paces faster than marathon target times, creating a beneficial gap that subsequently makes marathon pace feel easier. This is achieved through interval training, tempo runs, and hill workouts to target various energy systems. Such workouts should be carefully structured to ensure that runners can safely and sustainably handle increased intensity without risking injury or burnout.
Planning a Training Block
The duration of a training block can vary significantly based on the runner's existing fitness and experience, ranging from 12 to 20 weeks. Elite runners often only require 12 weeks of specific marathon training because they enter the program well-conditioned. Conversely, novice runners benefit from extended periods of gradual volume buildup to avoid injury and build a solid aerobic foundation. A structured approach that first enhances overall fitness through easy mileage and then transitions into specific marathon training ensures optimal adaptation while minimizing the risk of overtraining.
Today, Clay asks Steve to answer all of your most pressing marathon questions: what to know before signing up; what he thinks the Boston Marathon should do about qualifying standards, how to think about setting a reasonable and achievable goal; breaking down the physiological and psychological importance of building an aerobic base; how to think about building out a plan; how to incorporate speed work; how to find your marathon pace; what novices can learn and use from an elite runner's training block; a simplified way to think about threshold and tempo workouts; how to think about skipping or cutting short workouts. All that and more to get you ready to run 26.2 miles, whether it's your first time or your fiftieth.
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Got a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503, (We're offering a $5 Venmo for anyone who leaves a message that makes it into the show!)