I’m looking for a 16 week plan for CIM in December. Any recommendations?
For the past two CIM’s I’ve used a variant the advanced marathon plan in the 8/04 issue of Runner’s World. In 05, I rode my bike on MWF in lieu of two rest days and a short run. In 06, skipped one of the rest days and rode my bike every day in addition to the scheduled runs. RW’s advanced plan (as well as the beginning and intermediate plans) is pretty reasonable. By the way, I’ve been pleased with my results using the plan.
What plan is right for you depends on a lot of things. You should consider your base mileage going into training, how much mileage your body can handle at the peak, your goal time, etc. Once you determine those things, you can easily find an appropriate plan. No such thing as a one-size fits all marathon training program even for runners capable of doing comparable times.
Aren’t you up watching Vineman??
Anyway…old resource but has worked very well for me in the past: The Competitive Runner’s Handbook, with a multitude of plans from 5k up to the marathon.
I have my spies in Windsor!
as of 20 minutes ago Piper is on mile 20 or so, Bret at 18 and change, Dave is right behind Bret.
Thinks for the tip.
Cool, all of them on track for a decent day. Looking forward to the reports.
Let me know when you start building to your long runs…I’m thinking of targeting the same race.
"Let me know when you start building to your long runs…I’m thinking of targeting the same race. "
As long as you give me a big head start… 
the boston marathon web site has a nice 16 week plan. it even has 3 options for beginners, intermediates and advanced. ive used it a few times and found it worked pretty well
Check out Pete Pfitzinger’s Serious Marathoning.
How about the Hal Higdon plans? Anyone use those?
I’m thinking of doing the same race…when would 16 weeks out start? Monday? I just did the Marin Century and too tired to do the math…
Yes, I’ve used the advanced Higdon. But, they are pretty hard on 'ya! If JUST training for a marathon, they are OK - especially the Sat/Sun killers at times. I kept my bike up a little (one or twice per week) when doing it though and I was toast on several of the weeks. Also swam once per week (on his rest days) so as not to completely loose feel.
Monday is 17 weeks out.
No recommendations on a training plan. If CIM is your race, practice running up and down hills. Gotta prepare your quads for the pounding so you are not fried when it flattens out. I am planning on doing CIM. First barometer workout was Saturday (pleasantly surprised). My race build -up will be Paso Robles 10K, Cowtown 1/2, Humboldt 1/2, Clarksburg 30K, Run to Feed the Hungry 10K, and then CIM. Good Luck.
-Woody
Advanced Marathoning sounds familiar - I wonder if I have that somewhere…
For the moment I’m using this Hal Higdon plan as a guide, but will probably be adding some Jack Daniels to it as well.
http://www.furman.edu/first/fmtp.htm
Used it for a PB. Using it again for winter marathon. I liked it a lot cause it incorporates swim and bike.
I’ve been using this 18 week plan for a November race. The Hal Higdon plans seems a little light for what I’m trying to acheive. This is fairly challenging (for me, anyway) as it get you right up to 50-60 miles/ week at the start and peaks at 70.
http://runningtimes.com/rt/articles/?id=4432&page=5&c=83
I researched this a year ago and decided on one of Hal Higdon’s plans (Intermediate I, I think) because it looked reasonable for those of us who can’t take an outrageous number of miles per week. It is indeed a bit light on volume compared to some of the other plans (such as in Advanced Marathoning). I have only one bone to pick with this particular Higdon plan: It had me running 17 miles one weekend and 18 the next. There should have been a two-week break between the 17 and the 18. Predictably, I got injured on the 18 miler because it was too soon; and it totally derailed my marathon training. FWIW.
If you are still riding and swimming in the fall do you need a high mileage marathon program? I might be capping my run miles at 55. I capped my miles last year at 45 and was fine until mile 23. But don’t the last 3 miles hurt anyway?
I’ve used Hal’s plans for my last couple of marathons. I was very pleased with the plans and my results.
Do a search for Hansons Brooks Marathon Training. They have a plan that has a max long run of 16miles. A friend followed their plan and had good results and no injuries.