I’m looking for a training plan to improve my marathon time, alignning with the ideas of mutliple easy days and 1-2 hard days.
Both McMillan Running and Enduance 8020 offer those plans, so I’m trying to decide between “Endurance 8020 - Marathon Level 2” and “McMillan - Marathon Training Plan Level 3 Combo Runner”
Any recommendations? Differences you can help point out? Other thoughts?
Level 3? Eff that… go level 5.
Or, search BarryP on this forum.
E
I am doing the HM level 2 from 80/20 and am enjoying it (I am also a brand ambassador, so take that as you will).
I haven’t done McMillan plans so can’t offer a comparison, but I believe in the 80/20 principal so I really like their plans. Plus I can maintain swim and bike through cross training.
Something I kind of wonder about with these plans is the biomechanical issues as you get into the 80%. When I was younger and faster, I would be doing easy runs at 7 minute mile pace and talking. As I have aged and gotten significantly slower, I am bumping up against the border between walking and running.
So I sustain a heart rate that is maybe zone two or three as I’m trudging along at a 10 minute mile pace. If I were to throttle back to say a 12 minute mile pace I’m not even sure that is actually running any more. Just from my general level of soreness, it also seems like running at a extremely slow pace is kind of rough biomechanically.
I guess for me personally at my ability level I’m inclined to throw a leg over the bike or do a brisk walk on an easy day, unless I’m missing something.
I don¨t know the plans themselves. I do know Greg McMillan very well. The man puts a great deal of thought and research into everything he does. He is constantly learning. You will not find a better human being behind your training program then Greg McMillan.
I’ve done several different plans, some pace based, some TSS based and the 80/20 which is HR based. IMO and experience, it really depends on your running/fitness level and experience when you begin the training. I will echo that I really enjoy the 80/20 for a few reasons, first being HR based and the training downloads from Training Peaks onto your Garmin so that when you do a workout, it is on your watch and it alerts you to keep within the zones for the duration of the workout. 80/20 has very useful “set-up” guides to get you started with entering your zones after doing the threshold test. I’ve used the 80/20 for 70.3’s and Ironman training as well as marathon training and think they are all great programs overall and you can choose which level best fits your training volume and experience level. (Although, as some have mentioned in other posts. the run volume can be on the lower end on some of the IM plans). If you aren’t just coming off the couch and have been consistently running and are focusing on pace, ie. running a Boston Qualifier, then some of the pace based training programs may be better suited to meeting your needs. I consistently use the McMillan’ running calculator and have used their plans along with Runners World’s and several others for Marathon training at pace to meet certain pace/time/qualifying goals. My 2 cents is that if you are looking for a more traditional running plan, mileage and pace, go with McMillan, if you want a Heart Rate based plan, go with 80/20. If you are training with a training partner or training with a group, the traditional plans are better suited that if you are running based on HR-80/20, you will more than likely be going it alone unless you find someone running at your same pace for the zone. Best of luck!!
I’m looking for a training plan to improve my marathon time, alignning with the ideas of mutliple easy days and 1-2 hard days.
Both McMillan Running and Enduance 8020 offer those plans, so I’m trying to decide between “Endurance 8020 - Marathon Level 2” and “McMillan - Marathon Training Plan Level 3 Combo Runner”
Any recommendations? Differences you can help point out? Other thoughts?
I haven’t used either of those, but your mention of the ~2 hard days is part of what led me to recently go with the Daniels “2 Quality Sessions” per week plan for a late January marathon over near Orlando, out of the 4th edition of his book. I’m digging it so far, and depending on how the plan plays out may use it in place of the run sessions out of Matt Dixon’s full-iron training plan (which I used last season and enjoyed, but now want to further up my run-game).
Also, I was excited to find this comparison of marathon plans from Fellrnr.com. Doesn’t cover what you’re looking at explicitly, but thought you might like to take a look anyway 
x2 for BarryP. Search for some forums on here. The principles laid out in his “plans” are solid and simplistic. I would recommend it.
Direct link to the BarryP posting, with tons of links. (Unless someone else has a link to a different thread?). Agreed it’s a really rich resource.
Also, I was excited to find this comparison of marathon plans from Fellrnr.com. Doesn’t cover what you’re looking at explicitly, but thought you might like to take a look anyway
Looks very good. Anything like this for half marathon?
Also, I was excited to find this comparison of marathon plans from Fellrnr.com. Doesn’t cover what you’re looking at explicitly, but thought you might like to take a look anyway
Looks very good. Anything like this for half marathon?
I’m on the look-out for something like this on the half-distance as well, but haven’t found it yet. IMHO the half plans seem to follow lots of the same basic patterns/principles as the full plans, so I’m going to assume many/most of the same similarities/differences at the full-distance from these coaches will carry over to the half-distance as well.
(Note that in the 4th edition of the Daniels book he doesn’t even have a half-distance plan - he recommends following the beginner marathon plan or the “alien training” plan that runs on a 2 week cycle. This is part of my observation about half-full plan correlation).
Jay Johnson’s simple marathon training is a great book from a highly experienced coach.
This episode of his podcast explains the approach, it might fit with you
Jay Johnson’s simple marathon training is a great book from a highly experienced coach.
This episode of his podcast explains the approach, it might fit with you
This is called “running”.
Eric