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My Inline Marathon: Training Plan, Phase III

6/1/2019

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My 3 Phase Inline Marathon Training Plan

​In a recent blog post, I talked about my previous half-baked inline half marathon plan. I learned the hard way that I need a solid training plan to reach my goals. This time around, here is my three-phase training plan to achieve my inline skating marathon related goals:
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  • Phase I: Fitness, 4 months (October - January)
  • Phase II: Cardio, 3 months (February - April)
  • ​Phase III: Skating Distance, 4 months, (May - August)
Picture
Let the outdoor skating commence!

Phase III: Game On!

Welcome to Phase III of my inline marathon training plan. This is where, to put it plainly, shit gets real.  Now I'm skating and getting ready for a crazy long skate and realizing how far I'm going to go between now and mid-September. 

Goals: Skate longer distances outside on uneven terrain. ​
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  • Strategically, build up mileage I’m able to skate on outdoor trails.
  • Skate indoors and run if weather prohibits outdoor skating.
  • Improve skating technique to increase skating efficiency.

My Overarching Training Plan for Phase III

I’ve done a fair share of research for books or online resources, and there’s not a thorough roadmap for how to train for an inline marathon available. There aren’t many current go-to websites or a book to help guide the way. I dug a bit more and found useful ideas for how to go about this from a variety of disparate sources. From parts, I’ve cobbled together a plan from the huge body of information available on running your first marathon, websites with dribs and drabs on inline marathons, and resources on physical training in general.
​
From that I put together a personal training plan for myself that incorporates the following:
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  • Skating outside 3-4 times per week and strategically increasing my distance over time.
  • Incorporating cross training and strength training on a weekly basis.
  • Using yoga, stretching, and foam rolling to help with recovery.

Skating Longer Distance

The core part of my plan includes skating outside on a regular basis. My starting point is skating 3 miles, partly because I know I can complete that distance (instead of starting at a mile or so of skating). In addition, my very favorite neighborhood lake with a biking trail is about 3 miles long. I have a whole plan plotted out for skating 3 times per week, which includes two shorter skates, and one longer skate per week. It also includes adding mileage weekly and scaling back a bit every three weeks to gradually build up mileage. I’m also incorporating the taper that running marathoners use which involves reducing mileage just before the event. 
Picture
Clocking some outdoor miles after a skating lesson.

Improve Skating Technique

I am pretty tough in general, and I know I can power through many obstacles. However, I’m also smart enough to know that white knuckling my way through an event like this should by no means be plan A. I know I need to keep increasing my overall endurance (building on what I accomplished through the running in the last phase of this process.) I also know that my technique needs some serious leveling up. I need to transition from basically walking on inline skates, to having something that is more recognizable as an efficient stride. I need to get more distance from each stride and be more efficient so I can complete an event that is, to date, about 4 times longer than any skate I have ever done. This includes taking inline skating lessons, doing drills, doing sport specific conditioning, and a whole lot of practicing. 

Incorporating Cross Training

I also know I can’t just skate to get ready for this event. First off, sometimes the weather won’t cooperate with my plans to skate outside. This is where running (indoors or outdoors) will be one form of cross training, as will biking (including a spinning class that I have committed to going to with a co-worker of mine—who I think may be trying to kill me aka “give me additional cross training options.”) I’m even planning on doing a roller derby class, which will keep me on skates, but focus more on stopping and starting than logging mileage. I’m also lifting weights, including kettlebell, to round out my training plan. Above and beyond cross training in other cardio activities, I'll be doing activities to help with recover. This includes stretching, foam roller, and yoga on a near daily basis.
Picture
Me crosstraining at the gym with all of my friends.

What Do You Think

How have you prepared for an inline marathon or other longer event? How did you prepare? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

Learn More

  • Robichon’s Skate Ventures Inline Skating Lessons 
  • Training for an Inline Skate Marathon from Rollerblade
  • So You Want to Skate Your First Marathon
  • Training for a Skating Marathon from Northshore Inline Marathon 
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    Brenda is an innovative learning and development leader, instructional designer, and continuous learner. 

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