My Inline Marathon: Training Planning (For Reals)

3/30/2019

I'm Skating an Inline Marathon!

I am officially skating an inline marathon! I'm signed up for the Northshore Inline Marathon in Duluth, MN on September 14, 2019. Click here for actual proof of enrollment!

My soon-to-be marathon ready inline skates!

Lessons from Failed Half-Marathons Past (aka My Half-Baked, Half-Marathon "Training Plan")

Last August, I was sign up to skate a half marathon. To call what I had a “training plan” is way overstating my level of planning and commitment. Here’s about how it went:

End of April: Signed up for an inline marathon, which I planned to complete on roller skates. Asserted that I could TOTALLY do a half marathon without any training if I had to and it would be fine. Announced my intention to complete a marathon to friends and family via social media.
April-July: Went to the gym 8 times per month (mostly because my company only pays for my gym membership if I visit 8 times per month.) Skated at a roller rink once per week most weeks and skated 3 miles on a local trail occasionally. Did a 3 mile walk with a friend once most weeks.
14 days to the event: Skated 2 miles on a rough asphalt trail and realized that my outdoor roller skates had a fair amount of resistance. Resistance=more work to get not very far=I may not be able to finish 13.1 miles. Initial panic ensued.
13 days to the event: Decided I needed inline skates. Researched and purchased new skates.
12 days to the event: Attempted to skate a 3-mile lake lap in my new inline skates. Skated a grand total of 9 minutes before I realized that there was JUST NO WAY this was going to work.
11 days to the event: Decided to skate in my roller skates as initially planned. Attempt unsuccessfully to do months of training in a few days.
4 days to the event: Picked up my number. Drove the event route. Tried to convince myself I could to finish with way too little preparation. Didn’t quite believe my own pep talk.
3 days before the event: Went on a last-minute business trip, and came home with a head cold.
1 day before the event: After making extensive pro and con lists, I decided to drop out.

T-shirt and race bib for my ill fated (aka "not attended) first shot at an inline half marathon.

Lessons Learned: Make For-Reals Training Plan

So when did the wheels come off this whole thing? I can point back to the very beginning where I told myself “I could TOTALLY do a half marathon without any training” and promptly did pretty close to NO actual training. My non-existent training plan, and lack of good old fashioned “I’ll white knuckle my way through it” willpower contributed to my failure. Also--I seemed to think that announcing my intention to do the half marathon was enough to get me to actually, well, do it.

Inline Marathon 2019: High Level Plan

I call "do-over."

This past fall, I signed up for the Northshore Inline Marathon. Even before I enrolled, I started planning for my success. Here’s my basic plan.

Phase I: Fitness (October - January)

Goals: Build a base level of fitness.

Build the exercise habit and get in the habit of pushing myself to improve.
Increase number of steps I took on a daily basis using stretch goals.
Increase flexibility and strength by incorporating yoga, weight lifting, and foam rolling.
Get my body used to my inline skates.

This beautiful foam roller is the core reason I am able to walk after all of the exercise challenges.

Phase II: Cardio (February - April)

Goals: Increase my endurance.

Transition from walking to running and challenging myself to go faster and longer.
Incorporate inline skating and biking as cross-training.
Increase flexibility and strength by incorporating yoga, weight lifting, and foam rolling.

My running shoes.

Phase III: Skating Distance (May - August)

Goals: Skate longer distances outside on uneven terrain.

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.

I'll elaborate on specific tasks and milestones in my inline marathon training plan in future blog articles.

My inline skate and fancy kneepads!

What Do You Think?

When training for an event, what kind of strategy have you used to be successful? Include your thoughts in the comments.

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