Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.

Anyone got a winning marathon training programme? Not one to make me win because frankly I don’t think that’s going to happen. Perhaps if I’d been born in the Rift Valley in 1986 with a modicum of running talent and a “can do” approach I might be in with a shout. Being born in Skipton in 1956 with no sporting prowess and a penchant for feeble excuses it would be a big ask to come home first in VLM 2011. I strongly suspect that I won’t even get an invite to the elite start. No, a training programme to enable me to give it my best shot is all I want.

Being a slacker, I thought I’d just filch someone else’s programme and adapt it ever so slightly. Where better to start than the VLM mag? They’ve got three in there aimed at different abilities. I’m flummoxed. They’re 13 week programmes, but which 13 weeks? There’s no taper built in. Is tapering old hat? I liked tapering last year as I was absolutely knackered and couldn’t possibly have just gone from full bore training to running the race. Am I supposed to invent my own taper programme and add that on at the end? Two weeks? Three weeks? What?

On to Runners World website then. They’ve got three, but there’s a problem; I want the target time promised by the Advanced programme (sub 3:30), but I’m only prepared to put in the effort of the Intermediate programme (5 days, 32 to 48 miles). I’ll mix and match. Excellent. It’s a sixteen week programme that takes us nicely from Boxing Day to Race Day.

Now add in all the races that I want to run. Blimey, there are loads of them. Three club cross country races that I don’t want to miss. I want to run some twenty milers and Trimpell and East Hull appeal. From the experience of last year, running in proper races is a good way to get in a long run; it’s pretty dull doing a solo run. I could do with race organisers firming up on dates, especially Dewsbury 10k as that will be one of my four “A” races for 2011. Baildon Boundary Way a week before VLM – is that pushing it with an off-road half? Sod it, I’ll give it a go if I can get in. I’ll have to try and do something creative with the Saturday morning parkruns though. Anyone got any bright ideas for how I can make them a useful part of marathon training?

I feel better now tackling the marathon with a proper plan. I won’t stick to it of course. Probably be backsliding after the first week. Planning and blogging are going well; if I keep this up I might manage to avoid doing any running at all.