Choices choices...running theories

 When I first started running, I googled running plans and found a nice 6 week schedule for my first 5K. It was easy, I liked running 4 times a week and it fit my schedule. As I started to run more and run longer races, I fell into following Hal Higdon's race plans for a few reasons: 1. Several runners I know have used his plans and they worked for them 2. He is quite popular and has been around for years 3. His plans seem safe and his plans offer a variety from novice to advance.

Then I started reading more books, more blogs, forums on Runner's World (RW) and realized that, just like anything in life, there is no one cookie cutter way to doing things. Some runners out there dispise Higdon and would rather do Ryan Hall's training or Jeff Galloway. Some runners balk at Higdon's marathon plans as they believe his schedules don't allow enough miles per week, or how your long runs should be 20% of your total miles per week (mine are usually 40-50%!) and running at least 5-6 days per week. Runners on the forum of RW say how you should be running at least a peak of 90-100 miles per week for proper marathon training - who has TIME for that! Others scream that running Higdon's plan at just 4 times a week just isn't enough training and you should really just be doing half marathons with that experience.

Now I'm reading more about the Less is More plan that says you only need to run 3-4 times a week, running with 'smarter' runs and that if you run Less, it's less likely you will be injured.
Less is More

Makes you really want to scream and say WHAT IS THE BEST WAY OUT THERE! But like anything in life, I guess you really have to see what works for YOU. What works for your schedule, what theory you agree with and what works for your body. I follow this blog Shut Up + Run and she write a nice post about following the Less is More plan because she wants to run a smarter, injury free marathon.

I have a running friend, he must be in his late 60's, he has run 26 marathons in his life. His SLOWEST was 3:40, fastest was 3:00. This is his training method: he never ran a longer run than 10 miles but his pace was always 6:20 during those runs. He ran all his marathons at 6:20 until he couldn't keep that pace and always finished. Crazy...I know! But I know my body and there is no way I could run a fast 7:30 for 10 miles and then taper off. I run the opposite usually, start out slow then end fast.

Bottom line, I think it's great to read and talk about different theories. But as a runner, you have to make your own decisions as you know your body the best. I like getting advice from running friends and others that I feel pace/run the same as me. I will continue to use Higdon's plan BUT I will also tweak it a bit to fit my needs. I am following the Novice 2 but he doesn't plan for speedwork, I have been adding this in. If I don't finish this marathon with my results then maybe I'll check out another plan. But so far, I have done great, cutting my Half Marathon time by 15 minutes in one year, using Higdon. It's working so why change now.