My New York City Marathon & Dopey Challenge Training Plan

     I can't believe that I'm actually typing out my New York City Marathon and Dopey Challenge Training Plan!! eeeeekkk!! This is really happening. And I'm still just in shock that I'm registered for New York City Marathon!!!! And Dopey Challenge, this will be my fourth time. I can't get enough of the 48.6 miles....clearly i've lost my Dopey mind! Lol.

     I posted a very similar post in 2014 when I was training for Dopey Challenge and Chicago Marathon at the same time. I've tweaked that schedule to fit my current running schedule. I have a few races scheduled and plan on adding more.

     I also gave myself a few extra weeks to train. Because Kids. Family obligations. Holidays. Life in general. And I'll be real honest..somedays I just don't feel like training. I know that's probably not the best thing to include in a training schedule post but it's the truth. Training for a marathon is exhausting. I can't be effective if I'm exhausted. If I'm exhausted, I need to take a break. So I included time to take a break. I refuse to beat myself up if I miss a run here or there.

      I"m excited to finally be able to say "I'm officially in training for New York City Marathon"!! Seriously, it's just the coolest thing EVER to me. I'm ready to train.
   
     I have each week listed and have minutes and miles on the calendar. Depending on my day, time limits and mood, I will either run 3 or 4 miles or 45 minutes.  My job keeps me in the gym all day and there are days when I work out for 6-7 hours. While that sounds like running should be easy, somedays it's just hard to get a run in.

     So here is my training schedule. I'm starting out with a Half Marathon. BAM!! Normally, I would not do that but this is the inaugural year for this race and it's getting HOT here in Bama...we don't have a whole lot of summer race options so I'm going to use this race as a way to log 13.1 hot miles and earn some bling in the process. ;)

     I don't have the days listed in which I will need to run. As long as I get the miles in, it does not make a difference to me what days I run. I'm not that structured. Some days I wish I were. Most days, I'm glad I'm not that structured.

     Another thing that I did in my schedule was after week 23, I started doubling up the mileage to prepare for back to back running days... i.e. half marathon on Saturday and full marathon the next day. Make sense??

     So this is my schedule for now. I'm sure I will add things and change things as they come up. No stress! If you are reading this and are training for New York City Marathon AND Dopey Challenge, hopefully, you might be able to use this training schedule also!

06/06--Week 1

45 minutes

45 minutes

3 miles

06/11--Tallulah Half 13.1 Miles

06/13--Week 2

45 minutes

45 minutes

4 miles

7 miles 

06/20--Week 3

45 minutes

45 minutes

3 miles
5 miles 

06/27---Week 4

45 minutes

45 minutes

5 miles

9 miles

                                               
07/04--Week 5
45 minutes
45 minutes
3 miles
10 miles

07/11--Week 6
45 minutes
45 minutes
3 miles
7 miles

07/18--Week 7
45 minutes
45 minutes
3 miles
12 miles

07/25--Week 8
45 minutes
45 minutes
4 miles
5.5 miles
07/30--Retro Run 5K 3.1 Miles

08/01--Week 9
45 minutes
45 minutes
3 miles
13 miles

08/11---Week 10
45 minutes
45 minutes
5 miles
10 miles

08/15--Week 11
45 minutes
45 minutes
3 miles
15 miles

08/22--Week 12
45 minutes
45 minutes
5 miles
16 miles

08/29--Week 13
45 minutes
45 minutes
6 miles
12 miles

09/05---Week 14
45 minutes
45 minutes
4 miles
18 miles

09/12--Week 15
45 minutes
45 minutes
7 miles
14 miles

09/19--Week 16
45 minutes
45 minutes
8 miles
20 miles
09/24--St. Jude Walk/Run 5k 3.1 miles

09/26--Week 17
45 minutes
45 minutes
8 miles
12 miles

10/03---Week 18
45 minutes
45 minutes
5.5 miles
8 miles

10/10---Week 19
45 minutes
45 minutes
3 miles
9 miles

10/17--Week 20
45 minutes
45 minutes
7 miles
15 miles

10/24--Week 21
45 minutes
45 minutes
8 miles
5 miles

10/31--Week 22
45 minutes
45 minutes
11/06--NYC Marathon!! 26.2 Miles

11/07--Week 23
45 minutes
45 minutes
3 Miles

11/14--Week 24
45 minutes
45 minutes
6 miles
11/20--Magic City Half 13.1 Miles

11/21--Week 25
45 minutes
45 minutes
7 Miles
14 miles

11/28--Week 26
45 minutes
45 minutes
10 miles
20 miles

12/05--Week 27
45 minutes
45 minutes
6 miles
12 miles

11/12--Week 28
45 minutes
45 minutes
7 miles
14 miles

12/19--Week 29
45 minutes
45 minutes
5 miles
10 miles

12/26--Week 30
45 minutes
45 minutes
3 miles
6 miles

01/2--Week 31
45 minutes
01/4-01/8--Dopey Challenge 48.6 miles!

Happy Running and hope to see you either in the Big Apple or in Sunny Florida!