Introduction

In the paragraphs below, I have laid out the actual program I followed, in preparation for a marathon.  This is not a recommended training plan.  Rather, it is a historical training log.  It may only be useful and applicable to me, but I believe it provides an excellent reference.  

I do recognise that most marathon training plans are 12 weeks long; but for me that would have meant training through the festive season or eating into the Comrades training block.  While I would have preferred 12 weeks of prep, I had to do with 9.  So, in a way, this log provides some insight as to what an 9-week plan could deliver.  Basically, 9-weeks was a default amount and not an actual thing!  

Note:  These 9 weeks of training were built on a full year of solid training in 2023.  I ran just over 3400kms in 2023.  However, November and December of that year were rest months, where I averaged less than 150kms per month.  So, leading into January 2024, I was well rested, but still with a good level of fitness.  

Goal: The aim was to beat my, GPS measured, marathon personal record (PR) of 2h54m and 11s, at the Vaal Marathon on the 3^rd of March 2024.  I will get into the reasons for choosing this race later, but I want to mention why I chose to attempt it at this time of the year.  Linking to the earlier comment, running hard in the beginning of March, leaves me enough time to recover and then train for the Comrades Marathon in June 2024.  Mind you, this kind of effort is not recommended by many experts who would say it is too close to the Comrades for comfort.  I agree!  But for me, my body is still recovering well, and I want to capitalise on the gains that the Comrades’ training plan is giving me.  It would be a pity to gain all this running fitness, and then not really use it. 

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