Plan number 5? This is cool right? So pleased you have decided to stay on and I’m really happy with the plan I have created. I’ve made a few tweaks to how I build training plans and they are now based on training load, rather than mileage.

Each session has a “Training Load” depending on it’s difficulty. This is based on time/distance x RPE. So a 10k Tempo at half marathon pace will have a training load of 360 where a 60 min easy run is just 150. In the past both would have simply contributed 6 miles (approx) to the weekly total.

I’m hopeful this change will bring bigger gains. Also there is an element of periodisation which basically means the training changes over the course of the plan and then nearer we get to the race the more specific the sessions become.

For example in the first 6 weeks of your training plan you’ll run 15km at half marathon pace. In the last 6 weeks of the plan over 50km at half marathon pace. So come race day you should be dialled into that goal pace and primed to run a strong time.

I’ve stuck to 3 runs per week. Monday efforts, a Saturday long run/half marathon session and then an easy midweek run with strides. I’ve not put in any recovery weeks to this plan because I just don’t feel with 3 runs per week they are needed. Plus I’m sure there will be the odd occasion you might miss a run due to family commitments or illness.

I have put the Pier to Pier in there as I think it would be a good trial race for the Hastings Half. If you decided you wanted to add any more races we can do that as we go. It looks good though and exciting to continue our partnership. Let’s do this.

PS: I’ve kept the ratings the same as last time but if you feel they are slightly out of tune, feel free to edit them. Their purpose is to just act as a reminder of what you can work on and it’s also nice to make a comparison after each training plan.