2024 Chicago Marathon: Part 2

Week 8 of marathon training just wrapped up. This nearly marks the halfway point in our training program. In this last week, we ran 13 miles for the first time in the program which is half of the mileage for the big race. In another 7 weeks, we will have our longest run of the training program- 20 miles. Effectively, I’m calling the end of week 8 the halfway point.

tl:dr- Big goals can be accomplished with relative ease as long as you have a good plan/coach.

So far, training has been going very well. We have a good rhythm going of four runs per week. A short run, medium run, short run, long run. Week 8 gave us a nice routine of:

3 miles
6 miles
3 miles
13 miles

I have to say, when the training started I thought I had no chance of running four days per week. I assumed that time constraints and maintaining other training would limit me too much to hit more than two runs per week, but I’m making it happen!


The runs themselves have been going quite well, too- nearly every run has felt good. I’ve even had energy afterward. Other than a little calf soreness, no issues have come up. Yeah, I’m constantly hungry, but really the training has been going smoothly. The progression is very realistic. As I’ve mentioned many times before- I believe in training programs. Thoughtful plans work! This is no exception.


I do understand that this is probably where the training begins to get challenging, but I feel very encouraged at this halfway point. With that being said, there are some difficult parts of training. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate which means I have to do some runs on the treadmill which aren’t very stimulating. Sometimes I ignore the weather not cooperating... like last Wednesday when I ran 6 miles when it was about 90 degrees. Another bother has been timing of the long runs. I work weekends, so in order to get the long runs done before work we’re beginning at 5am. It’s cooler at that hour so that’s nice, but it makes for early Friday bedtimes and early Saturday wake ups. Lastly, the hunger is real. With this much volume of running, I am constantly hungry. Prepping enough food, waking up earlier to make full breakfasts, and shopping more frequently all take up valuable time.


Really, these are all small problems that we’re handling well. Overall, I cannot say it enough, the training program works. It’s very reasonable and I think it is setting us up to reach our goals.


Speaking of goals, how are my goals coming? Last time I wrote about my training I mentioned two goals:
1. Gain 5 pounds
2. Run the marathon

Well, I accomplished the first goal. I was able to gain 6 pounds. My strength training was going very well while building mileage. I was feeling very good. I was looking the way I wanted to look while balancing running. Unfortunately, as mileage crept into the double digits on our long runs, this has been harder to maintain and I have lost a fair amount of this weight as expected. This was the plan.


Going forward, the goal is to continue to try to maintain some weight as the running training continues. Mileage will increase and strength training will continue to decrease a little more, but not significantly.

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For those interested in the nitty gritty, I want to share how my training has changed. Prior to marathon training and in the first few weeks, I was a strength training 4-5 days per week. Large compound movements, slow tempos, higher reps, and lot’s of running accessory work would take me 45-60 minutes per workout. This helped me gain about 6 pounds and (so far) stay injury free. How are my workouts looking now? Different. Realistically, I probably have 6-8 workouts per week. Funny, more workouts, but they’re shorter. My workouts now are much more abbreviated- maybe 20-30 minutes at a time. I’m maintaining big strength movements and running accessory work, but much of my strength training accessory work is now left out. I only have so much time and energy in any given day so specificity matters more now. My primary goal is to run the marathon- so I should do the exercises that keep me healthy. My goal is no longer to gain weight, but instead just maintain my weight and strength so I’m choosing to cut out the extra volume.


I’m asked often, “how do you train?”. The answer is confusing and boring. I typically strength train for 20 minutes 8x week and run 4x week (currently about 25 miles/week).

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Would I recommend this to everyone else? Absolutely not.


Runners who are following the CARA training program are asked to strength train 1-2x week. For me, this is absurd. That is so little and I would lose an exceptional amount of strength and likely weight. Every person is different. If you’re training for your first marathon and you’re a casual exerciser, this might be a good program for you.


I was thinking back, and I’ve determined that I have been regularly strength training for 20 years. I got a weight set and heavy bag when I was 12 years old. My body can tolerate a much higher level of stress via strength training than a casual exerciser. This is very much in the same way that some one who has been running regularly since they were 12 years old can tolerate a much higher volume of running than myself.

We’re all individuals who come to the training plan with our own strength and weaknesses. The CARA training plan is very good, but in some instances does need a bit of tweaking. In this large group setting, they do the best that they can. A training program made by a coach specifically for you can be dialed in much more specifically.

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The second goal of running the marathon is still very much in progress, but we’re halfway there! Again, I’m feeling really good. The runs have felt strong. I have no nagging discomforts. Nothing is dreadful. Sometimes it’s even fun!


I can’t say it enough. Training plans work. We’re training with the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) and they really put on a good program. The programming of runs is effective. They have multiple training groups to join. They provide aid stations along the lakeshore. They really do a nice job!


I believe that most physical feats are possible with a good program, a good coach, and most importantly a good perspective. With those three elements, it’s just a matter of planning, communicating, and staying realistic. I never thought I would be running a marathon, especially while trying to do all of the other things I like, but here I am and it’s going very well!


So my final thoughts, don’t be afraid to step out and try something. Set some realistic goals and you’ll do great. If you haven’t read my last blog about prioritizing goals, it may help you gain some perspective on what’s possible.


If this blog has made your curious about running a marathon, beginning exercising, or anything else- I would be happy to spend some time to talk to you about your goals. Together we can get you started on your next goal!

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