Failure . . . JACK DANIELS marathon program . . . ideas?

Training Advice/Discussion Marathon

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8 years ago 09/03/2015 9:26pm EDT

re: Dr. JD esq.

I know this is a super old post but thank you! Reading this makes me feel much better. I'm 42 my pr is 3:29, and am hoping to hit under 3:25, really hoping for 3:19. I have been following this same plan. I kept up with all the workouts, but they have. Progressively gotten so difficult I was feeling awful about my training. I am on the same workout that you were on the 2 miles easy, 12 miles or 100' @MP, 2 miles easy.. I couldn't do it, not even close. And mentally just even thinking attempting it made me exhausted. Hope your training that season ended well. I'd love to know what you ended up doing. I think I'm going to finish out my last 6 weeks with one of my older plans and just hope the rest of my training ends up ok. Thanks again for this post!

8 years ago 09/03/2015 10:03pm EDT

re: Meaghan

Trying to adhere to preset paces without considering conditions is folly at it's utmost. Just go by effort until the weather improves, then calibrate accordingly.

8 years ago 09/04/2015 8:50am EDT

re: Coacheriffic

I'm 53 and at 39 I tried the Daniels program and found the same thing. I felt like it was written for someone younger. That my body needed more recovery time than he allowed. You are not alone.

8 years ago 09/04/2015 8:53am EDT

re: Dr. JD esq.

I've been using Jack Daniels programs for the 5k/10k and half marathon. I'm about to move onto his Gold Elite Plan.

It's good that you realize how serious you need to take these workouts. You have to complete them.

From my experience, it sounds to me like you just need to adjust your VDOT. I was using an old 5k finish time for my VDOT. I was having a tough time completing the workouts. I decided to adjust my VDOT to a slower time and was then able to complete the workouts.

He talks about this in the book in terms of coaching but it applies to you(or anyones) situation. It makes absolutely no sense to beat yourself into the ground trying to do these intervals or repetitions at such a fast pace if you can't complete the workout. It'll be much more beneficial to slow it down, or push out the recover time(or both) than it does to keep trying and failing. The humidity is another reason to adjust the VDOT.

Hope that helps. Good luck !

8 years ago 09/04/2015 8:56am EDT

re: Jon_norelation_Wayne

annnnnnd this post is 5 years old and i feel dumb now.

8 years ago 09/04/2015 9:07am EDT

re: Dr. JD esq.

Dr. JD esq. wrote:
I am running Chicago 10-10. I live in the deep South. I am a 40 year old hobby jogger with a PR of 3:27 and a goal of 3:15 to 3:20. I have been following Jack Daniels marathon program pretty closely. This summer I have had problems hitting my goal paces for his quality workouts. That doesn't bother me too much because it is simply too hot and humid. I am getting the mileage in and the effort is there so I feel I am getting the intended training benefit.
But lately I have failed to complete some of the quality workouts. That is a big concern. I have failed to complete three out of the last six quality workouts. For example last week (week 14) I nailed the 2E + 4(5min tempo + 1 min rec) + 1 hour easy + 20 min tempo + 2E and the 7 x 1 mile. But today I crashed and burned at mile 9 of the 13 @ MP. And did the same two weeks before.
On the positive side my mileage is way up and my consistency is there. I got in 80 miles (all singles) last week and that is a source of confidence.
SHOULD I . . .
1. Just run easy until the weather breaks - which may be mid September in the South. And get in as many miles as possible
2. Split up the longer harder workouts into doubles. (Even though I don't run doubles). For example today I could have done 10 this AM w/ 7 at MP and 7 this afternoon with 4 at MP. I think I am leaning toward this option
3. Man up, grow a pair and keep hammering at it even if it was 86 degrees at 4:30AM this morning.
Appreciate your thoughts . . .

From your first couple of sentences it sounds like you have missed the point of Daniels completely: don't run workouts at goal paces.

8 years ago 09/08/2015 8:30am EDT

re: Meaghan

The problem with these formula workouts is that you are aiming at some imaginary pace rather than running on feel. The more you do this, the further away you get from improving your pace judgement and thus improving your running ability. You are just making yourself tired and slow. When you learn the art of running by feel, you give your natural ability a chance to develop.

And that is much more fun and rewarding.

8 years ago 09/08/2015 8:34am EDT

re: Meaghan

And that is much more fun and rewarding.

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Failure . . . JACK DANIELS marathon program . . . ideas?

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