Training Plan

Hello, this will be my first marathon and I was trying to decide which training plan to use. My thoughts were either the training plan on the Des Moines Marathon website or the Jeff Galloway method. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

I've used the Galloway plan and found it successful. Other good options can be found on Runnersworld.com. You never really know which plan is best for you until you've tried a few. The basic premise is to get in 3 quality workouts a week (one speed, one tempo, and one long distance). Any other runs per week should be relaxed, easy runs. Your long runs should not increase by more than 10% a week. The best parts of training for your first marathon are experiencing the unknown and tackling a challenge. You'll never forget crossing the finish line of your first marathon. Enjoy it!

I have had luck with the training plans by Hal Higdon at halhigdon.com. (That is to say, I finished my first marathon following Higdon.) I don't know that it's much better than any other plan. I have a friend who is more experienced than I, and she swears by Galloway. In any case, the important thing is to keep plugging away. Build up a little bit at a time. And enjoy it!

BVCC (Ben)

Ditto Hal Higdon

I only ever hear about Galloway and Hal Higdon.

Can anyone here attest to other training plans? (I've read about the others, but never read anything from people who've used them.)

Thank you.

What about the FIRST training program? I've heard of it, but not about it.

Does anyone have details about it?