Take sixteen weeks of the FIRST Marathon Training Plan, add three national holidays, spice with one marathon, one half marathon and one 10k, fold over twenty eight weeks of the Official Disney Goofy Race and a Half Challenge Training Program,  marinate in two running buddy schedules and VOILA!  the Donna Schumacher’s Goofy Challenge Training Plan!!

Orange highlighting indicates races used to give structure to the daunting preparation phase of 28 weeks, to break it up and provide intermediate goals.  Purple highlighting indicates holidays when it will be challenging to train. Y is for yoga, S for swimming, PMP for predicted marathon pace, w for walking and MT for medium tempo.  Easy as pie. yes?

My springboard was the Missoula Marathon which means that I started by training for a marathon, with a training plan based on a one simple rule.  Run 10% more than the previous week for three weeks in a row,  back off one week and repeat.  This got me to my goal of crossing the finish line in one happy-ready-to-train-more piece.

For the Half Moon Bay Half, I wanted to prove to myself that the less-is-more philosophy of the Furman Institute was the right approach for me.    I ran only three days per week, albeit running faster using intervals and tempo runs.  I cross trained two or three times a week with swimming or a more vigorous yoga class.  The training schedule felt light and somewhat luxurious with all the lounging in the sauna after a swim, yoga classes and even the occasional glass of wine on a night off.  Best part, no injury and a PR.  FIRST training (FT) rocks!

Post HMB, a fourth run was added to each week, theoretically at least, a Friday run which is one half the distance of Saturday’s long one.   But I was intermittent and lackluster with my effort.   In searching for inspiration, I found the Run Wild with a Child 10K for the Sunday after Thanksgiving.   This will be my first 10K so I am curious to see what it might be like and how I will do.   By accommodating the walking needs of my non-running friend, I stumbled across a positively brilliant idea for the formerly frustrating Friday pre-Saturday runs.  I walk with her first, then turn around and run the route all over again.  The viability of the walk first then run it Friday is an adaption to Official Goofy cross the finish line while upright Training schedule which recommends walking the Friday half mileage day rather than running it.   So there- it’s not cheating, honest.

My heart sinks a little when I realize there are only nine weeks to go.  A bit of that nervous thrill that I am sure will be pumping through my veins in early January.  Remind me never to sign up for a double or an ultra again, OK?