Garmin Coach plans?

[Curlygurly2]

Has anyone used the training plans you download to your Garmin watch from Garmin Connect? I've done a few so far, not had spectacular success but I kinda feel that's more down to me than the plan...(I was knocked out by my Covid jabs)

Now I'm following Amy's HM plan, 9 weeks to go to my race and I've done a long run every week - 12K or 16K...this week she has given me TWO long runs, I did 16K on Monday, and I have 17.K on the plan for Saturday...I was just on the point of thinking I would scrub the long run on Saturday when up pops a video pep talk from Amy saying to keep motivation and trust the plan....

Would you keep following the plan? The 16K I did as run/walk, and it did feel easier...I was thinking of doing the long runs on run/walk and run all of the shorter runs, this week also has 9K and 6K - does that sound like a good plan?

I was hoping to run all the way on this HM, and aim for 2:40 time, but I just don't think that's going to happen, now I'm just thinking of getting round...

[2718281 Half Marathon]

I did Amy's plan for my first half, I never had 2 long runs in one week, it was usually recovery run (half the distance of the long run), easy run, funny run (speed or tempo or something else), easy run (up to 5 miles, maybe?) and long run, with the long run increasing 1-2 miles per week, decreasing every 3/4 weeks (I was doing a 5 day plan, but the 4 day one should just take one easy run out).

It worked ok for me, I went from being able to complete 10k to complete the full distance running. You still have 9 weeks, it's a lot of time to be able to run all the way, but it's up to you if you'd rather walk/run, some people are faster doing it like that.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to 2718281]

My runs have pretty much followed yours but the long runs just seem to be a bit much. I see I have a recovery run instead of the usual long run on Monday, so perhaps next week will be the easy week. It's hard to plan when you don't see more than one week of runs.

I'm going to sort of play it by ear, I will pretty much follow the plan but I might reduce some of the distances and see how it goes.

[32112 in reply to 2718281]

Hi, I've been looking for you kind of feedback for a while : I thought my app was having some issue, but the distance decreased one in a while for you too ? I'm on the 8th week of Amy's HM program: I ran 16km last saturday, 8 today and the next long run is 12... Did you have the same pattern ? It's the first time since the beginning of the program that the distance is decreasing.

[2718281 Half Marathon in reply to 32112]

Hi 32112, I don't remember from which week, but the plan did have some periodisation, maybe 3 weeks increasing the long run and then an easier week. If you are already at 10 miles, I think it will only increase to 12 if you are running with a completion goal and 14 if you are running with a time goal (based on web.archive.org/web/2022120... . Given that you are at week 8, looks like you are doing really well!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to 32112]

I can't remember now, sorry! This post is 2 years old...

[Speedy60 Half Marathon]

Here's my health warning: Garmin, or any other online training programme, doesn't know you. It's not like having a personal coach, so you have to use your own judgement.

I learned this the hard way by using a Garmin strength workout and forgetting I'm 61, not 21! I now have piriformis syndrome and haven't run for 6 weeks. Previously, I was a member of a gym and had a programme worked out with a coach, who took into account my age, health and fitness. In five years I never had a serious injury.

I really envy you half marathon training, but listen to your body. Good luck x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I definitely wouldn't be doing a 16k and a 17k in the same week of a half marathon training plan!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I see I have a shorter run on Mnday next week, that would normally be my long run day, so maybe next week will be a "cut back" week. It's hard to tell, they only give you runs one at a time..

[sparky66 Half Marathon]

I've not used any plan myself so can't really give much advice on that, but running a 16K then a 17K in the same week sounds far too much for my liking..When is your HM ? If you've done your 16K this week..do another longer run with a six and a nine.. maybe up to 17/18K the week after.. then I'm sure youd manage your HM a week or two later.. trust your body.. keep running 3x a week..you should be fine 👌🏃‍♀️🤗

Sorry just reread..9 weeks till your race👍.. thinking you've plenty time wouldn't run too many runs over 15K ish maybe once a fortnight.. x

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to sparky66]

Yes, I'm a bit worried I'll burn out...I'm going to stick loosely to the plan, but probably reduce some of the distance.

[nowster Metric Marathon]

I had one look at the Garmin plans and went "No way! That's too much."

I'm doing my own thing at my own pace.

Amy's plan definitely is pushing you too hard. As others have said, they're more designed for twenty-somethings.

If you've done 16km this week and you've got 9 weeks, I'd suggest one long run per week.

The 10% progression starting at 16km would be: 17.5km, 19km, HM, 23km, 25km, 26.3km (metric marathon). You have enough time to progress less quickly than that.

For a race preparation, I'd suggest overshooting the HM distance by a bit, then cutting back in the last couple of weeks, maybe 10 miles two weeks before and 10km one week before.

The other runs in the week are probably best being shorter and slightly faster than the long one each week. 5km to 8km sounds about right. Similarly cut them back in the last fortnight.

You definitely want to be approaching race day feeling rested.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Thank you Nowster, of course, I never really thought about the age thing... I am far from 20 something!

Up till now the plan has largely followed the pattern you suggest, although it doesn't go quite so far, only up to 22.5 KM. I see I only have 8 KM on Monday, that would normally be long run day, so maybe she is being more sensible than I thought. Maybe she's just mixing up the days a bit...It's hard to plan though because you only see runs one at a time, one week ahead.

I'm going to play it by ear, I'm intending to run to parkrun, do parkrun, then run home on Saturday, about 12 KM not 17, with of course, some rest breaks before and after parkrun. Sound sensible?

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

That sounds fine to me. You're probably the best person to judge what you're able to do, and you'll know when you've overdone it.

[Impetuous Half Marathon]

I’ve tried the Garmin plans a few times and don’t get on with them, they just don’t seem to follow conventional logic on progression.

I’m now on the Nike Run Club HM plan (6 weeks to go) and finding that works really well for me. It’s basically 3-5 runs per week, with one being a progressively longer long run and the others being two easy ‘recovery’ runs and the other two being interval runs to help build speed, etc.

The only downside is that I can’t listen to an audio book while I run.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Impetuous]

I've only recently got NRC onto my phone, so far I'm really impressed...might be a bit late for my HM...

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

Hi. I tried Garmin but like you I think maybe it was me that was the problem... I gave up on it as I was trying the heart rate one and was getting a bit obsessed with it.... then I started NRC, which I'm enjoying more, but again Im way behind, I think the issue is with me not sticking to plans!!

it sounds a lot to me in one week, see how you feel I guess. good luck

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Deals1]

The HR one didn't work for me, it kept telling me to run slower and slower to stay in zone 2, like 11 mins per KM, that's slower than my walking pace, it hadn't started like that - and no matter how fast I ran I couldn't get up to Z4...I think the watch was faulty but the damage was done...6 months later I still haven't got my former speed, such as it was, back.

Not decided yet what I'll do on Sat might take an extra rest day, can't hurt...

[Impetuous Half Marathon in reply to Deals1]

For NRC I do the 15 minute recovery run and one of the tempo runs in the same session with the recovery run being my warm up. Then I do either the other recovery run or the other tempo run later in the week and then the long run over the weekend. They do say during the intro at the start of the plan that you don’t have to do all the runs.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

Following on from everyone's thoughtful comments, I thought I would just let you know - in case anyone is interested - I decided not to do the scheduled 17 KM yesterday, in fact I didn't even go to parkrun, I took another rest day, with just a very short walk. Thank you for your input.

[Speedy60 Half Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

That sounds like a sensible decision. Good luck x