15K Gate River Run Training

 I plan on doing the Gate River Run here in Jacksonville. It will be my second year doing it. Last year I finished under 2 hours, ran the entire thing, and was in pain for two days. This year I decided to train a little better.  It assumes that you have no major health problems, are in reasonably good shape, and have done at least some jogging or walking. If running 2 miles for your first running workout seems too difficult, you might want to begin by walking, rather than running. I also added some hill work. I will use a parking garage and stairs, and do it 2-3x. Then jog 1-2 miles after that. If I'm not hurting already! Speed work will be between an accelerated pace for 15-20 secs, then back to my regular pace. I'll do that for maybe half a mile. I'll test it and let you know how it goes. :)
For my cross training days I am currently doing indoor spin and swimming for 40 minutes.

I used the Halhigdon for a guide, and got some tips below from them. 

9 Week RR Training Program: 15-K Training Guide - Novice Program

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wed.	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
January 12th	2 miles	CT	2 miles	CT	0	3 miles	0
January 19th	2 miles/ Hill work	CT	3 miles	CT	0	4 miles	0
January 26th	3 miles	CT	3 miles	CT	0	5 miles	0
February 2nd	3 miles/ Speed work	CT	4 miles	CT	0	4 miles	0
February 9th	3 miles	CT	4 miles	CT	0	7 miles	0
February 16th	3 miles/ Hill work	CT	4 miles	CT	0	8 miles	0
February 23rd	3 miles	CT	4 miles	CT	0	9 miles	0
March 2nd	3 miles/ Speed work	CT	4 miles	CT	0	6 miles	0
March 9th	3 miles	CT	2 miles	CT	0	RR	0

CT= Cross Training (20-60 minutes)

From Halhigdon.com

‘HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED TO TRAIN to be able to run your first 15-K race? Some individuals who possess a reasonably good level of fitness (because they bicycle or swim or participate in other sports) could probably go out and run 9 miles on very little training. They might be sore the week after the race, but they still could finish.

10-Mile Training: The difference between 15-K (9.3 miles) and 10 miles is minimal. You can use these same programs to train for a 10-mile race.

The terms used in the training schedule are somewhat obvious, but let me explain what I mean anyway.


Running workouts: Put one foot in front of the other and run. It sounds pretty simple, and it is. Don't worry about how fast you run; just cover the distance--or approximately the distance suggested. Ideally, you should be able to run at a pace that allows you to converse comfortably while you do so. This isn't always easy for beginners, so don't push too hard or too fast. Under this workout plan, you run three days of the week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, Saturdays being a longer run.

Cross-Training: On the schedule, this is identified simply as "cross." What form of cross-training works best for runners preparing for a 15-K race? It could be swimming, or cycling, walking, other forms of aerobic training or some combination that could include strength training if you choose to do it on Wednesdays and Saturdays instead of as indicated on the schedule. And feel free to throw in some jogging as well if you're feeling good. What cross-training you select depends on your personal preference. But don't make the mistake of cross-training too vigorously. Cross-training days should be considered easy days that allow you to recover from the running you do the rest of the week.

Rest: The most important day in any running program is rest. Rest days are as important as training days. They give your muscles time to recover so you can run again. Actually, your muscles will build in strength as you rest. Without recovery days, you will not improve. In this program, Friday is always scheduled as a day of rest to compliment the also easy workouts on Mondays.

Long Runs: The longest runs of the 10-week schedule are planned for Saturdays, since you probably have more time to do them on the weekends. If Saturday isn't a convenient day for your long runs, feel free to do them on Sunday--or any other day of the week for that matter. Don't run these long runs too hard. Keep them at a "conversational" pace; meaning, at a pace slow enough that you can converse with a running companion without getting too much out of breath.

Walking: Walking is an excellent exercise that a lot of runners overlook in their training. I don't specify walking workouts, but feel free to walk during your running workouts any time you feel tired or need a break. In the 15-K or 10-miler you choose, nobody cares whether you run every step of the way; they're more concerned that you finish. If this means walking every step in practice and in the race, do it!

Step back Weeks: You will notice that the weekly mileage does not progress upwards in a straight line. In Week 4 and Week 7, you run somewhat less than the weeks before. This is the "step back" approach. This give runners a brief break every third week so that they could gather strength before pushing up to the next level. It works for marathoners; it works for 15-K runners too.

The 15-K training schedule is only a guide. Feel free to make minor modifications to suit your work and family schedule.’