Marathon Training for Women

Common patterns within their training plans

• all included some type of tempo run / fartlek

• all included a weekly very long run (exception Rosa who did a faster 90 min run). so a constant menu of medium distance runs to make up the miles was was not standard. 

• all included a weekly medium long run

• all included a repetition session (usually one) - Priscilla added hers in a latter training phase

• long repetitions (miles / 1kms) seemed to be preferred to short repeats

• there was a lack of the super session normally associated with track runners. training was controlled

• a few included weekly strides (Uta, Ingrid, Priscilla, Sonia)

• the top woman did a little less volume than the top men. 100 - 110 miles was about the average a couple did more and a couple did fewer

• the vast majority or training runs were a 40 to 60 mins. most of Joan's 6-13 miles runs were likely 10 miles if you do the maths.

• there was a lack of designated hill sessions (no doubt covered in hilly runs)

• former track runners were more inclined to include track sessions and easy recovery days, and do less total mileage under 100 miles (Lorraine, Grete (according to "Lore of Running"), Sonia, Linda)

• those who only specialised in the marathon (eg Rosa, Joan, Uta) ran more miles (around 120) and had more focus on overall faster steady longer running. Uta and Ingrid used more of a hard/easy approach. 

• some cross training (Ingrid with CC skiing), Lorraine. Priscilla (swimming / water running) and Linda (cycling) 

Sources of the training plans are from an excellent book - Running With Legends by Michael Sandrock, Irish Runner Magazine (Sonia O'Sullivan) and runningtimes.com (Linda Somers Smith).

Below are the training plans of the stars followed by generic training plans incorporating the ideas within tihs article.

Click on the tables below for a larger view.

Grete Waitz's training on lower mileage - http://sciencenordic.com/how-become-world-beater