Trail running and hill training

by Gav
(Torino, Italy)

Hilly runs and the marathon plan, and adding cross training :

"Hi Marius,

I have two questions if possible:

1) If your marathon or half is a trail run with very hard climbs, what changes should be made to the program? I have a half where the first 8 km are one long climb from 1200 meters to 2600 meters.

2) If you train running and another sport at the same time can you change the program from 4 to 3 times a week? If so, which sessions should be taken out?

Thanks

Gav"

Answer: Hi Gav and thanks for your question.

To your first one, I've done some quiet extensive answering to this before, if you take a look at Hilly Marathon. It will give you all you need to ajust the 100 day plan for a more hilly marathon :)

If you change the program from 4 to 3 sessions a week, I would suggest taking out one interval training (hard workout) and one easy run every other week. Meaning, week 1 you take away the shortest interval training, week 2, the shortest easy run, week 3 the shortest interval training etc. That way, you balance the whole schedule out. In the marathon specific weeks though, be extra careful - in those you want to really focus on the marathon workouts and not do too much other sports.

I wish you all the best,

kind regards,
Marius