This is the intermediate level plan for the EcoTrail Wicklow 30 km race.
This plan is suitable to you if:
- Plan to begin training for EcoTrail Wicklow on the middle Monday of July
- You are training for the EcoTrail Wicklow 30 km
- You are not currently injured or carrying a niggle
- You can run at least 2 hours at good effort over hilly terrain
- You have run consistently for several years
- You run 6 to 7 days per week or more
- You have run at least 7-8 hours per week on average recently (if not you'll need to adjust down the starting
volume or lower your pace for all workouts)
- You have several years experience with different types of running sessions such as intervals and tempo runs
- You have experience with runs that are both intensive and extensive in nature
- You have access to some hilly terrain and trail as the plan includes runs on hills an trails (if not you must improvise: it's not ideal but work with what you have)
- Have a watch to record pace. A heart rate monitor is a bonus but not required
- You are aiming for a time in the first half of the field
The basic week revolves around:
- 2 weeks of BASE PERIOD, 7 weeks 'RACE-PRACTICE' training and a 2 week COMPETITIVE period consisting of a Taper week and a Race week
- 6-7 days training with occasional rest days on Mondays or Firdays (note you can switch days around to suit yourself)
- Average volume of 5 hours per week with minimum of 7.75 hours and maximum 9.5 hours
- 4 easier weeks (2 step-back weeks and the final 2 'taper' weeks)
- Faster work generally done on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Long Run Sundays ((if you shift this to suit yourself remember to move other workouts so there is not a hard run within 24 hours of the long run)
- Polarised training: Only about 20% of the total running volume is done at paces above AT (paces you would describe as 'faster than easy'). These faster element are spread over 29 of the total 57 runs (leaving 28 runs that are 'purely easy intensity')
I am an Irish-based endurance running coach with personal experience in nearly all disciplines and terrains and with the particular specialty of turning runners of modest talent into contenders.
My philosophy is to apply history's most successful methods each individual's specific situation. My training is designed to allow you to understand your own abilities better and to become increasingly independent, intuitive and confident in your training and racing.