Why I'm Training With Garmin Advanced Marathon Training Plan

[@cai0]

Video starts at 2:48 ;)

[@AckerQ.]

Got to your comment at 2:43…

[@GTE_Channel]

I'm currently doing the 5k plan. I really like how it works, as you say a lot of different variations so no day feels exactly the same. I have no doubt, I will keep using these plans till my first marathon.

[@cai0]

I am following a Garmin Marathon plan that I created directly on the watch (Epix2), and I found it better than the programs on Connect, because it actually tells me the pace that I need to keep, to achieve the goal that I set. - I chose the event, e.g. Gold Coast Marathon, so it knows the race day (yes, it has a database of events) - I chose my goal, e.g. 4h - It creates a plan with those phases (base, build, etc) - It tells me the pace for the easy run, the sprints, etc. - It shows my goal, e.g. 4h, and what it thinks I'll be able to do, based on progress, e.g. 3:45 Absolutely love it!

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

That’s great. I love that feature. I did set my spring marathon into my garmin calendar and often times am checking in out of curiosity just to see what garmin would suggest on any given day to reach my goal and it seems to have pretty good suggestions. But I have not used it for a training cycle yet. Happy to hear it’s working for you 👍💪

[@andreta77]

I completed Garmin Coach Half Marathon guided training plan with Greg McMillan last summer, but did not even know that there are also self guided plans. I am signing up for a marathon plan to train for my second marathon in October!

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Sorry I missed this comment from before. Hopefully training is going well. It's funny, really have started trying to get more and more out of my Garmin watch rather than just tracking my runs. So many features to tap into.

[@annehalgren]

Thanks for the video. I'm getting ready to start a training cycle, and stumbled upon your video when looking for a review of the Garmin marathon plans. The time-based training is new to me as well, but I'm willing to give it a go.

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

It's different from how I used to train, but it definitely has it's benefits.

[@shmu_el]

I'm on week 6 of a half marathon Garmin Coach program. It was really weird having time instead of distance target but it's really great.

[@derricklaychuk8965]

Again your videos are greatly appreciated, you are one step ahead of me on my journey. I am 5 weeks away from my first marathon. I wanted to hire a coach because the marathon plan is so important, but I believe a good coach that is truly better than a "freeish" plan is hard to find.

[@derricklaychuk8965]

Oh, and it is great to see Canadian content.

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Thanks. Good luck on your marathon I would love to hear how it turns out. I've had a few debates with myself about whether or not I should hire a coach for my training. There are so many resources that are available it's always in the back of my mind whether a coach would be worth while or not. Honestly, one of the biggest benefits of having a coach for me would be to have someone there that would keep me from second guessing any decisions that I am trying to make. Making any adjustments in my plan because of time constraints or maybe even a little soreness that feels it might potentially lead to an injury. Lots of valuable information out there, but having someone to personally guide you, keep you accountable and motivated might does carry some value.

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Thanks, it's one of the things I love about this whole KZbin experience. Connecting with folks from all over. Proud to be Canadian

[@derricklaychuk8965]

@@WhatMatterstoMatt If I knew that coach existed, I would be sold. I do think getting through the first race on my own efforts is a milestone I personally need. But, I would love to have someone who would analyse my run, and push me to the utmost of my ability. I hate even referring to it, but I would love to earn a Boston opportunity..and I think a great coach would take the guesswork out of the story. Have a great weekend.

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

💯 with you

[@JogforJoy]

Hi Matt! Thanks for sharing this, very helpful! I couldn't find the Marathon plans on the app, but now I know!

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

No problem at all. Never understood why they are not on the app or why they can’t figure out an adaptive marathon plan like the others that they include in the app. But in the end still love the marathon plan

[@copperdan7667]

I am excited to see what you think of this training program. I have also veered off of a Hal Higdon training program and I actually hired a coach. She is an online coach and has her own KZbin channel, Running with Jane. Next week is week 1 for me so I will also share how it goes. I have a feeling it might be similar to an advanced Hal method because Jane also highly regards Hal. Trail running: You are going to quickly fall in love with it. I signed up for two trail races that coincided with my training block for Grandma's Marathon. A 17-mile trail race that was 1 loop of an ultra. The next day my glutes hurt so bad. The hills were so steep along with the mud and the sand. Best time I have ever had. Two weeks later I ran a 19-mile trail race. It took me well over 4 hours to give you an idea of the difficulty. Again, awesome experience. I truly believe those two races really helped me build leg and glute strength that helped my success in Grandma's. p.s. I think you should get that shirt in a racing singlet. You might scare the competition. lol. Have a great weekend, Matt.

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Thanks, I love Running with Jane. I have been following her for awhile now. Fingers crossed, maybe one day I can have her on the channel for a quick Q&A? Please keep me in the loop on how your training is going. Trail running has been something I have wanted to do for awhile. After that first marathon and having a discussion with a few folks on how I might be able to increase my overall mileage and add some variety to my training and trail running was one of the suggestions. I'm hoping it will help me develop into a stronger runner overall and give me the chance to get out and try something new.

[@jeffreylevans]

Garmin is based around vo2 max, high intensity, sugar burning system. Maffetone is based on fat burning, submax mitochondrial building system and well suited to endurance. One formula= run in zone 2 always. Performance increases at that heart rate.

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Absolutely. Likely, I feel my overall progress might potentially be greater using Maffetone and also likely less risky from an injury perspective. Right now, my focus is on what keeps me interested and how I enjoy to push myself through the workouts. I’m currently training through another marathon block using the Garmin plan for a spring marathon. My training will likely need to change rather quickly once the marathon is over as I focus on an ultra I have coming up later in the summer.

[@michaelmulligan0]

So annoying that the marathon isn’t on the app

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

I know. Not sure why it has been excluded from the app and only found within garmin connect through a web browser

[@KillingTheUnsaid]

This

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

👍

[@scottelliott9887]

Thank you Matt. Completed the half marathon program last year. I had no idea there were other training programs available. Looking forward to my first marathon this year. Keep up the great work!

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Thanks. Also, I'm not really sure why Garmin do not include the marathon programs in the app. They seem to stick to the guided ones for the app which not only keeps someone from even knowing that the marathon ones existed but even other options that happen to be available at the other distances as well. I hardly ever went into garmin connect on the computer until I happened to stumble onto a post from someone who had been using it.

[@ndminh70]

Thanks Matt. One thing I'm not sure is, if an Intermediate plan is good for me given I'm after a time target of sub 4 or an Advance plan? Garmin seem not to provide any guidance on this with their Self-guided plans. On the other hand, Hal Higdon app is pretty clear by asking for a target time and race date in the first place.

[@bozo415151]

Hey man awesome video , thank you for the great content. But currently on the connect website they have 2 options of advanced training . One is based on HR and the other isnt . Wich has the trail runnings you mentioned ? keep on the great work , love from Brazil

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Hey, it seems to come up in the advanced plans more. Mostly during long easy runs with the suggestion "run off road if possible" But to be honest, in a lot of plans I will take a few of my easy runs off road just to make it a little easier on the joints.

[@cristian-adrianfrasineanu9855]

I dont't get it why they haven't added the self guided plans to the mobile app as well. I didn t event know this feature was available

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

💯 agree it seems like an odd choice to keep the other plans off the app. There are even a number of other plans at the other distances (5km, 10km and half marathon) that are only accessed through the website. The app only has the guided/adaptive plans

[@VFella]

So, basically, not really useful for a veteran used to create his own workouts. I was searching information about the Garmin plans, specifically because they were guided. The idea was to take away some of the hassle of having to figure out everything by myself. Although, somebody on Reddit pointed out that he had increased his mileage adding easy days, so that it may be a good option... I need to continue researching

[@thadstuart8544]

I dig the hat!! What brand?

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Can't believe I missed your comment. The hat is a bit of a no name brand. It is something that I picked up a few years ago from my local ski hill.

[@gallolocoparisien]

Hi, quick question: can you mix marathon training with other activities such as weightlifting and BJJ? Thanks

[@ArchdukeTea]

thanks for the video. I can't understand one thing in this advanced training plan. if you have two workouts A and B in one day. should you do both or you can choose one of two?

[@philipmills8517]

Have you found a way to carry over the non-running activities (body weight exercises, strength training, yoga, etc.) from your Garmin website calendar to the Connect app? So far, I don’t see a way to make this happen, and I have to keep logging in to the website to check. I’m training for my 8th marathon and I just started using this advanced plan for the first time. Historically I’ve gone with the Intermediate plans, and gave little thought to the non-running activities. But this go-around, I’m incorporating the other activities as prescribed by the plan.

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

So far, I have not. But now that you asked the question, I definitely feel that it's something that I will have to look into.

[@marisaksaunders]

for a first marathon or first half marathon as a somewhat beginner runner would you still recommend the Hal Higdon Novice, or do you think that the Garmin Coach beginner half marathon or beginner marathon plans would be better?

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you on this. I honestly feel that both options are pretty good. I have found that there tends to me more variety in some of the Garmin plans. Which can be great both to keep the training interesting and expose you to different types of runs and paces more often. But Hal Higdon can be a bit more straight forward and safer. When you are increasing distance and/or volume it can be a easier to see the progression in your training. Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.

[@KillingTheUnsaid]

Have u tried the adaptive training w garmin?

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

I have not tried that yet. Mostly the marathon plans that I have tried and they are not adaptive. But hopefully if I get the chance to look at some shorter races I will

[@KillingTheUnsaid]

@@WhatMatterstoMatt I did it for my half in 2 weeks, and love it! Def recommend

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

@@KillingTheUnsaid I might have to take a closer look. Thanks so much

[@Jaragreene]

I’m doing the half marathon plan with Amy, and so far i’m not too happy about it. I like easy runs, but thats all it is & some days not a ton of mileage which concerns me

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

I have not had a chance to check out any of the half marathon plans. Is the mileage lower than what you are used too

[@Jaragreene]

@@WhatMatterstoMatt yes! and everytime she has a time trial planned on the following week, she won’t give you a heads up of what you’ll be doing. I understand that time time trial has an impact, but at the same time i’d like to be able to know how many gels i need to buy for the upcoming long runs. Also, with the holidays coming up, its nice to know how many miles / time you need to carve out of the day when visiting family

[@anitaberendsen9525]

Maybe a faster person doesn't have to run the time you have to run. Comparing before concluding

[@sundark6503]

Rubbish