When you miss part of your marathon training schedule

I found it particularly difficult to stick to my marathon training schedule week after week. A training schedule than can last up to six months is a big commitment! And let's be honest, none of us are perfect.

So what happens when you do slip a little bit? Runners world racing has some great information:

You may find that, after the initial burst of enthusiasm, regular training starts to get tedious, and you may be tempted to miss a day or two. Try to resist this, because the schedules rely very much on continuity. If you're forced to miss most of a week for some reason, don't proceed to the next week, but repeat the one you should have done. It may mean you have to miss half or all of the two-week module in Weeks 13/14, but at least you'll have built up to the 'plateau of fitness' in the right way.

One thing that can make training less tedious is training with a group! Get your friends involved, not just supporting you, but training with you. A marathon doesn't have to be a terrifying experience. Even a non-runner can go from couch potato to marathon finisher within months. Having the right guidance when designing your own marathon training schedule helps, of course. I found The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer kept me really motivated.