This has been my best ever week in running. This is how I trained.

This story is a bit narcissistic. Because how I trained this week is out of reach to most amateur runners, even the most passionate ones. Of course, there are runners at my age (forty-two) who are much better. But not many. Somehow I got to this level, at the age of forty-two. It all happened in the last two and a half years. I feel most confident about running a sub-2.45 marathon in a few months.

The mileage (78.5) was high, my second highest ever, but the feeling of pleasure isn’t about the volume. Every single run felt awesome. I felt strong. There are some weeks when everything seems to come together and you realize you’re hitting your top shape. Of course, during some of my harder runs this week, I felt tired at the end but I was never exhausted. The energy and the sense of calm were there, during, and at the end of every run.

So here, in case you too are training (approaching your middle-age years) for a sub-2.50 marathon!

You can find my exact workouts on Strava.

Most of my easy miles are in the 8–8.30 min/mile range. For my faster workouts, I warm up for one or two miles and cool down for a mile or so.

Monday (Florida, road running): easy 3 miles. My teenage son joined me. I prefer to run on my own but my family is an expectation. It always feels special to jog with my wife or my kids.

Tuesday (Florida, FAU running track). Hard intervals. 4 by 800 meters, then 2…