Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. In the meantime, I have drawn up my marathon schedule for the Ghent Marathon (March 29, 2026). It will be a special day because it is also my (wedding) anniversary. That means triple the enjoyment. Spectators are very welcome, also to eat cake afterwards.
My muscles are loosened up and I am happy to be back in a new training cycle. It’s still a shame that I wasn’t able to run the Antwerp Marathon.
I’m not publishing my training schedule here, but I would like to explain a few principles. I base my training schedules on literature (the most important pillar), my own experience and, finally, AI.
I would like to run my marathon in Gent under 3 hours and 50 minutes. I have managed to do this several times in the past. Unfortunately, we are not getting any younger. I am giving myself until I turn 50 to improve my best time (3 hours and 45 minutes).
I will train according to the pyramid system, which is not polarizing. The pyramid system involves training in different heart rate zones. To determine the heart rate zones, I use the Karvonen formula, which calculates heart rate zones based on your resting heart rate. I intend to use my heart rate monitor more in my training sessions.
The intention is to train in zone 2 for most of my training sessions, with one tempo run per week (heart rate zone 3) and one HITT training session (heart rate zone 4/5). The HITT workouts are considered intervals. In addition, I also want to work on my core strength at least once a week, and there are also alternative workouts (cycling/fitness/yoga).
For the month of November, I will limit my running volume, and from December onwards, my running volume will increase.
Every seven weeks, I will have a quieter week. Tapering will start two weeks before the marathon.
I will use the Bashirs’ run (half marathon) as a benchmark. I am aiming for 1:45.
With this plan, I hope to achieve a time of 3:50 in the Ghent marathon. In the Antwerp marathon, I would like to finish under 3:45. It would be great if I could do that.
© Dieter Bruyneel
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
DIETER BRUYNEEL (MIJN PEN, MIJN WERELD) 