FAQs

Yes. You will get fitter with the longer program, progress safely and gradually, and will potentially race faster. This is because it takes time for your body to adapt to training stresses. We realize that many runners are not prepared to make a 6-month commitment and so we provide shorter programs that optimize your training for the time you have and still keep it in a sound balance. For a marathon, especially for newcomers, make it as close to 24 weeks as possible.

We have adapted this program for all runners, even the busy ones who have limited time to dedicate to their training. You can opt for 4, 5 or 6 days-a-week training schedules. If you need to miss days we have provided Priority Numbers to the weekly workouts so that you can easily choose which one to skip and still get the most from your schedule. Keep in mind that the more often you run the better but if you have limited time to dedicate to running Running Wizard gives you the best possible result.

You won't have to – Running Wizard will modify your schedule to fit the timeframe you have between now and your event, the number of days you have to dedicate to training, your current pace and your level of fitness. While we give guidelines, the quantity of running is up to you. What’s more, you won’t be asked to do 100-mile weeks unless it is completely appropriate at your stage of progress. This is one of the most common misconceptions about Lydiard training. Running Wizard pitches the training to fit you which is what makes these online schedules unique.

No, it is not. Even base training contains some comfortably fast aerobic training, so that you cover a complete range of paces. Typically the paces feel slow to the speedy-type runners like yourself to begin with but this is done because there is a value in training your slow twitch muscle fibers at the beginning as these will greatly contribute to your endurance. Workouts in the later stages of the schedules require you to run very fast at times. The beauty of this training is that your schedule gradually progresses you up the pace ladder so that you gain both endurance and speed in combination. Not only will you be able to race a faster pace than previously but you will also be able to sustain it for the duration of your event.

Once you have downloaded your Running Wizard Plan there are no refunds. Running Wizard provides one of the most used and tested methods for efficacy and are carefully written to minimize your risk of injury - it is your responsibility to use it in a way that does not derail your training. To guide you against that happening, record your Daily Recovery Indicators. There is a lot of research behind these that make them your best insurance against injury and illness. If you do not follow the training guidelines nor mind the signals of your own body consider your injury time an important lesson in curbing your typical runner's 'A'-type personality and heeding the Lydiard Principles of Feeling-Based Training/Response-Regulated Recovery. Whether you learn the hard way or the easy way each runner has to find how to make their training effective rather than defective. In the event of special circumstances contact us.

The priority is to be completely healed from your injury so that you do not redo it. Usually an injury is the result of overtraining so trying to make up for lost time is a big no-no. Gradually build back up using easy paces and increasing the volume until you can run freely and confidently on the injured part. Then reinstate the program where it is at. Within a few weeks you should be running better than ever. Many runners find that they make a quantum jump after an injury, so trust your body's wisdom in arranging circumstances to give you extra recovery. You probably needed it. It is often is smarter than your brain.

You can occasionally substitute certain workouts (Out & Back Runs, Progress Calibration Runs and Time trials) for races as long as you use those races within the pacing guidelines of your schedule i.e. use the races as training so that you do not interrupt the flow of your schedule. But do not expect to PR in these training races (although we have seen many PRs set during the course of completing Running Wizard program). If you have never specifically peaked for a race before the deferred gratification is well worth it. It will take your racing to a whole new level. Once you have established a good base you will be able to sustain a peak for quite a period and could race well for an entire season. For this use the Race-week / Non-Race-week schedule to ride the peak once you have reached it.

If your race is of some other distance choose the schedule closest in distance to it. For a 20K select the half-marathon schedule.

No, you need the three factors for Running Wizard Recovery Indicators Index to calculate your recovery score and give you the recommendation for your day’s training. If it is too stressful for you to stand on a scale and get that valuable feedback simply put in your ideal weight every day (it must be the same) and let the computer make its calculation based on the other two factors. It will not be as accurate but will still be helpful.

If you answer the questions honestly Running Wizard will automatically select a plan that has a greater emphasis on speed for you. The base training period contains fartlek and the Out & Back runs which are sound introductions to faster running. You can add some 75 meter strides after your aerobic runs also to get leg turnover. This base period will be shorter for you to give you a full dose of the faster phases.

The whole premise of Lydiard training model is based on building stamina by doing the distance. For that, it is better to go slower and go far and try to cram everything in a short period of time by running harder/faster. If your high school son can handle 90-minutes at slower pace, it is better to do so than trying to run 60-minutes faster. It is not a matter of running 120-minutes slower vs. 60-minutes faster. If you can only handle 60-minutes, that means your aerobic base is not as adequate as you’d want. It happens often among younger runners that they prefer going shorter duration faster. It is not the sound approach. We recommend you go through our Leg-Building Program* to first build the total duration up. The longer you can run at the start of Running Wizard program, the better.

*Running Wizard plan kicks in when you are ready to run 60-minutes continuously. If you are at 15-25 minutes level, our Beginner's plans will get you to 60-minutes safely and effectively. If you are at 45-55 minutes level, it'll get you to 1:30. These Beginner's Plans are Leg-Building Programs.

Yes, you may add a conversational second run/jog/cycle/aqua-jog of 3-7 miles (or time equivalent) in addition to and at the opposite end of the day to your daily workout. Do not add any other type of workout than easy aerobic exercise or you could very easily defeat the entire plan. Generally the more miles the better but do keep an eye on your Daily Recovery Indicators so that you don’t go over the edge. Also pay attention to the rhythm of the schedule and do not use your second run to make every day look the same in mileage or effort. The weekly ebb and flow of running intensity and volume are designed to prompt the natural training cycle of stimulus/recovery to give you the biggest gains.

No. The improvement is built-in within the entire program. If you look carefully, you will see a steady increase/improvement with the pace throughout Running Wizard. If done correctly, the improvement is expected and it should come naturally. There is no need for adjustment on your part.

Our predicted/projected times are based on VO2 Max. In other words, it shows your potential performance. It is only a guideline based on averages. The times of your past performances may be more a reflection of gaps in your training, or poor racing conditions rather than your ability. For some people, in the marathon, their legs give in much earlier than their potential. On the other hand, your 5k time may not be a true reflection of your potential if you had not sharpened for the race. Because your actual marathon time is quite a bit slower than your predicted time, it is a good indication that you have speed but lack stamina. Go with the time which gives you the higher VO2 Max estimate, in this case your 5K time.

Ideally you go through the cycle twice in a year. Depending on your goal races and the racing season one cycle might be considerably longer than the other, especially if you plan to hit your peak and then go onto a Race-Week / Non-Race-Week schedule. Once you are in peak shape you can race your heart out for a period until your "base runs out". Ideally you would start your base at the beginning of winter when the conditions are much more suited to slower running and thus hit late spring in great racing shape. Once your peak starts to dissipate (and you will know it) then it is time to take a break. If you have peaked for a marathon or half marathon then a recovery period is mandatory. A break of some sort completes your season after which it is time to get back on a program starting at base training once again. If you are a busy racer you may decide to take more than 2 cycles. There are a variety of possible yearly combinations to suit your particular seasons. Here are a few suggestions:

1. 20-weeks / 16-weeks / 16-weeks
2. 24-weeks followed by 8-weeks of races (using race-week/non-race-week continuation schedule) / 12-weeks for indoor racing
3. For high school or college runners: 24-weeks (for outdoor track) / 16-weeks (for cross country) / 12-weeks (for indoor track).

We are currently working on automatic yearly planning program within Running Wizard. Once completed, you would plug in races that you would like to participate and it'll spit out the entire year's training plan for you.

The training paces are deliberately conservative. However there is quite a spread within the recommended guidelines so you may choose to often run at the top end of the suggested paces. Remember they are just guidelines and we want you to run at the pace that works for you. You are the arbiter of the workout so go by feel rather than by using the watch to meet a number on a piece of paper. If you are within the guidelines for what the workout is designed to effect physiologically then that is what matters. Remember long runs are for endurance. Endurance takes place at all AEROBIC levels. The hallmark of aerobic running is that IT IS OXYGENATING AND GENERALLY FEELS GOOD especially as you progress into the run. If you pace your aerobic runs so that at the end of the run you feel better than when you started then you will have gotten great benefit from it.

If you are like many keen overachievers you may find great benefit in making your aerobic runs easier than you have been running. This takes the pressure off, makes your runs more enjoyable, gives you better recovery and in the later phases will enable you to train with greater amplitude (hard days hard/easy days easy). Quicker paces are specifically developed with Out & Back Runs and later Progress Calibration Runs. Trust the process and resist extrapolating an end result from your training times. They are just pieces of the puzzle and are not accurate predictors of your final race time until you near the Integration phase of training.

Another consideration is that your races and thus your estimated VO2 Max may not be an accurate representation of your ability. If this is the case the training paces may well be too slow for you. Again you can solve this easily by going by feel. If you can comfortably run faster then run faster. Alternatively you can put in a faster race time and see if the pace charts make more sense. A warning though: make sure that your compass is always set to reach your final goal rather than to satisfy the ego in any one workout. Overreaching is a sure way to disaster.

No, switching days around can mess up the entire weekly rhythm, just in the same way that switching musical notes around in a musical score can wreak the symphony. Switching your Saturday and Sunday runs would put a Long Run before an Out & Back Run. If you do this you run the risk of entering your quality workout (Out & Back) glycogen deficient. You may be compromising a key workout and invite overtraining and/or injury. The best way to change days is to keep the pattern by shifting all your runs back a day. Do the Long Aerobic Run on Saturday; then Monday's Fartlek or short Aerobic Run on Sunday; Tuesday’s medium long Aerobic Run on Monday…so on and so forth.

Attempt to keep the schedule intact in the Integration Phase, as there is either a Time Trial or Race on Saturday and these are key workouts towards your goal race.

If the race is on Sunday in the final 6 weeks then forgo any Sharpening workout (100/100 or 50/50) the day after the race. Recovering from a hard effort is essential to realize the training benefit so jog easily instead.

Running Wizard provides choice of doing your Long Aerobic Run either on Saturday, Sunday or Monday and automatically shift everything around the long run in most parts. You may still need to make some minor adjustments according to the suggestion we have just explained.

Running Wizard is designed to get you in the best possible shape based on your starting point without over-taxing you. Long runs are based on time not distance as this is a much more physiologically sound way for you to train. The longest run tops out at 2 hours 45 which will enable 20 miles or more for anyone running 8:15 per mile pace of faster. If we have you running 20 miles at your pace you will be on your feet for 4 hours or more. Such duration can be very damaging for beginners and slower runners as they likely take too long to recover from the tissue damage done in the last hour and increasing chances of injury. While you may feel reassured that you can go the distance by trudging for long hours in training to cover 20 miles in one shot, you may well be setting yourself up for being fatigued on the start line of your race and find you have 'dead legs' early in the race. Those who have followed the Running Wizard plan generally have more overall miles in their legs but they have been able to integrate the runs better as they have not overwhelmed the body with too great a training load at any one time. Typically they arrive at the start of the race with fresh legs and cover the distance much more easily especially in the latter stages. Being fresh ensures that the entire racing experience is a lot more enjoyable.