Running maintenance training plans

[Jane11]

I am an ex-marathoner who took the past year off to focus on overall health. I decided to go to more of a fitness watch as opposed to my Garmin. When I got my Versa 2, my agreement to myself was to pay attention to cross training, eating, etc. When C19 happened and my boxing gym was closed, I started walking a lot. Since C19, I've lost 25 lbs.

I preordered the Sense and it has GPS. My agreement to myself with that is to start running again. I'm going to do a C210K program. I'd like my long run, once getting to that is done, to be 5-8 miles, depending. That way I can easily train up for a half if needed and with advance preparation, to a full.

Does anyone know of a good maintenance plan? I always had coaching and was training for something. I have no idea when there will be in-person races so I'd like to keep it fun but practical so the base (albeit a low miles base) is there for when I need to do more. I'm researching online but figured I'd ask in case someone else has gone through the same thing.

[Gershon]

I suggest books by Jeff Galloway.

[Jane11]

I have some and looked at others. I will look again! I like him but am not sure how disciplined I want to be in run/walk as I reinvent how I run.

[emili]

For me, cardio has always been a fly by the seat of my pants activity. I set my miles, my pace, my inclines to suit. I prefer to be my own "coach" when I run because I am in a mindset of it has to get done. try coming up with your own plan and see if it works for you. When I first started lifting, I couldn't imagine doing it or knowing what to do without a trainer. I had one for about a year. he took me through bootcamp, taught me to box and showed me the basics of maintaining strength. Now, I am my own coach for that as well. I will say that I know lots of folks who can't go without a class or trainer telling them what to do. There is something less stressful about not having to plan the next move, just execute. 

[Jane11]

Thank you!!! I can do my own easily if it's familiar. Building base then going into specific race training is, to me, easy to figure out. The variables here are that I'm starting from zero, which is really new for me. And once I get up to the distance I want, then hovering around that distance until I'm ready to train for a specific distance. I tend to go harder in training than I should, which is why I like to look at plans because if it were up to me, I'd be looking at mile splits no matter what the workout type. I'm also subconsciously lazy. If I don't schedule it or have someone else schedule it, it's SO easy to say "ok, run day will be tomorrow" only to move it again the next day.

I've never (to my knowledge) maintained running. For a while I was running marathons so often I was constantly doing a long run. Or I'd finish the season then have a 2-3 month gap so I'd crosstrain before starting back up. I've been researching then I'll figure out what I think is best. I don't necessarily need to answer to anyone other than myself but I do need it written down and followed. Habit I guess 🙂

It sounds like you are doing great though! And you are disciplined.