Training for the half/full marathon requires you to be predominantly aerobically fit. In the months leading up to your RACE, we'll train your anaerobic system and work on your speed, in order for you to be in the best possible shape. Hence the reason we have "BASE" training. During this phase I would like to work on building a solid platform, so we can ease straight into the 12 week schedule without any problems.

"Aerobic" training is exercising with the use of oxygen. This might seem a bit strange as you assume you need oxygen to run. However, aerobic running is conducted at a speed that allows your working muscles to be supplied with enough oxygen in order for them to function efficiently over a long period. If you were to go out and run as hard as you could, you would quickly slow down. This is because you are not getting enough oxygen to the muscles for them to work efficiently. The muscles produce waste bi-products known as lactic acid which floods the muscles causing you to tire. So, aerobic training is running at a slower speed allowing you to exercise for a prolonged period. Your foundation for a half or full marathon is aerobic fitness. There's little point in doing vast quantities of speed work, as this isn't the nature of the event. Of course to advance overall fitness, speed work will be done towards the end of the session. There's little point in been fast in the last few miles if you can't actually get there in the first place.