Training Program

I've decided to follow the novice marathon training program laid out by Runner's World magazine contributing editor, Hal Higdon.  I found this training program a couple of years ago when my interest in running a marathon first peaked and I bought Hal Higdon's book, "Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide".

I'll admit that I've only read sections of the book and I haven't read it cover to cover, but what I have read I've really enjoyed.  Here's the training program I am following- directly from Higdon's book and also published on his website:

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	rest	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	rest	6	cross
2	rest	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	rest	7	cross
3	rest	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	rest	5	cross
4	rest	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	rest	9	cross
5	rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	rest	10	cross
6	rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	rest	7	cross
7	rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	rest	12	cross
8	rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	rest	13	cross
9	rest	3 m run	7 m run	4 m run	rest	10	cross
10	rest	3 m run	7 m run	4 m run	rest	15	cross
11	rest	4 m run	8 m run	4 m run	rest	16	cross
12	rest	4 m run	8 m run	5 m run	rest	12	cross
13	rest	4 m run	9 m run	5 m run	rest	18	cross
14	rest	5 m run	9 m run	5 m run	rest	14	cross
15	rest	5 m run	10 m run	5 m run	rest	20	cross
16	rest	5 m run	8 m run	4 m run	rest	12	cross
17	rest	4 m run	6 m run	3 m run	rest	8	cross
18	rest	3 m run	4 m run	2 m run	rest	rest	race

So today was the first 3 mile run of week 2 and it went great!  I got up this morning and got it in before it got too hot outside.  It felt amazing to have that accomplished by 7 am.

I like this training program because it's not too intimidating- the first 2 weeks just have 3 mile runs plus one long run on Saturday, so that's not too bad, and it just gradually moves up from there.  It's hard to believe that week 1 has already gone by- but kicking of that first week of training with Strides For Life was the perfect boost!

Are you following a training program? Which one and why?