Changes

| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''[[FIRST]]'''

The [[FIRST ]] plan is my preferred training approach and is available in the book [http://www.amazon.com/Runners-World-Less-Faster-Revolutionary/dp/159486649X Run Less, Run Faster]. The [[FIRST ]] plan builds on the Jack Daniels approach of providing specific training paces based on fitness level, which provides clearly defined workouts. The unique attribute of [[FIRST ]] is running only 3 days per week, with two days of cross training. This tends to make [[FIRST ]] a tougher training plan, as every run is a hard workout.

* My take: A great training plan, though it requires some mental effort to read and understand how the plan works. Overall I prefer the [[FIRST ]] plan, though the 'Elite' plan is one of the few I've seen that focuses on high performing runners who are prepared to put in a lot of effort.

* My take: Some good plans with basic guidance around training plans, but not as sophisticated as Jack Daniels or [[FIRST]]. The plans involve a lot of long and medium long runs, and some speedwork. There is a note that the long runs should be 10% to 20% slower than goal marathon pace, but there is not advice on how to do the calculation, or tables to use.