Would a 5k or 8k race 3 weeks before the marathon be detrimental? I want to do one to see where I am with the training and get a bit of a feel for what I could run the marathon in.
Better to skip or to do the 5k or the 8k?
Would a 5k or 8k race 3 weeks before the marathon be detrimental? I want to do one to see where I am with the training and get a bit of a feel for what I could run the marathon in.
Better to skip or to do the 5k or the 8k?
Honestly, With three weeks out a 20-25K race would be more of an indication of marathon fitness. A 5K or 8K race would be more of a typical workout than an indicator. IMO....
HMArunner wrote:
Honestly, With three weeks out a 20-25K race would be more of an indication of marathon fitness. A 5K or 8K race would be more of a typical workout than an indicator. IMO....
Tried to find a half marathon nearby but didn't find any.
Pfitz recommends an 8-10K race exactly 3 weeks before the marathon. He says it's a good confidence booster without taking too much out of you. I think he would say that a half marathon 3 weeks out would be too close to race day.
Pfitz has 8-10k two weeks out as I recall? Although perhaps I'm remembering a different plan.
PfitzMaNitz wrote:
Pfitz has 8-10k two weeks out as I recall? Although perhaps I'm remembering a different plan.
You're right. I just checked. He has one 15 days before the race, not 21 as I thought. Regardless, I don't think he would recommend a half as a tune-up 3 weeks out. The longest tune-up in his plan is a 15k (unless you're doing 85+ mpw).
it's not necessarily detrimental, but it can be argued that it brings very little too.
pfitz plans have some speedwork in the last weeks, which will leave you prepared for racing a 5/10k race. other plans will have you focusing on tempo and MP workouts. A 5k race at this point will most likely be subpar.
Peaking has to be taken into account: you don't want to (mini-)taper for a race 2 weeks before the marathon. save it for the marathon.
another aspect, usually neglected, is energy expenditure. you want your body to be able to use fat as much as possible during a marathon. a 5k is like telling your body it is ok to burn through all the glycogen. it is a tiny tiny issue in a sea of training variables you have poor controllability, but worth mentioning IMO.
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