Running a 5k a week before goal marathon? Yes or no. I know it's not ideal but I want to do it. Appreciate thoughts

Do it. Don't see any reason why not. It used to be more common to race really close to a marathon, especially when the 10k/marathon Olympic double was more common. That was usually 9 days I believe. Maybe 8 some years. Shorter did it. Salazar did it. Rupp did it.

5k will probably go well. I wonder about the marathon goal. You should be close if you don't start unrealistically. If you start at the pace of your best concievable race and try to get your dream time, you might not be close.

Thanks. I do realize 2:35 might be too ambitious for the marathon goal. Might tailor closer to the tail end. Considering starting out above 6 flat and then trying to work down and hold around 5:55-6:00 the rest of the race, after several miles in.

I don't want to do the 5k if it will jeopardize my marathon since that's obviously my goal race and what I've been building to this whole time. But I am very tempted to get a nice quick 5k in can't lie about that. I feel a bit better seeing that Pfitz is saying to do 3x/mile 10 days out so I figure a 5k race can replace that more or less. I know it's not a 1:1 but still similar..

Why would it not be ideal? Contrary to popular thought, your legs will not fall off if you race more than once or twice a year.

During marathon training I’ve always run hard/fast parkrun (5k) every week, never causes an issue, also ran a parkrun at marathon pace the day before several marathons without issue.

Unless you get injured running fast for 15/20mins I wouldn’t worry about it

To echo others, I'd say go for it. I ran a road 5k pr a week before a big half marathon pr and thought the 5k helped sharpen up and it also let me take a little pressure off for the half marathon. Even though I cared less about the 5k, by already having a good race result in the bank I felt like I could still be happy with the block if the target race didn't go as well as I hoped, and then I think I ran better in the target race feeling a little more relaxed.

I'd wonder if an all out 5k effort 7 days before a 'thon would leave you fatigued/impair performance for the full mary. Sounds like you have a solid foundation though and a good amount of strength.

I'm a bit surprised that Pfitz's plan recommends 3x1600 at 5k pace a week and a half out. Didn't realize that I guess. But if it's in the plan then I do somewhat agree with your line of thinking that running a continuous 5k as a race is an okay alternative to that workout. Granted, a race will take more out of you than the workout, but maybe not drastically so. It's hard to say but I think overall you can race the 5k and still do well in the marathon.

IMO, the biggest argument against doing it is that you might tweak something during the race and you have to go into the Marathon compromised or worst case have to drop out.

Seems pretty stupid to me. With one week to go you are what you are fitness wise. No work out is gonna change anything . Why take the risk if the marathon is important to you?

Do it. It's only 5 km. In 1975 I ran in the National Cross Country Championship, 10 km, on the weekend before running what at the time was my best marathon and still is #2. Shorter often raced in that meet a week before Fukuoka.

HRE,

I am surprised you did not mention Frank Shorter setting the 10,000 AR in finishing 5th in the ‘72 Olympic final a week prior to winning the marathon.

5k to marathon baby let’s get it!!!

Now that you mention it, I'm surprised too. Thanks for remembering it.