Well last week I ran 6 days a week and this week is the same, 6 days a well. The thing is that I have a pretty big race Tuesday (qualifying race) and I didn't run today (Sunday). Yesterday I did a tempo run, for a total of 6-7 miles including warm up/cooldown. Tomorrow I'll probably do a run slightly under tempo but fairly easy (well it's probably going to be a few 800s/400s but I'll take them easier). Is this okay? How do you guys ever feel if you don't run the day before or the day of a race?
As a coach I would advise against that. Two days of no runs often are the cause in my athletes of a medical condition called excreation, where excrement makes its way up the intestines into the stomach causing vomiting and an unsightly scene.
VCHS wrote:
How do you guys ever feel if you don't run the day before or the day of a race?
If I don't run the day before the race, I feel sluggish the day of the race. If I didn't run the day of the race, I guess it wouldn't matter how I felt on race day since I wouldn't be running the race anyway.
Whoops! I mean I will be running the day before, I meant how do you feel if you don't run TWO days before.
ask Shalane
i like to do this the day before a race: pick an out-and-back course; start the run at a jog, then gradually increase the pace for 15-20 minutes until you're running at threshold pace for the final two minutes. stop and stretch a bit, then walk back, talking with your teammates about the upcoming race or whatever -- just relaxing and enjoying.
the run gives you a nice thorough warm-up, without tiring you. you can also finish the running portion at a venue where you can eat or drink something yummy and nutritious, like a smoothie or sandwich.
I dunno about meets, but I find that two days you feel a bit sluggish, one day rest is the best - that's what I do before really long runs 20+ and marathons. (Of course you also taper for a marathon b/c you need to build your glycogen stores...but if your racing shorter distances everythings different.)
GO run right now!!!
I think I misunderstood the thread title. From that, I thought you'd be taking Sunday AND MONDAY off; but from your post, it appears that you'll only be taking Sunday off, with a race on Tuesday.
That's completely fine--much better, generally speaking, than taking Monday off. You'll do great! Let us know how it turns out.
Remember, at this point in the season: "When in doubt, cut it out."
Bannister didn't run the 5 days leading up to his 3:59.
The main danger is in breaking your routine. Two days will not cause your conditioning to deteriorate, but it could mess you up internally.
Yes, that is correct, I didn't run Sunday but I will be running on Monday and the race is Tuesday. My coach is going to make us do something like 2x800, 2x400 the day before the race to "have us get some speed" but I'll take the workout easier and just take it easy. The race on Tuesday is to qualify for the actual big race 2 weeks later. Thanks a lot!