Bad idea? Or a good chance to get in one last workout? Or a good workout to dial in marathon pace?
Bad idea? Or a good chance to get in one last workout? Or a good workout to dial in marathon pace?
Not a bad idea, but either dial back the last 3 miles or the first 3 miles. Not a great time to dip into the well, but it's a good opportunity to get a great workout in and get the competitive juices flowing. Try progressing into it and running negative splits. I've done this a few times, and it's never hurt my marathon.
I ran a half marathon two weeks before my last marathon. I was in around 2:38 shape and planned to run the half in about 1:18 relaxed. I ran as relaxed as I could but still ran 1:16 and did not think much of it at the time. It was a fairly small half and I won it by over a minute. Looking back, I wish I had not run the half just two weeks out. Four or five weeks out would be ok, I think. I felt a little sluggish for my marathon and ran 2:43 which was 3-5 minutes off realistic pace I wanted. I was 46 years old so still looked ok in my age group, but was trained for a lot better performance. I have always thought the half marathon was not the best idea but hind sight is 20/20, of course.
Three weeks out I like to do last 20 miler, then 16, then 10 or 12 the Sunday before. If you decide to run it, run it super relaxed at no faster than marathon pace or even a little more relaxed than that!
Good skill to you.
Wouldn't do it any faster than marathon pace. I've made this mistake before always been surprised how much 21.1k at threshold pace stay in the legs.
It's hard, because you are in the shape of your life at the end of a marathon block, tapering into the race at that point, so you are going to feel amazing and are likely to go faster than planned.
Keep you eyes on the goal: the marathon. You can get in shape for a half again soon, but another marathon takes so much time, planning and work that you shouldn't risk hurting your race.
Agreed - No faster than marathon pace, or if you're following a plan, look at that plan for recommended mileage/pace. I would lean towards not entering the race.
adult onset wrote:
Wouldn't do it any faster than marathon pace. I've made this mistake before always been surprised how much 21.1k at threshold pace stay in the legs.
It's hard, because you are in the shape of your life at the end of a marathon block, tapering into the race at that point, so you are going to feel amazing and are likely to go faster than planned.
Keep you eyes on the goal: the marathon. You can get in shape for a half again soon, but another marathon takes so much time, planning and work that you shouldn't risk hurting your race.