Half marathon week before 25k?

Training Advice/Discussion

10 years ago 02/23/2014 7:10pm EST

My current goal race is a 25k on 5/10. I just found out about a local half marathon that generally has some pretty solid runners around where I would be aiming for (1:17:XX). The half marathon is on 5/4, six days before the 25k.

I haven't raced anything this long recently, so I wanted to get some input on whether or not it is advisable to run two races like this six days apart.

Training is currently around 30mpw, with a few hours on a stationary bike every week, and 1-2 heavy lifting sessions every week. I'm following the 2nd edition Jack Daniels marathon plan. (I've found I'm much

tldr; Can I run a half marathon six days before a 25k and expect to do well in both?

10 years ago 02/23/2014 7:33pm EST

re: Sweet'n'Sour

By chance, is it the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run and the Riverbank 25k? If so, they are both great races.

Anyway, as to your question - if you actually run the half marathon hard, expect it to negatively affect your 25k race.

It is hard to say how much, and depends on the individual, but there is no chance you'll be 100% recovered.

How much weekly mileage do you expect to be running in March & April? I've personally found that I recover much faster from a half marathon when I've been running higher mileage in training (70-90 mpw). You current 30mpw would not set up a quick recovery from a half marathon, in my experience.

10 years ago 02/23/2014 7:39pm EST

re: fact checker

Sorry, just realized that it can't be Dexter-Ann Arbor, which is in early June.

10 years ago 02/23/2014 7:46pm EST

re: fact checker

Close! Its Kzoo and the 5/3rd.

I imagine the highest I would get is around 50 low-mid. I'll definitely be at mid 40s, and I intend on increasing my biking a fair amount also. I've had injury problems in the past, and this is my first actual build up in a long time, so I'm being cautious.

10 years ago 02/23/2014 8:50pm EST

re: Sweet'n'Sour

Sweet'n'Sour wrote:
Close! Its Kzoo and the 5/3rd.
I imagine the highest I would get is around 50 low-mid. I'll definitely be at mid 40s, and I intend on increasing my biking a fair amount also. I've had injury problems in the past, and this is my first actual build up in a long time, so I'm being cautious.

I've raced those distances many times a week apart over the last few years. For a couple years I was right around 30 miles a week.

What I have had the best luck doing is not running at all for 2 days after the race. Do some crosstraining to loosen the muscles up. On the 3rd day, go for an easy 8-10 miler. Take the next two days off and you will be ready to go for the 25k.

I ran a series where I did 23 races in 7 months with most between 12 and 15 miles. There were a couple weeks I didn't even run at all to let my legs recover. The rest is more important than any training you will be missing.

10 years ago 02/24/2014 12:29pm EST

re: 30 mpw in 2 runs

That actually makes sense. At this point, I think that if I'm going to run another half, I'll just go for the Dexter-Ann Arbor. I wasn't planning on running a half after one I'm doing in April, but I figure it might be good to have a on the books, as I might consider walking on to the team when I transfer.

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Half marathon week before 25k?

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