How Many Marathon Tune Up Races

half marathon 6 weeks out

In general, I run a total of 8 tune up races during each marathon cycle.

Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is about tune up races. Those races won't make you STRONGER. If you want to get STRONGER, and at the same time INCREASE BUFFness and become RIPPED, then it may be time to spend a visit to your closest CrossFit Box.

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Races during marathon training are good to break up the monotony and test fitness, but they really do not make a difference either way as long as you do not go overboard.

I usually run a 10 miler and half with a turkey trot 10k as an afterthought race. I have done 25ks and 30ks. They beat you up pretty hard and take too long to recover.

Remember that the marathon is an endurance race and is very different from even the 1/2. Your focus should be on extending your marathon specific endurance. Getting in too many shorter races might get you too focused on speed work instead of working on your long tempos, long runs and long interval sessions.

Thanks for this thoughtful post Roy.

I do weekly intervals between 1 to 4 miles at about MP minus 10 secs and 6-10 mile tempos at MP.

I guess I just want to break up the monotony but hate the idea of sacrificing workouts.

A sort of strange question, but how do you work in a race during your marathon training around a vacation. For example, I'd assume the week after the lighter week while on vacation is a bad idea, two weeks later being safer.

I'm interested in hearing some more opinions here.

Depends on the cycle and if the races work out for the timing of everything. For Boston this year I did a half in February and March. Worked out pretty well for me.

Like others said. It is just to help see where your fitness is and or break up training.

Ran a 5k cross country dual meet each Tues and 5k invitational each sat for total of 15 race - week after state meet did marathon - it felt easy compared to 5k