Would it be a bad idea to run a half marathon once cross country season is over? I ran one last winter and it was such a great experience I want to do it again. Good time goals?
Would it be a bad idea to run a half marathon once cross country season is over? I ran one last winter and it was such a great experience I want to do it again. Good time goals?
nolarunner wrote:
Would it be a bad idea to run a half marathon once cross country season is over? I ran one last winter and it was such a great experience I want to do it again. Good time goals?
Just run as hard as you feel, and have fun.
I used to run a "half marathon" every week as my long run in high school - not a big deal at all.
Just make sure you're not actively training and trying to run fast times though, because that will totally kill you for the upcoming track season - and I don't mean kill you in terms of injury or whatnot necessarily, but more that marathon training is completely stupid and harmful for a high school track season where the longest event is 2 miles.
I ran a few half marathons when I was 15, 16 and 17 (20 years ago now) off the back of cross country training. I didn't target the half but ran 1:13 and 1:12 when 16 and 17. I think those 2 runs are the best I've ever felt running even though I didn't do anywhere near the distance in training. I did these at the end of the cross country season and I didn't have any trouble recovering. I didn't really like track so I wasn't concerned if it had any effect on the upcoming season.
formerD1 wrote:
I used to run a "half marathon" every week as my long run in high school - not a big deal at all.
Just make sure you're not actively training and trying to run fast times though, because that will totally kill you for the upcoming track season - and I don't mean kill you in terms of injury or whatnot necessarily, but more that marathon training is completely stupid and harmful for a high school track season where the longest event is 2 miles.
That's interesting because I had completely the opposite experience and I was typically only running the 800.
That's great to hear. One regret I have is not taking of advantage of my fitness in my HS years and going beyond 800m ./ 1500m in terms of obtaining quick times. Sure, I ran XC but it was always over weird distances and on muddy courses where times are meaningless.
Wish I had raced a 3K, 5 K, 10K and a HM as wonder what I could have achieved based of a mile best of 4:18.
I guess that as long as you don't start gearing all of your training towards a HM then it should be fine. Just run it almost as a hard long run and see what you can achieve!
Are you saying you train hard for the HM and still ran good 800m times? That's really hard to believe. You probably need to be running north of 70mpw to be competitive at the HM, which would kill your fast twitch muscle fibers and ability to power through a 800m.
Are you saying you train hard for the HM and still ran good 800m times? That's really hard to believe. You probably need to be running north of 70mpw to be competitive at the HM, which would kill your fast twitch muscle fibers and ability to power through a 800m.
formerD1 wrote:
Are you saying you train hard for the HM and still ran good 800m times? That's really hard to believe. You probably need to be running north of 70mpw to be competitive at the HM, which would kill your fast twitch muscle fibers and ability to power through a 800m.
Depends what you mean by good but the point is I ran much faster over 800 by first training hard to run a decent half than I did by training specifically as an 800 runner.
Your mileage statement is false though. Ever hear of Snell and Ovett?
formerD1 wrote:
Are you saying you train hard for the HM and still ran good 800m times? That's really hard to believe. You probably need to be running north of 70mpw to be competitive at the HM, which would kill your fast twitch muscle fibers and ability to power through a 800m.
When I ran 1:13 aged 16 I reckon I was doing about 30mpw. The following year I found a coach and started doing more distance, can't quite remember how much but I would guess around 45mpw.
Wish I could do that now.