Wisdom of running long run day after a 5k race

If 12 miles is a long run for you, I don't think it's wise to do it the day after a race. I blew out my Achilles tendon doing a 22-mile training run the day after a 5-mile race.

Why not just jog the 5k and get the glass?

I've been wondering this myself. My coach has us do a hard track session the day before our long runs. I'm not a fan of this. Although I've been lucky and haven't had an injury from this, I only think it's a matter of time.

Not,

Gosh, I did that as a young man, coach and master. The critical point is to run easy. In fact I think it is a good move.

Igy

Not smart? wrote:

I am in middle of half marathon training ( race is 7 weeks out). I'm due to run 12 this weekend but have the opportunity to run in a 5 k Saturday. I haven't raced much lately and the swag for the 5k includes a pint glass ( tied to local craft beer fest) so I'm tempted. I haven't done two hard workouts back to back days. What are thoughts about doing a long run like 12 the day after a short race?

The half is more important to me so I will pass on the 5 k if warranted.

How old are you? In my mid to late 40s, I regularly ran 5Ks on Saturday and then went out and ran an easy 15 on Sunday, without trouble. Monday, of course, was very slow and short (3).

Saturday became seven miles: 3 warmup, 3.1 race, and a very slow 1 mile warmdown. Normally I'd do 3 or 4 easy on Saturday, so 7 with a 5K race was certainly a harder-than-usual Saturday.

Often the Sunday LR after a Saturday race was a good, solid run. No need to hit the last couple of miles hard; that was done on Saturday! But often the Saturday race opened me up, as it were, and I ran easily at a solid pace on Sunday.

Fernando the best wrote:

Why not just jog the 5k and get the glass?

Why not just race the 5k and do the long run the next day? What is so hard about that? It's a 5k not an ironman

Yeah, 15 miles or so over the course of 2 days doesn't sound too crushingly dangerous. Should be fine.

Sounds fine. Personally, I like doing a long run the day after a half marathon race.

As long as you're not a beginner (like this won't be your first time to run 12 miles), you will be fine. I've always done long runs the day after races. As others have said, just make sure you run an easy pace.

It's actually good to do shorter races during half-marathon training so you know where you're at pace-wise. Just count it as a quality session. For example, if you usually do 2 workouts a week, skip one of them for the 5K.

The only reason you should skip the 5K is if your long run is supposed to be a workout. For example, middle 8-10 miles at goal HM pace. But even then, you don't "have to" stick to the exact schedule for one weekend. Race the 5K and run easy on the long run if you want.

^This, absolutely this. A Saturday 5K (only) is nearly a rest compared in time/mileage terms to whatever else you might do. Sort of like sugar and spice (fast/furious and long/easy), they complement each other well. If you can't go long after a short day you're not really ready for a half anyway. But I suspect you are.

Runners have been doing long runs the day after races since runners started running. Why is there a question at all?

For two seasons I'd run a XC race, usually 3 miles, on Saturday and follow up with a easy 18-22 miler on Sunday on most weekends in the Fall. I had several years of higher mileage behind me though. Both years I did this I ran my best marathons ever when December rolled around.

malmo wrote:

Runners have been doing long runs the day after races since runners started running. Why is there a question at all?

Yeah this. A easy-paced 12 mile run should not be a "hard workout" unless you're a total novice.

I have been doing long runs the day after 8k races for my entire college career. You'll be fine

The fact that he asked this question strongly suggests he is a total novice.

It sounds like it is about time for him to try it, unless he has never run 12 miles before as someone else suggested. I would suggest holding back a little in the 5k and running the 12 at an easy pace, especially if it is hot.

KudzuRunner wrote:

Not smart? wrote:

I am in middle of half marathon training ( race is 7 weeks out). I'm due to run 12 this weekend but have the opportunity to run in a 5 k Saturday. I haven't raced much lately and the swag for the 5k includes a pint glass ( tied to local craft beer fest) so I'm tempted. I haven't done two hard workouts back to back days. What are thoughts about doing a long run like 12 the day after a short race?

The half is more important to me so I will pass on the 5 k if warranted.

How old are you? In my mid to late 40s, I regularly ran 5Ks on Saturday and then went out and ran an easy 15 on Sunday, without trouble. Monday, of course, was very slow and short (3).

.

same here. most weekends it was either a tempo run or 5k on saturday and long and easy on sunday. As long as the long run doesn't involve race pace and you have a decent base, it's not that big of a deal.