Running a 5k the week before a marathon?

sure. why not. Shorter set the American 10,000 record at the Olympic Games just a few days before winning gold. Taper is a new concept developed for folks that don't run enough.

do it

I set my lifetime 5K PR a week before my lifetime marathon PR. So, yeah, it can work.

So is the 5k the goal race or is it the marathon? Why are you running the 5k?

Les wrote:

So is the 5k the goal race or is it the marathon?

perhaps both?

In my senior year of college I ran a full marathon 8 days after my last track 5k. I don't feel like the 5k made my marathon appreciably worse

I did that before a marathon a few years ago. I had spent most of the year just getting in a lot of miles. I signed up for a marathon and had already done a couple short races. I thought the 5k would be nice to get the wheels turning over a little faster without getting worn down. The handful of races were the only speed work I did. I ran the marathon at about 90% effort, had a good time and negative split the race a minute or so. Felt good at the finish which was the main goal.

The following year I raced all year and had great speed but was only averaging 35 miles a week. I certainly didn't need a 5k the week before a marathon so 10 days before I ran 20 miles which was my first run longer than a half marathon that year.

Seven to 10 days is plenty of time to rest and taper for the marathon regardless of what you race unless you do a super hilly trail marathon two weeks before a 50 mile trail race. That didn't work out as well!!

(though I did enjoy hiking the last 25 miles)

Saturn Firestarter wrote:

sure. why not. Shorter set the American 10,000 record at the Olympic Games just a few days before winning gold. Taper is a new concept developed for folks that don't run enough.

How about Viren winning a very tough 5000 meter in Montreal, then finishing a very creditable 5th in his first marathon 23 hours later!

GrouperFish wrote:

Would you recommend running a 5k race one week before a marathon?

Sure. Personally I'd run 9 miles in the morning, warm up, race the 5k, and warm down for 14 miles total.

Sunday ~ 2 hours steady

Monday ~ 1 hour steady ~ plus 4 miles steady in afternoon

Tuesday ~ 9 or 10 miles at marathon pace in morning ~ 4 miles run 300 / jog 100 in afternoon

Wednesday ~ 8 miles easy ~ plus 3 miles easy (3 days taper)

Thursday ~ 3 miles easy ~ plus 3 miles easy

Friday ~ 2 miles easy

Saturday ~ marathon race

Focus on marathon` wrote:

GrouperFish wrote:

Would you recommend running a 5k race one week before a marathon?

Sure. Personally I'd run 9 miles in the morning, warm up, race the 5k, and warm down for 14 miles total.

Sunday ~ 2 hours steady

Monday ~ 1 hour steady ~ plus 4 miles steady in afternoon

Tuesday ~ 9 or 10 miles at marathon pace in morning ~ 4 miles run 300 / jog 100 in afternoon

Wednesday ~ 8 miles easy ~ plus 3 miles easy (3 days taper)

Thursday ~ 3 miles easy ~ plus 3 miles easy

Friday ~ 2 miles easy

Saturday ~ marathon race

That looks about right if you are running 140 mile weeks. If not, it looks a little on the tough side.

My 2 weeks when I was 50 went

2

3

20 (marathon pace-25 seconds)

2

5

8

6

10 (8 near marathon pace)

2

2

2

3

2

29

I can't believe all the people that marathon on less than 50 miles per week.