Question in the subject, I'm hoping to break 3 for the first time at NY this year. Theres a local half that I think would be a good confidence builder that is about a month before the big race. If I can run a 1:25 or so there, I will feel pretty good going into New York. Is a month too close to the big race though? What do you guys think? this will be my 3rd marathon.
Not too close, in my experience. I purposely race a half 4 weeks out when possible. Great tuneup and it lets you know where you are at.
Not too close at all. I ran my half-marathon PR three weeks before my marathon PR.
The rule of thumb is one day recovery per mile raced until the next quality effort.
Recovery varies, and takesonger as you age. If there isn't a lot of downhill on the half, you will recover faster.
A half four weeks out should be zero problem, provided you don't overly compromise your prep and taper for the full - e.g. train thru the half.
Thanks for the responses, think I'm gonna do it based on this feedback.
Interesting. I would like to race a half marathon 6 weeks before my sub 2:40 attempt in October.
Are there any benefits to doing this other than evaluating your fitness level considering that I will surely need to cut some workouts before and after?
I wonder how to plan it. Do you do a mini taper the week before and what does the next week look like?
Thanks!
Kev_ wrote:
Interesting. I would like to race a half marathon 6 weeks before my sub 2:40 attempt in October.
Are there any benefits to doing this other than evaluating your fitness level considering that I will surely need to cut some workouts before and after?
I wonder how to plan it. Do you do a mini taper the week before and what does the next week look like?
Thanks!
Someone?
Any tips would be appreciate!
1 Month sounds great.
With that Marathon time you have an indication what is possible in your Marathon and I would adjust the Marathon pace to exactly that pace.
It depends...
A lot would depend on how fast you recover from hard efforts. Keep in mind how the half will affect the following 2 weeks of training. Is the race worth any trade-off in training?
I would love to give a definite answer, but as with so much in training, there is too much individual variation.
Kev_, assuming your marathon is the main goal, if you plan to use the half as a fitness check, include a taper the week of the race (ie. same training just lower volume) then take a down week following the race (or more if you need it) to help regenerate before resuming marathon training as usual. Weekly volume/intensity leading up to both races might look something like this...
8. 90-100%
7. 90-100%
6. 60-70% taper, race half
5. 70-80%
4. 90-100%
3. 90-100%
2. 70-80% taper
1. 50-60% taper, race full
.... also what Luv2Run said
GNR1 wrote:
Kev_, assuming your marathon is the main goal, if you plan to use the half as a fitness check, include a taper the week of the race (ie. same training just lower volume) then take a down week following the race (or more if you need it) to help regenerate before resuming marathon training as usual. Weekly volume/intensity leading up to both races might look something like this...
8. 90-100%
7. 90-100%
6. 60-70% taper, race half
5. 70-80%
4. 90-100%
3. 90-100%
2. 70-80% taper
1. 50-60% taper, race full
Thanks GNR1 this is very helpful!
Good call on training through the full...
I'm training for Cbus full. I've heard it's flat.
Emerald City is apparently a big half a month or so before Cbus; do any of you here do that one as a tune-up? I've heard it's all cornfields lol and a bit boring.
:/ shrug.