5K races during half-marathon training

txbandman
txbandman Posts: 78
in Fitness and Exercise
Here's the situation - I'm registered for my first ever HM on June 29th. Tomorrow (four weeks before HM) and on the 15th (two weeks before HM) there are 5K races in my tiny hometown (pop approx 2500). There's no way I'm missing either race. One is a benefit for our HS Cross-country coach who is battling cancer and facing a bone-marrow transplant this summer. The other is for my band booster organization. So....
I'm thinking that for sure the one tomorrow I can run with normal race effort. What about the one on the 15th? Should I just run it as a nice, easy tempo run at about halfway between my HM pace and my 5K pace? Can I run it all-out too?
Let me hear your advice, experienced HM and marathon runners!

Replies

  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    Here's the situation - I'm registered for my first ever HM on June 29th. Tomorrow (four weeks before HM) and on the 15th (two weeks before HM) there are 5K races in my tiny hometown (pop approx 2500). There's no way I'm missing either race. One is a benefit for our HS Cross-country coach who is battling cancer and facing a bone-marrow transplant this summer. The other is for my band booster organization. So....
    I'm thinking that for sure the one tomorrow I can run with normal race effort. What about the one on the 15th? Should I just run it as a nice, easy tempo run at about halfway between my HM pace and my 5K pace? Can I run it all-out too?
    Let me hear your advice, experienced HM and marathon runners!

    What would you be planning to run on those weekends. My problem is going to be having 5Ks come up on a week where my long run is much further. My first half is in October...
  • txbandman
    txbandman Posts: 78

    What would you be planning to run on those weekends. My problem is going to be having 5Ks come up on a week where my long run is much further. My first half is in October...

    I'm a teacher, so my June schedule is going to be much more flexible - I will be able to schedule my long runs in the middle of the week instead of weekends if I need to. That's what I'm looking at next week - run the 5K tomorrow and probably look at Tuesday or Wednesday for a long run. I was thinking the same thing for the weeks before and after June 15th and then put my last long run on the 22nd, a week before the HM. Thoughts?
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    Last year I ran five 5Ks during marathon training. I ran all of them all out (treating them like speed days) but did not taper for any but the last one. Tapering for all of them would have interrupted too much of my other training. The only real change I made was that on race days I ran only once a day instead of twice a day.
  • Annerk1
    Annerk1 Posts: 372 Member
    5K is only 3.1 miles, you should be running that much at least until about a week before the half, so why not?

    I'm signed up for a half marathon and another two weeks later. The first will be my last major train before the second, and I'll just do my normal 3-5 miles a day for the two weeks in between--including the day before.
  • iwillwin1313
    iwillwin1313 Posts: 55
    You have enough time before the HM even after the last 5k to run it all out, plus it's great practice for the HM race day- it's good for your body to get used to what it feels like to eat pre-race breakfast, and mentally it'll be great to know you can push it in a 5k before you get to run the HM
    Good luck! :)
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    For the last one, use it as a tempo run. Get there early and run 3 to 5 miles easy prior to the race. Then, run the race at your LT pace. Then do a mile or two for cool down after the race.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Listen to Scott & Carson.......
  • lorierin22
    lorierin22 Posts: 432 Member
    I think Brian just wrapped up this thread for you, I respect all of their opinions, but if it were me (because I am super competetive) I would run both of them full out. Especially if you have the flexibility to move your long run to a different day. But then again...all out for me is a 9:30 pace so I'm sure it's a lot different if you actually run fast. ;) If all out for you is really fast, then the tempo run for the last one probably is a good idea. :) Good luck either way!
  • athensguy
    athensguy Posts: 550
    I would race both of them and use the times to estimate my new HM goal pace.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    I have seen a lot of racers do the race then just keep running lol they get all the miles in that they were suppose to do that day and still help the charity. I have never asked them about pace though i am shy.
  • seif0068
    seif0068 Posts: 193 Member
    Here's the situation - I'm registered for my first ever HM on June 29th. Tomorrow (four weeks before HM) and on the 15th (two weeks before HM) there are 5K races in my tiny hometown (pop approx 2500). There's no way I'm missing either race. One is a benefit for our HS Cross-country coach who is battling cancer and facing a bone-marrow transplant this summer. The other is for my band booster organization. So....
    I'm thinking that for sure the one tomorrow I can run with normal race effort. What about the one on the 15th? Should I just run it as a nice, easy tempo run at about halfway between my HM pace and my 5K pace? Can I run it all-out too?
    Let me hear your advice, experienced HM and marathon runners!

    3.1 miles is short enough, and the second one is far enough out in advance of your half, that I would legitimately race both of them, average your times, and use that to estimate your pace for the half using this calculator:

    http://www.jeffgalloway.com/resources/gallracepredict.html

    Especially if you can do your long runs mid-week. Just consider the races your speedwork those weeks!
  • NavyKnightAh13
    NavyKnightAh13 Posts: 1,394 Member
    Bumping
  • momofJandA
    momofJandA Posts: 1,035 Member
    Honestly I would run all out for both of them- but I am super competitive and NOT running a race to win just doesn't compute for my brain and body.
  • momofJandA
    momofJandA Posts: 1,035 Member
    Listen to Scott & Carson.......

    and this
  • txbandman
    txbandman Posts: 78
    I really appreciate all the input. While some of the advice conflicts with other, I see the logic behind all of the suggestions. And to those of you bringing up the "competitive" point of why run if you aren't going to give it everything you've got, I definitely hear you. I question how successful I would be at holding myself back in a race, especially one with my students watching and running in it.
    I'm just brand new at this half-marathon thing and didn't want to make a mistake I could have avoided by asking advice, so thanks for all the words of wisdom! I really am finding this community to be a fantastic resource! To all of you, feel free to add me - I appreciate your help.
  • txbandman
    txbandman Posts: 78
    Just checking back in with everyone - the first of the two 5K races was yesterday, and I ran a PR 22:58 - my first 5K under 23 minutes, and I don't feel like I would have any trouble putting in a long run tomorrow. So I'm thinking that as long as I plan carefully to make sure I still get in my long runs, the second 5K (two weeks before my half) shouldn't be too big of a hurdle.
    Again, thanks to everyone for your input!
  • SharonFat48andfit
    SharonFat48andfit Posts: 14
    I do a 5k at least once a month - never taper since it is really more like a weekday run. When I am training for a 1/2/full marathon and my schedule calls for a longer run I will either do the long run on a different day (say Thursday instead of my normal Saturday) or just run the additional miles before/after on the day of the 5k. I am not very competitive though so am fine with not placing in the 5k...something I almost never do anyway since my 5k pace and my marathon pace are pretty much the same :-)

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