5 races in 6 weeks - advice?

pebble4321

Runners, I'd welcome any comments, experiences or advice.

Here's a bit of background:
I'm a (very slow) runner. Although I've been running for about 5 years now, I've just started all over again with training my way up from C25K this year, and happily completed an 8k race a month or so ago, and a 12k race over the weekend.
I'm nearly 50, overweight and have had some injuries and pain in the past (general pain and weakness in knees, hips and and old ankle/foot injuries that pop up from time to time).

I've been looking at the info for my next planned race, 12k at the end of August, and I see there is a series of 5 races - with four of them in regional areas each week for 4 weeks and the last one in the city 2 weeks later. So, that makes a total of 5 races (60km) over 6 weeks.

I know I can run 12k without too many problems (slowly and steadily with walk breaks in there), but I'm wondering how the cumulative distance is going to stack up, and how I would go about training for such a series.

In one way it just seems like having a slightly longer long run day each week for four weeks, but on the other hand, I wonder if I'm stupid for even contemplating such a thing.

Any advice would be welcomed!

TavistockToad

What's your weekly mileage now? Is 60km in 6 week a lot more than you currently do?

pebble4321

@tavistocktoad

I've been running 3 times a week - roughly 5k, 4k and anywhere from 7 - 10k on the weekend. The shorter run is at variable pace, the others are more steady running with a couple of short walk breaks.

So, total of about 15 - 19k/week.

Cumulatively, I would be doing more than 90km over 6 weeks, but split over three runs.

I'm wondering how I would keep up the training momentum during the week knowing I have 12k the following weekend - which is a long run for me, at my current fitness level. I felt fine after the weekend's 12k - a little sore but nothing major except for my old foot/ankle injury which I just accept is going to ache after a long run.

TavistockToad

You've got a few weeks to increase your long run so that 12k is a 'normal' long run.

During the 6 weeks you can always drop a mid week run or reduce it to just a couple of km so you're fresher on the weekend?

pebble4321

Yup, that is making sense. I have about 8 weeks until the first 12k, so I might do something like 10-12k each weekend for three weeks, drop it down for one week if that's feeling a bit much then back up again.

Should be doable

Now I just have to decide if I want to spend the money on flights, hotels, petrol etc - it will mean travelling about 5000km all up for the four country runs. I'd fly the long one (1500k away) but drive for the other three as they are only 3-4 hours drive each way. I have family in two of the locations so that won't cost so much... and I might be able to link in some work so some of the costs would be covered.
Hmmm, lots to think about!

Thanks for your help