WWYD? Shuffling long training runs
dorianaldyn
Posts: 611 Member
The training plan I'm following (Hal Higdon Novice 2) for my upcoming marathon on 9/29 has me doing the 20 miler the weekend of 9/7-8. I'm going to be on vacation that weekend and I just know that getting a 20 mile run in will not be feasible - I don't want to do my 20 miler on a treadmill and I don't want to be out running by myself in an unfamiliar area either.
So, those of you more experienced than me - should I do my 20 miler a week earlier (so the week following my 19 miler) or do it a week later and start my taper a little bit late? Does your answer change if you know that I'm also slated to do a half marathon the week following the marathon? Granted, the half will be at a slower pace - I'm basically doing it to support other friends that have been training all summer to run this half.
So, those of you more experienced than me - should I do my 20 miler a week earlier (so the week following my 19 miler) or do it a week later and start my taper a little bit late? Does your answer change if you know that I'm also slated to do a half marathon the week following the marathon? Granted, the half will be at a slower pace - I'm basically doing it to support other friends that have been training all summer to run this half.
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Replies
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Enjoy your vacation. I'd recommend moving your 20-mile run earlier even though running it a week after your 19-miler is not ideal. However, it's important to taper and if you push the 20-miler back a week, my concern would be the possibility of a less-than-full recovery and having fresh legs for your full. Being well-rested for that full is going to be important. Tapering is tough but we full marathoners have to do it. My sense is a 20-miler that close to a full would be too close for me. Running a half the week after the full doesn't change the answer-I think it merely confirms moving the 20-miler up though (you want to be well-rested for both races). Trust me, I've overtrained and failed to taper adequately before a full and it does backfire. Good luck! You'll do great! Enjoy your endorphins!0
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Agree I think I would move it up a week and probably drop the pace just slightly since you will be on top of the 19 miler.. That said I do think your overall fitness base comes into play and you are probably not wrong in either direction0
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I would do the 20 on vacation.
Map out the run ahead of time.
Write down the turns on a note card and put it in a plastic baggy.
Give a copy to your husband (or whomever is on vacation with you) and let them know how long you expect the run to take.
Get up early.
Take your directions and your phone with you.
Get back before everyone else wakes up.
If you still don't want to do it, then moving things around is not as easy moving it up or back a week. I'd need to see your plan for the 5 weeks leading up to the race and I could help you adjust things.0 -
I would do the 20 on vacation.
Map out the run ahead of time.
Write down the turns on a note card and put it in a plastic baggy.
Give a copy to your husband (or whomever is on vacation with you) and let them know how long you expect the run to take.
Get up early.
Take your directions and your phone with you.
Get back before everyone else wakes up.
If you still don't want to do it, then moving things around is not as easy moving it up or back a week. I'd need to see your plan for the 5 weeks leading up to the race and I could help you adjust things.
Part of the problem is that I'll be vacationing where it is hot & humid, whereas all my training (and the marathon) will be in a cool, dry climate. And for me to get up early enough means I'll be running in the dark - and while I'm fine with that at home, I'm just not comfortable doing that in a place I'm not super familiar with. I'm OK with doing a ~12 miler that weekend - I just don't think I can do the 20.
The training plan I'm following generally has three mid-week runs and one long weekend run and the lead up looks like this:
Week of Aug 18: Su: 13 trail half marathon, Tu:5, W:5, Th:5, Sa:19
Week of Aug 25: Tu:5, W:8, Th:5, Sa: 12
Week of Sept 1: Tu:5, W:5, Th:5, Sa: 20 (Problem Run)
Week of Sept 8: Tu:5, W:4, Th:5, Sa: 12
Week of Sept 15: Tu:4, W:3, Th:4, Sa: 8
Week of Sept 22: Tu:3, W:2, Sa: 2
Sept 29: 26.2
Oct 6: 13.1
I'm obviously open to suggestions! My main goals are avoiding injury and feeling strong during the marathon. I don't care if I feel like crap for the subsequent half marathon; I'll be taking that one slower regardless.0 -
The training plan I'm following generally has three mid-week runs and one long weekend run and the lead up looks like this:
Week of Aug 18: Su: 13 trail half marathon, Tu:5, W:5, Th:5, Sa:19
Week of Aug 25: Tu:5, W:8, Th:5, Sa: 12
Week of Sept 1: Tu:5, W:5, Th:5, Sa: 20 (Problem Run)
Week of Sept 8: Tu:5, W:4, Th:5, Sa: 12
Week of Sept 15: Tu:4, W:3, Th:4, Sa: 8
Week of Sept 22: Tu:3, W:2, Sa: 2
Sept 29: 26.2
Oct 6: 13.1
Drop the 19 the week of the trail half and do 12 that day.
Do 20 the following week.
Do 12 on vacation
Do 16 the week of the 8th.
Do the 2 in the taper.
RACE!
ETA: Read the calendar wrong. Sorry.0 -
I'm pretty stubborn. When I go on vacation I find running and riding clubs that I can go with way ahead of time so I can get my runs or bikes in. I just google them up on the net close to where I will be staying. But, if you cant, then I agree that you have to have the taper time. I do worlds better when I get my long in 3 weeks out.0
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I'm pretty stubborn. When I go on vacation I find running and riding clubs that I can go with way ahead of time so I can get my runs or bikes in. I just google them up on the net close to where I will be staying. But, if you cant, then I agree that you have to have the taper time. I do worlds better when I get my long in 3 weeks out.
I did this when I had to go to Richmond the weekend that I needed to 18. The local training group was kind enough to let me tag along with them, all 300+ of them! They had a huge group down there. It was a fully supported 18 miler. I'll always be fond of Richmond for that reason (and many others, as it's a great, small, southern city).0 -
Had this happen prior to my long run this past weekend. I was checking FB to verify start time and a message popped up that a guy from out of town was going to be meeting us for 20. Nice company but I ended up running almost 1:00 per mile faster than I am supposed to for LSR.I'm pretty stubborn. When I go on vacation I find running and riding clubs that I can go with way ahead of time so I can get my runs or bikes in. I just google them up on the net close to where I will be staying. But, if you cant, then I agree that you have to have the taper time. I do worlds better when I get my long in 3 weeks out.0
