Tune up half marathon - necessary for marathon?

Mollydolly10

Hey runners, I need your assistance.. I am training for my first marathon (finishing up week 7 of 18) and the weekend of Feb 4-5 my training plan (Hal Higdon novice 2) has me running a half marathon race. Unfortunately I haven't been that eager to find one since there don't seem to be any close by and I don't want to pay to fly somewhere for it (recently out of college haha)!

Do you think it'd be "the same" to just run a race-pace 13.1 miles on my own, or would I be missing on the experience of a tune-up race???

I want to know if I should try harder and potentially drive somewhere far (probably by myself though) just so I could have done a half marathon on Feb 4-5. Basically just not sure how much it really MATTERS if it's an actual race or just me out there running on my own.

(I've done a half marathon before, back at the end of May 2010, so I have an idea on time - if that's the issue)

That all being said, I'm currently not signed up for a half marathon at ALL before my marathon, which makes me a little nervous. However, as someone who LOVES sticking to a training plan, I don't know how I'd feel switching an 18-20 mile run on my training plan with a half marathon race. Thoughts on this??

MissFit0101

Bump.. I haven't signed up for a half either

rybo

I really wouldn't worry about it. I look at it as a fun luxury not a real requirement. I don;t think it matters that it's an actual race, but running on your own as if you were racing might help you set your pace better.

scottb81

It's not necessary. It would be a good idea if one is available to both get a very good hard long workout and to get a good idea of a doable racepace for the marathon.

If one is not available you could do a time trial on your own. To get a generally equivalent training effect you need to run it hard (80 to 90% max heartrate or so hard that you can't talk more than a word or two at a time). Substituting a long run at a long run pace would not be the same training effect.

The only problem with an individual time trial is that unless you have a mind of steel you probably will run it slower than you could in an actual race. So, you might end up underestimating your actual maximal ability.

brandyk77

agreed

there is also something to be said for actually racing. Consider it a dry run for race day. Time when you eat your breakfast, etc. Running and racing (or running in a race if you will) aren't the same thing mentally and/or physcially.

The only problem with an individual time trial is that unless you have a mind of steel you probably will run it slower than you could in an actual race. So, you might end up underestimating your actual maximal ability.

sjtreely

This half is in Morristown, NJ on Saturday, February 4 - not quite 4.5 hours from you:

http://njtrailseries.com/winter

This one is on the 12th (you'd have to adjust your running schedule a litte, but might be kind of fun). It's a little over 4.5 hours from you.

http://www.thevalentinesdaymarathon.com/

I don't think you have to do a race, but they're kind of fun and it certainly doesn't hurt. But, if it doesn't work out so you can do one - you'll be fine.

www.runningintheusa.com is a great site to find races. You can sort by distance, state, date, etc. With just a few exceptions, this is how I find all my half marathons.