Racing a half 5 weeks before a full & juggling the final lon

rybo

I’m trying to plan out my long runs leading into my marathon while still allowing myself a reasonable opportunity to race the half for a decent time. As it stands I’d hit my 1st 20 miler 2 weeks before the half. Then I’m not sure what to do the week before the half. I could juggle my timing so that my 1st 20 is the week before, then use the half as a step back week.
Then if you could please comment on my options entering the last week before my marathon

20 18
?? 20
Half Half
20 20
13 22
22 17
10 10
Full Full

Tracey_Smith

I'd say it depends on how much effort you plan to put into your half? If you're going for a great time then cut down the miles the previous week, if it's just steady away you would still get away with 20, but again it depends on how steady your 20 will be.

Don't overdo it so close and find that you're knackered for your marathon.

BerryH

Use the half as a pacing trial for the marathon. Cut the following mid-week sessions right back then pick up the programme where you left it, but take it easy for the next long run.

atsteele

I always like to get in three 20 or 20+ milers in before a marathon so I'd probably do 20, then a step back of 10 miles, then the half marathon. On the other hand, I also usually give myself three weeks between my longest runs (once I get up to 20 milers) but maybe you don't need as much recuperation time.

jacksonpt

Following along as I have big races on back to back weekends... curious about how to prepare without overdoing it.

tigerbluefly

I had races mixed into my marathon training too. I ran a 30K, 10 mile and a 26K in the last couple months of my training. This was the plan that I followed and it worked for me going back a few weeks so you can see:

12 miles ( I ran a 30K / 18.5 mile) race here instead)
18 miles ( I ran a 10 mile race here instead) I hurt my foot doing back to back race pace. Set me back 2 weeks.
18 miles ( Had to cut short due to injury)
20 miles ( Had to cut short due to injury)
14 miles ( I ran a 26K / 16 mile trail race here instead)
18 miles ( I ran 21 miles here instead to make up some lost distance in long runs due to sore foot)
20 miles
14 miles
10 miles
FULL Marathon Day

DontThinkJustRun

I'd go 20, 16, half, that's a pretty common stucture in most training programs I've seem. The only question is how hard do you run your half, and that's up to your body IMO. Of course you want to race well, however, you have a 20 the following week and your marathon performance probably means more to you, but a LSD 20 is totally doable a week put from a strong half. Good luck!

atsteele

I had races mixed into my marathon training too. I ran a 30K, 10 mile and a 26K in the last couple months of my training. This was the plan that I followed and it worked for me going back a few weeks so you can see:

12 miles ( I ran a 30K / 18.5 mile) race here instead)
18 miles ( I ran a 10 mile race here instead) I hurt my foot doing back to back race pace. Set me back 2 weeks.
18 miles ( Had to cut short due to injury)
20 miles ( Had to cut short due to injury)
14 miles ( I ran a 26K / 16 mile trail race here instead)
18 miles ( I ran 21 miles here instead to make up some lost distance in long runs due to sore foot)
20 miles
14 miles
10 miles
FULL Marathon Day

Your plan would have been my plan... and will be my plan this Spring. Great minds... hehe

arc918

Half marathon should not be run at your marathon pace. It should be raced as part of your marathon training. Your pace in the half will be used a gauge of your fitness and a reality check for your goal marathon pace.

The goal of all your training is to teach you how to keep pushing on tired legs, so I wouldn't step back too far on any given week.

I've also found I'm much happier with a two week taper than a three week, but that's just me.

scottb81

I think you should be able to race the half at a pace about 25-30 seconds faster than goal marathon pace. If you can't hold that pace then the goal marathon pace might be too aggresive right now. If you have been putting in the miles then a cut back week before the HM should be enough to allow you to race well.

If it were me, I would race the HM just to give myself a reality check on goal marathon pace and hopefully to boost confidence.

tigerbluefly

Oh Rybo, I should add, that I ran the same pace of 5:27 per km at my half and 30K races but my marathon pace was 5:40 per km. My goal was under 4 hours and I held that pace the whole way and didn't run my shorter race pace. It was my first full marathon though. I will kick it up a knotch for the next one and see if I can hold a better pace to finish faster.

rybo

Thanks for the input everyone, I definitely want to run the half hard & see how well I can do. I just wasn't sure of how to do that & juggle my long runs.