Advice needed about Marathon training and Race timing

ZenInTexas

I'm cross posting this hoping for more replies..

I am following the Hal Higdon Intermediate training program for my half marathon. There are several weeks built into the schedule to do shorter races. I have opportunity to do a 4 mile race the week before my half, however on the schedule I should be doing 12 miles. But I could do the 12 miles the week before that since I am currently one week ahead of schedule. Or alternately I could do the 12 miles the day after the 4 mile race which would be 6 days before the half. So what I want to know is does it matter if I do the 12 miles one week ahead of the half or two? Will it make a difference to my performance at the half. I am new to all of this so I don't know how important following the schedule to the letter is. All advice appreciated!

_Sally_

Here's my two cents.

You need to prioritize your races and also be clear with yourself about your goals. Do you just want to finish and have fun or are you looking to maximize performance/

Personally, if I cared about my half marathon performance, I would not do a race of any distance a week prior. However, if you want to do the 4 mile race as a training run (and don't run it at race pace), you can also run another 8 miles on your own the same day and follow your plan, if that is what you want to do. I would not run 12 miles the day after a race, and less than a week prior to a half marathon. Running your last long run (12 miles) 2 weeks prior to your half would probably OK as well, but you will likely need more than a 4 mile run the following week, but maybe not the full 12 if you can get it in the week prior.

Good luck!

ZenInTexas

Thank you for the feed back. You've given me something to think about.

ebaymommy

Here's my two cents.

You need to prioritize your races and also be clear with yourself about your goals. Do you just want to finish and have fun or are you looking to maximize performance/

Personally, if I cared about my half marathon performance, I would not do a race of any distance a week prior. However, if you want to do the 4 mile race as a training run (and don't run it at race pace), you can also run another 8 miles on your own the same day and follow your plan, if that is what you want to do. I would not run 12 miles the day after a race, and less than a week prior to a half marathon. Running your last long run (12 miles) 2 weeks prior to your half would probably OK as well, but you will likely need more than a 4 mile run the following week, but maybe not the full 12 if you can get it in the week prior.

Good luck!

Agreed 100%. I would not do a race of any distance one week before your half....even 2 weeks prior would be pushing it. Honestly I like to do a good race about 6 weeks out if I'm training for a longer run (half or full marathon) but anything closer than that is a no go for me.

runchris63

]Agreed


Here's my two cents.

You need to prioritize your races and also be clear with yourself about your goals. Do you just want to finish and have fun or are you looking to maximize performance/

Personally, if I cared about my half marathon performance, I would not do a race of any distance a week prior. However, if you want to do the 4 mile race as a training run (and don't run it at race pace), you can also run another 8 miles on your own the same day and follow your plan, if that is what you want to do. I would not run 12 miles the day after a race, and less than a week prior to a half marathon. Running your last long run (12 miles) 2 weeks prior to your half would probably OK as well, but you will likely need more than a 4 mile run the following week, but maybe not the full 12 if you can get it in the week prior.

Good luck!
[/quote]

Agreed 100%. I would not do a race of any distance one week before your half....even 2 weeks prior would be pushing it. Honestly I like to do a good race about 6 weeks out if I'm training for a longer run (half or full marathon) but anything closer than that is a no go for me.
[/quote]

CarsonRuns

Here's my two cents.

You need to prioritize your races and also be clear with yourself about your goals. Do you just want to finish and have fun or are you looking to maximize performance/

Personally, if I cared about my half marathon performance, I would not do a race of any distance a week prior. However, if you want to do the 4 mile race as a training run (and don't run it at race pace), you can also run another 8 miles on your own the same day and follow your plan, if that is what you want to do. I would not run 12 miles the day after a race, and less than a week prior to a half marathon. Running your last long run (12 miles) 2 weeks prior to your half would probably OK as well, but you will likely need more than a 4 mile run the following week, but maybe not the full 12 if you can get it in the week prior.

Good luck!

I third this.

ZenInTexas

So let me ask another question then, I have 3 weekends left before the half. If I don't do the race then I have an extra week left, I only have my 11 and 12 mile long runs left. So what do I do with the extra week?

CarsonRuns

So let me ask another question then, I have 3 weekends left before the half. If I don't do the race then I have an extra week left, I only have my 11 and 12 mile long runs left. So what do I do with the extra week?

11, 12, 7 or 12, 11, 7. Either one will work. Could be 8 instead of 7.

ZenInTexas

Thank you Carson!