Last Long Run before a Half
bstamps12
Posts: 1,184
Background info: I'm doing my 3rd half marathon on Sunday, Nov. 17th. Building up to this half marathon, I haven't run quite as much as I did for my first and second (both of which I did in the spring). I had great 9 and 10 mile long runs; my 12 mile long run was shaky but I know I didn't eat the best food the day before and it was super cold. I also got a terrible cramp in my right hip and glutes that bothered me a bit on my 6 mile run 3 days after it. I've had midweek runs of 6 miles plus some speed work or running drill runs.
I couldn't do my 13 mile long run this weekend, Monday, or today (Tuesday) due to time constraints which I promise were all legitimate. I have time to do it tomorrow (Wednesday), but that's only 10 days before the race. Is that too close to the race to squeeze in that long run? Am I better off skipping that last long run and tapering with shorter runs?
What would you do?
I couldn't do my 13 mile long run this weekend, Monday, or today (Tuesday) due to time constraints which I promise were all legitimate. I have time to do it tomorrow (Wednesday), but that's only 10 days before the race. Is that too close to the race to squeeze in that long run? Am I better off skipping that last long run and tapering with shorter runs?
What would you do?
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I would do a long run an then start tapering. I would
wait to run Thursday or Friday in order to carbo load today and Wednesday.
Just my opinion.
Herb0 -
Pretty much anything you do in the last couple of weeks before the race won't have much impact on your fitness, for my last half (I'm going by memory) the 2nd last week looked something like 8km Tues, 5km Thurs, 5km Sat (faster pace) and 16km Sunday and tapering the following week. (8km=5mi, 5 km=3 mi & 16km =10mi)0
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I just did my half marathon this past Saturday. I think you will be fine doing your long run tomorrow. Just be sure to take it easy after it as much as possible. You will be fine.
My biggest problem was competition, I wanted to run to fast to get around people or if someone passed me, I would speed up. I lost my steam around the 10th mile. My legs became so heavy. I ate all the right things, got all the rest I needed, did plenty of training. That is about the only thing I could figure was my problem, or it is because I did not do any strength training. It took me 1 1/2 minutes longer to run this one than the one last year.
Good Luck0 -
You can't do anything this close to the race that will improve your fitness, but you can certainly do things that will inhibit your ability to race well. Doing this long run 10 days out is one of those things. I would just finish out the taper and then go race. You'll do just fine. Just make sure you don't go out too fast.
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In my opinion, as long as you don't run your long run at race speed, you're probably far enough out that you won't compromise your race day effort. BUT you really need to get it in NOW, and do it at a nice, relaxed pace. Speed it up? You're toasting your bread early. Wait too long to get it in? You're cooking your noodles till their mush.
Which sounds like I'm saying, "DON'T DO IT!!!" I suppose in a way I am. But not totally.
Yes you can't improve physically. And yes the closer you get, the better chance you have of messing things up. Still, my guess is for you, this run is more of an emotional run than a physical one. If you feel like you need this one to get your emotional ducks in a row, then go for it. (Again, easy does it with the pace!). Whatever you can do to be ready mentally can factor into a great race as much as the physical aspects. This could be a really good run to fine tune your nutrition and hydration strategies. Make mental notes on your run, "Here's where a water station will be. Here's where a gu station will be." Things like that.
I knew it wouldn't help me physically, but 6 days before Rock N Roll St Louis, I was an emotional wreck. So I went out and ran a fairly hard 10 miler. I focused on "This is how my body feels at this speed." And, "This is how I'm going to be sweating on race day." (It was warm on this run, and they were calling for sun and heat on race day.) And, "This is how I'm going to feel 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes after eating a gel while going race pace." I finished my run more confident for race day than I would have been without it.
So, in short: If you're running 13 for the physical training? Well, just make it 6 and enjoy your extra free time. If you're running 13 - at a relaxed pace of course - for emotional training? I say, go for it.
I hope this helps.
TriJoe.0 -
This is a very good point. I tend to look at everything from a performance perspective that that point of view is not always going to provide the best response.So, in short: If you're running 13 for the physical training? Well, just make it 6 and enjoy your extra free time. If you're running 13 - at a relaxed pace of course - for emotional training? I say, go for it.
Kudos to you.0 -
i was having a proper moment before my marathon and my last 3 weeks of training turned a bit to goop. i'd missed my final long run (was meant to be a 36k 3 weeks before) and i didn't know whether i should try to fit it in 10 days before or just skip it. carson wisely told me that 'the hay is already in the barn', meaning that 1 more run wasn't going to make me any fitter or more physically prepared at this point. however, i did go out and do an 18k just for the mental prep.
so i say you don't need to do it at this point- you're training has already got you there. 1 run is pretty irrelevant physically. but if you need to do something emotionally to be prepared, then do something. just do it slow and easy.
enjoy your half!0 -
Honestly, if it were me, I'd bag it and just do a mid-distance easy run. The reason is, you don't NEED to train to 13 miles for a half. I know it's emotional and if that's all you need it for, then go for it (but take the pace SUPER easy). You're already trained enough for this race. You know it. For my first one I never went beyond 12 for training. I never went past 18 for my marathon (for different reasons) and it was fine. Bottom line, if you're going to do it, do it today, but go slow. Remember all you've done up to this point. You're ready. Just relax!0
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I haven't found it necessary to carb-load or have a long taper before a half marathon.
7 days before my last half I ran 22 miles then tapered from Mon.-Sat. before the race.0 -
Thanks for all of your feedback everyone. I mentally decided to do the 13 miles, but a cramp in my right glute that's been giving me problems came back during the run, so I cut it to 8 miles. I was happy with that: it got me mentally excited for the race again and still gave me a chance to practice eating my sports beans on the run again (along with feeling one last time how it "feels" at one pace versus another, etc.).0
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Thanks for all of your feedback everyone. I mentally decided to do the 13 miles, but a cramp in my right glute that's been giving me problems came back during the run, so I cut it to 8 miles. I was happy with that: it got me mentally excited for the race again and still gave me a chance to practice eating my sports beans on the run again (along with feeling one last time how it "feels" at one pace versus another, etc.).
Deep in the glute, below the surface. When it comes on, does it feel like your leg on that side swings out wildly? If so, it could be the piriformis muscle. There are some good stretches for that. Google can help.0
