Running on same day as your marathon

Spikethered
Spikethered Posts: 108 Member
edited February 10 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, is there any benefit from doing your longer training runs on the same day of the week as your marathon will be on? At the same time as well e.g 9am every Sunday? Another runner told me that's what you have to do...

Thanks

Replies

  • KeithAngilly
    KeithAngilly Posts: 575 Member
    I have read that if you always run at night or the afteroon and your race is in the morning, then you would do well to devote a few training runs to that time slot. I don't know about always, though.
  • marikevr
    marikevr Posts: 389 Member
    Same time would make sense as you get to do your long runs in the same type of weather conditions that you are going to be running in. Good idea for the hotter summer marathons.

    Same day? My long runs (except for a mid-week not so-long-run) tend to generally fall on a Saturday or Sunday, but I have never planned for the long run to fall on the same day of my marathon on purpose.
  • bobbijodmb
    bobbijodmb Posts: 463 Member
    i haven't heard this but i am interested in knowing what others have to say
  • KristiRTT
    KristiRTT Posts: 346 Member
    I think the time of day is more important than day of the week! I just admit I have only run 2 half marathons, and I'm training for my first full, but I run long in Saturdays and rest Sundays, but all of my races are Sundays! I try to run in the mornings all the time to get used to the temperature warming, and get my digestive system used to morning long runs!!
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,506 Member
    Its a good practice. Will you tank the race entirely if you don't do it? Probably not. However, setting up your long runs as if they are practices for your race is a good plan. You can get your breakfast timing down. You can get your body into a routine so it know that you get up and run on Sundays. You can try out foods the night/day before and figure out what works and what does not.
  • Raasy
    Raasy Posts: 972 Member
    I have also read that you should do at least some of your training "long runs" on the same day of the week that your actual race will be on. Also the weather conditions will matter as well, if your race is early AM then I would try getting in some runs in the morning as well, or if racing in the evening then train a few runs in the evening.
    I have also read that is you can get a practice run on the actual course that is always beneficial as well. Not all of us can do that but it will let you get a feel for what the course is and where you need a little more training on.
  • Spikethered
    Spikethered Posts: 108 Member
    Hm, thanks for the comments! My full is on a Sunday at 9am, and I often run on Sundays so should be fine. I am staying in a hotel the night before as it's too far to drive to the day before to register and collect my chip and race number. Just need to see what's best to eat the day before :-0
  • schmenge55
    schmenge55 Posts: 745 Member
    Carbs. Carbs and more carbs. Some salty food is good too (helps you retain water which you want for the marathon). And although you should have "good" carbs the day before a marathon carbs are carbs. You could eat a bag of sugar. But don't. :)
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
    I've never done a Saturday race, always Sundays, and I generally run long on Sundays. I like running the same day as my race, because I would do it anyway and my body, mind and family support are used to me running on Sundays. I've had to switch my long run to a different day and I usually just feel a little off. If I do a Saturday marathon and it fits my life, I'll switch my long run to Saturday.
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