Lunch time miles to supplement distance
smarionette
Posts: 260 Member
So, I lucked my way into a full marathon entry in November (Yay?) which was not on my agenda for the year. I was training for a half in September and probably another in October already so it isn't like I'm starting from base zero, but my mileage base is not what it should be for a full. What are people's thoughts on logging some short runs at lunch time (3-5 miles) to supplement my base mileage? I'm thinking on mid-run days it could be helpful so I can still get in 10 miles, without spending 2 hours out running before or after work. Do you think that splitting these runs up will affect my overall performance?
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Running doubles is a good way to supplement your total overall mileage and to help with recovery, but shouldn't be used to get your daily mileage to what your plan says (you do have one, don't you?). Two 5 mile runs don't equal one 10 mile run. There are fitness adaptations that take place as you run longer. Dividing one 90 minute run into two 45 minute runs will not provide you with the same level of fitness adaptation that a single run would provide.0
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I think it would be better than nothing but would give you nowhere near the same benefit as doing the 10 miles in one go.0
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I'd be more concerned with your existing mileage base and will it be enough to get you through an unplanned full without injury and misery, but that's not the question you axed. Nothing to add, but good luck.0
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Thanks for the input so far!
Carson, I do have a plan, and I've been running with a group who is training for this marathon to begin with. The original plan was I would just break off with the half marathoners once the mileage started getting high. The goal for the half marathoners was to keep a fairly high base to help improve speed, while the goal for the full marathoners is to get through it safely. The long run progressions are pretty much in line with Hal Higdon's Novice 1 program, so that is what I'm using to figure out my mileage base during the week. This week is fairly light with a 3/5/3/8 split slated. (I also crossfit once a week and try to lift weights 2x.)
I think I was just hoping for a way to make things a bit easier to schedule as a 2 hour run is easier to schedule on the weekend than it is during the week, and in a month my mid runs will be in that territory.0 -
True story: when I did my first marathon (of 2 so far) when I got up to the 11 mile marker I honestly thought (like a total smug *kitten*) 'oh good, only 15 miles to go, that's just a mid-week medium-long run, that's easy'. And it was (I know, I hate myself too). I was really grateful I'd done a plan with so many medium runs to back up the long ones. It'll be totally worth the scheduling hassle on race day.0
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True story: when I did my first marathon (of 2 so far) when I got up to the 11 mile marker I honestly thought (like a total smug *kitten*) 'oh good, only 15 miles to go, that's just a mid-week medium-long run, that's easy'. And it was (I know, I hate myself too). I was really grateful I'd done a plan with so many medium runs to back up the long ones. It'll be totally worth the scheduling hassle on race day.
Lol! I hope to be a smug *kitten* too
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Adding in lunchtime runs in addition to your clubs training plans will definitely help you get race ready but as others pointed out two short runs don't equal one long run. If you can do something like "7 in the AM, 5 at lunch" instead of a scheduled 10 mile you will still be good for your marathon in November.0
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So i split 4 days a week into 2 runs. 5 miles in the morning and 4 miles in the evening. I will be the first person to tell you that this isn't even remotely close to how I would feel if I did 4 9 mile runs sometime Monday - Friday. I always feel recovered and refreshed for the next one. That being said it's helping me get lots of miles in for my first marathon November 2nd. I'm currently at bare minimum 52 mpw.
But i felt like these runs and my long run weren't enough for me to be marathon ready so I'm currently building 1 run midweek from the 1 hour range to 1:30-2 hours. I think it's going to help a lot.0
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