tapering? (Read 523 times)

I am running a half this coming Sunday (my 2nd).  Because of work/family issues/weather/sick kids/life I haven't had a long run in about 2 weeks.  My last long run was 9 miles.  Would it be more beneficial for me to do a final 10 miler on Tuesday, or should I just do a few shorter runs this week.  I know you are supposed to taper the week prior, but I feel like I should get in that last long run.  Any suggestions?

Your training in the past few weeks does look weak but it's not so much of your long runs but more of a overall running--you have way too many off days.  One thing about long run/conditioning is that you cannot cram it in.  If you are running the half marathon this coming weekend and you try to run a 10-miler on Tuesday, then THAT will be your goal race.  It is ALWAYS better to be under-trained than over-trained.  You've already done your 9-miler; some take 4 weeks of taper for the full marathon; why not 2 weeks for the half? 

What I WOULD suggest is to run 2~4 miles just about every day, except maybe for Friday (2 days before your half).  The day before should be nice and easy for about 2 miles.  Do 4, or even 5 if you feel like, on Wednesday.  Maybe you can do just nice and easy 2, 3 if you really feel good (and the spring is here! ;o)).  If you can do that, it'd be so much better than no run (Mon), 10-mile (Tue), no run (Wed), 2 mile (Thu), no run (Fri), no run (Sat) and the half (I don't know whether you were planning on taking days off or on running everyday or what).  This way, you can slowly get your legs ready for the half without shocking the system.

Good luck and have fun next Sunday.

You'll be fine.  I'm running my 3rd half this weekend.  I missed all of last week because I came down with Plantar Fash (PF).  I was back at it starting this past Tuesday and got runs in Thursday, Friday, and today.  Longest was today of 9 miles and the others were around 7.  My last 12 mile run was the week before my PF came on.

Last November I ran my 2nd half (on a Sunday) and came down with the flu on the Tuesday before.  Didn't get any runs in before the half that week and beat my goal of 1:45.  It's funny.  Once you start racing the adrenaline kicks in.  You'll run at a faster pace then you normally do, and you won't even notice.  It's amazing what adrenaline does.