Training for too many things! (Read 550 times)

I am brand new to Running Ahead, but so far I like it. Getting advice from other runners is ideal. I think I've confused my body with what I am training for. I am training for the Broad Street run in May, and also a half-marathon relay in March, and a 5K in March. I've run 5K races before, but my goal is a 21 minute race and the best I've done so far is 23:30. With how I run, and what I'm in training for I'm not sure how much of what I should do each week - such as long, speed, easy, race pace runs. Any suggestions?? I also play on a co-ed soccer team one night a week, and wonder if that should be considered as one of my workouts or not. My day after soccer games runs have to be easy since my body is usually upset with me for all the aggressive moves that go with soccer. Has anyone ever run a half-marathon relay? This is new to me. I have NEVER run more than 5 miles at a time for a race so the 10 mile Broad Street will be a first for me.

I agree, 5k and 10 mi training are not all that different. I would definitely consider soccer one workout a week so that would leave (for me who's a ninny and knows he can only handle 2 hard efforts per week) one other day per week to do a workout. So I guess, if it were me, I'd do 1 longish run with some race pace running built in, a 2nd longish run at an easy pace and a bunch of shorter easy runs, one of them with some strides. That plus soccer would likely be about what I could handle.

I like the idea of counting soccer as one of my runs, since I am on an aggressive team, also, I do a slow 20 minute jog before to loosen up for the soccer game. I get to run full speed during soccer which is a great feeling, but tends to leave me a little sore the next day. I'm torn on which race to focus on between the 5k and the 10 mile. The Broad Street has been described to me as a casual fun race, with no need to really go for a record time. Since this is my first 10 mile race I like the thought of it being low key, but I would love to shock and amaze my friends and fellow runners by actually doing better than I thought I would. The 5k coming up is important because my husband is running with me and I CANNOT let him beat me!! The last two races we did together he beat me...and I think it bothered me a heck of a lot more than I let show. SO, this time I can't let him beat me. He only runs up to 5k for races so there's no threat with the 10 mile race. And on a personal note - I had told myself that I would be at 7 minute miles before I turned 35 - and that didn't happen...so now I have do better than that to make up for not reaching my goal in time. As for doing a distance race, I have never considered it but I might now. I am happy to have found that the time zips by when I do my long runs. I thank my ipod shuffle for that.