tune up races (Read 661 times)

I'm training for a May 2nd marathon.  This will by my 2nd marathon, but first in a really long time.

 

As I'm training for this race, I'm thinking of running a couple tune-up races.  I have two half marathons picked out. 

 

race # 1.  6 weeks before Marathon race day; falls on a 13 mile day on my plan - My race plan is to race it for all it's worth.  shooting for 1:30-1:35.  Use this finish time to fine tune my marathon pace/goal time. 

 

race #2.  3 weeks before Marathon race race day; falls on a 20 miler day.  - My race plan here is to run 4 warm-up miles before the race, run 13 at marathon pace, and then run 3 easy miles after. 

 

Is this a good plan?  Is race #2 too close to the marathon?

 Pittsburgh Marathon by any chance?  

I'm training for a May 2nd marathon.  This will by my 2nd marathon, but first in a really long time.

 

As I'm training for this race, I'm thinking of running a couple tune-up races.  I have two half marathons picked out. 

 

race # 1.  6 weeks before Marathon race day; falls on a 13 mile day on my plan - My race plan is to race it for all it's worth.  shooting for 1:30-1:35.  Use this finish time to fine tune my marathon pace/goal time. 

 

race #2.  3 weeks before Marathon race race day; falls on a 20 miler day.  - My race plan here is to run 4 warm-up miles before the race, run 13 at marathon pace, and then run 3 easy miles after. 

 

Is this a good plan?  Is race #2 too close to the marathon?

 

If it were me, I'd do Race #1 (half marathon) as planned 6 weeks out.

 

I'd switch Race #2 to either a 10k or 15k, and race it all out. Warmup easy 2 miles, cooldown easy 2-3 miles. A 20-miler with 13 at marathon pace is a pretty big workout. I'd be concerned that, with just 3 weeks before your big race, it might compromise the sharpening workouts that you want to be doing then.

My Marathon Training knowledge is theoretical -- as I have only run one Marathon and that was some 25 years ago and I had no FREAKING idea what I was doing...

 

BUT

 

As i understand  from reading various training plans, the last long marathon training run ought to be about 3 or 4 weeks before the marathon...so if you were to run the 2nd HALF Marathon as you proposed, as a really well supported training run with a few hundred other people to cheer you on and run with you, then I can't imagine what harm that would do......so why not........it sounds like pretty good plan to me.......

 

I "think" if it were me, Id probably do it, but I think you would want to hold the pace down to your projected marathon pace + about 30 seconds per mile for the second race........

 

Take my advice with the appropriate grain of salt.....

I think doing both would work for me.  Expect marathon pace to feel insanely easy in number 2 though, with the race atmosphere and with all the fitness in the bank to hold that for 26...   I might do 7 before and then the last 13 at marathon pace if I could swing the time.

Thanks for the advice.  I've still got some time to digest the info before making any plans.

 

I'm thinking more of using the 2nd half marathon as a dress rehearsal for the goal race. The race fee is only $20 and it includes a Tech shirt, so its not like I'm losing anything. 

I also like the idea of racing a shorter distance here as well. 

 

I'll keep my eye on the prize and for now just keep running easy (most of the time) and logging miles.