HM advice (Read 416 times)

That's lousy timing, sorry to hear you've been under the weather. Everybody is different of course, but my cousin's wife covered the Applefest course in Hollis NH for her first HM after running just 7 miles as her longest ever. To me, a mileage increase of almost 50% on a really hilly course is too much. I don't think she enjoyed the race much, but it does show that it can be done. Personally, I would probably try to cover the scheduled 10 miles at a very slow pace. If you can stand the repetition, I use a track workout when I'm unsure I can cover the distance. You're never more than 1/4 mile from your car, so it's easy to break off your run if things don't go well. I run/walk which allows me to recover a bit during runs, and it's particularly helpful when I'm not in top form. Given the state of your health you'll probably tire earlier, and I would highly recommend using walk breaks as a way to delay the onset of fatigue. You can time your segments (I generally run six minutes and walk one minute) or if you do head for a track you can run four laps and walk one. Most importantly, listen to your body. First do no harm. If you decide to try it and it's not going well, slow down. If slowing down isn't enough, give yourself credit for trying and break it off. If you cover five miles in the morning and recover well, try to add a couple easy miles in the evening too. Best of luck to you whatever you decide.