I've been challenged to race a friend in a 5k on March 9. I said "no", using the excuse of the marathon coming up on March 15. My friend thinks I'm a pansy for not wanting to run 3 miles: what could possibly go wrong? It's not that I have a problem with running 3 miles, rather I'm worried about racing it - wearing myself out or getting injured.
Should I plan to race my friend in April, or am I being overly cautious in avoiding the March 9 race?
I'd wait until after the marathon. There will be plenty of 5ks. Last time I decided to do just a 5k before a half marathon, I wound up tripping on a root and bruising my kneecap. I wound up not running until the day of the half. Not the best taper.
race obsessed
No
You can run a 5k before as an nice run... not speedwork, not tempo. just a nice run.
Should you actually race the 5k, the least you will have to deal with is being not tip top fresh for the marathon.
Are we there, yet?
Depends on how easy it would be to beat him. If you can cruise to victory with what amounts to a tempo run, fine. If it will take a race effort, wait until at least a month, preferably 6 weeks, after the marathon to race him over 5K.
2024 Races:
03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles
05/11 - D3 50K 05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour
06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.
Ok, thanks. I want to RACE him (yes, it's a him!) and give it my all. So I'm going to make him wait until April based on your great feedback! I need to be "tip top fresh" on the 15th as Slymoon puts it.
There are always distractions during MRT and that is exactly what this is.
Big picture; this isn't the time for that. He will have to wait to get his ass handed to him on a platter and deservedly so.
I've been challenged to race a friend in a 5k on March 9. I said "no", using the excuse of the marathon coming up on March 15. My friend thinks I'm a pansy for not wanting to run 3 miles: what could possibly go wrong? It's not that I have a problem with running 3 miles, rather I'm worried about racing it - wearing myself out or getting injured. Should I plan to race my friend in April, or am I being overly cautious in avoiding the March 9 race?
You're going to jeopardize months of training for a stupid challenge?
Simple solution. Just make the marathon the challenge. Now who's the pansy.
Youth Has No Age. ~ Picasso / 1st road race: Charleston Distance Run 15 Miler - 1974 / profile
Racing? No. Running it for fun, yes. Don't forget what the goal is.
Damaris
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You're going to jeopardize months of training for a stupid challenge? Simple solution. Just make the marathon the challenge. Now who's the pansy.
/thread
Dave
I knew you all would have wisdom for me. Can I come here with non-running-related troubles too?
Everybody does! As long as you don't mind getting some really crappy advice.
Those are the best kind of troubles.
As for a 5k I agree with the rest. Last year I "ran" a special 5k to me 2 days before Boston. I would have run that day anyway but I was planning on slow/easy. My SIL took it upon herself to pace me to a PW and succeeded. She told me a few times to slow down and was great