Need to Race

ok - 5 wks to Boston

My plan calls for my last three long distance runs of 21, 20 & 17 for the next three Sundays, however I want to race one 10k and one 1/2 marathon in there somehow to get a sense of my fitness to help me finalize a goal pace and all the races in my area are on Sunday this time of year. I hate to sacrifice so many miles, but to long run on Sat and follow Sun with a race seems prone to disaster.

Thoughts on how to manage this -- like most of you I have a job, so running a 20 during the week would be tough to manage.

This is kind of a touchy situation. All I can think of is when you have the half marathon race, do some miles before it (easy) to reach your long run distance that day. The 10K is another story. One suggestion is rather than race it, make that day a fast finish long run. Do the necessary miles before the race, then use the race to run the last 6 at MP or a little faster. That is also a good pace predictor

That seems a little excessive to me. Pick a 10k or half and race it if you want. Racing both isn't going to be better than the miles you would be sacrificing.

ok - thanks for the thoughts?

Does a half-marathon raced in hills (Atlanta) equal a 21 mile LSD in the flatlands (Michigan)?

mountandog wrote:ok - thanks for the thoughts?

Does a half-marathon raced in hills (Atlanta) equal a 21 mile LSD in the flatlands (Michigan)?

I think it counts as 21 miles here in Atlanta Are you in??????

last year I did a 20 mile half-marathon sandwich 3 weeks before Boston. Ran 3.5 to the start, raced the half, ran 3.5 home. worked out great and made the 20 go by quite quickly.

wrichman wrote:last year I did a 20 mile half-marathon sandwich 3 weeks before Boston. Ran 3.5 to the start, raced the half, ran 3.5 home. worked out great and made the 20 go by quite quickly.

good idea

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:

mountandog wrote:ok - thanks for the thoughts?

Does a half-marathon raced in hills (Atlanta) equal a 21 mile LSD in the flatlands (Michigan)?

I think it counts as 21 miles here in Atlanta Are you in??????

will decide tonight. If its a go my sister will join too. I think you know her.

I understand the desire to race, but you've been a little dinged lately and I would just caution to maybe save a little in the tank and not risk setting yourself back too much for your "big" one... I have heard the Atlanta half is fun to race though!

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:

mountandog wrote:ok - thanks for the thoughts?

Does a half-marathon raced in hills (Atlanta) equal a 21 mile LSD in the flatlands (Michigan)?

I think it counts as 21 miles here in Atlanta Are you in??????

Michele. is it possible to sign up at the expo or is it sold out? You can no longer register online or in the stores. Hate to travel all that way only to not get a number.

mountandog wrote:

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:

mountandog wrote:ok - thanks for the thoughts?

Does a half-marathon raced in hills (Atlanta) equal a 21 mile LSD in the flatlands (Michigan)?

I think it counts as 21 miles here in Atlanta Are you in??????

Michele. is it possible to sign up at the expo or is it sold out? You can no longer register online or in the stores. Hate to travel all that way only to not get a number.

Sent you this link: http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=1943451

John Kilpatrick wrote:I understand the desire to race, but you've been a little dinged lately and I would just caution to maybe save a little in the tank and not risk setting yourself back too much for your "big" one... I have heard the Atlanta half is fun to race though!

+1

I understand the desire too. With your recent injuries I think it would be much wiser to use this half as a pace run and save your growing desire for the big one. I think you're at risk to do something to negatively impact your goal race. Best of luck in whatever you decide to do.