HM close to full marathon?

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2012-09-17 10:16 PM

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Subject: HM close to full marathon?

I posted this on let's run but hoping some of the vet marathoners have insight...I've been doing pfitz 55/18; haven't missed a workout. In the last 3 weeks before full (my 2nd standalone), calls for a 10k race this sat, and a long run sun (24k).

Signed up awhile ago for a half-marathon on Sat but it's 15 days from the full. Searched a lot, and seems the top 80mpw guys think that's ok, but lower volume not so much.

Full is important, half is not. I can still switch to a very hilly 10K - do that and go full out? Run the half at maybe 5-10 sec slower? I don't get how a full 10k is less abuse than a half with no sprint at the end? Ideally if the half @ 5-10 seconds off works out easy, that's a bit more confidence in my full pacing estimation. 

Ugh. Taper madness and haven't even started taper yet. :P

2012-09-17 10:27 PM
in reply to: #4415841

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Subject: RE: HM close to full marathon?
If you have a 25K run on the schedule, I don't see the harm in doing a Half marathon as long as you don't try and kill it. Think it would be a great opportunity to run at marathon pace, and get a dress rehershal for your nutrition plan and pre race routine. If it were closer than 2 weeks I wouldn't reccommend it but seems OK as a transition to the last two week taper.



Edited by southwestmba 2012-09-17 10:30 PM
2012-09-18 7:54 AM
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Subject: RE: HM close to full marathon?

southwestmba - 2012-09-17 11:27 PM If you have a 25K run on the schedule, I don't see the harm in doing a Half marathon as long as you don't try and kill it. Think it would be a great opportunity to run at marathon pace, and get a dress rehershal for your nutrition plan and pre race routine. If it were closer than 2 weeks I wouldn't reccommend it but seems OK as a transition to the last two week taper.

I agree with this, with a special emphasis on the don't try and kill it part.  I once ran a half two weeks before my full and wasn't able to show this kind of discipline.  After a couple of miles in, it felt so easy I went out and crushed it, setting a HM PR in the process.  While it didn't feel really difficult, my marathon two weeks later was disappointing.  Certainly there could have been other factors involved, but I really believe a part of it was the hard effort two weeks before.

2012-09-18 8:18 AM
in reply to: #4415841

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Subject: RE: HM close to full marathon?
At 15 days consider it part of your reverse taper for getting back into form, and run it at training run pace. You'll be fine. If you try and run it at race pace you'll likely slow down your overall recovery.
2012-09-18 10:27 AM
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Subject: RE: HM close to full marathon?

BrianRunsPhilly - 2012-09-18 9:18 AM At 15 days consider it part of your reverse taper for getting back into form, and run it at training run pace. You'll be fine. If you try and run it at race pace you'll likely slow down your overall recovery.

I agree.  My normal taper has me doing (usually) a 12 miler two weeks out from the full mary.  I'd have no issue or concern doing a 13.1 so long as i took it at the same pace "training" pace.

2012-09-18 10:59 AM
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Subject: RE: HM close to full marathon?

I've done 5 training cycles of Pfitzinger 18/55 - 18/70 and modified versions with mileage in between the two.

Racing a half marathon 15 days before the marathon is risky. If your main goal is the marathon, I would either race the 10K or run the half marathon at MP. For my last marathon, I ran a 20K at MP 2 weeks before: it was a good confidence builder and I think it helped my specific endurance.

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