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Do you take a rest day before a race?
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2 or more rest days prior to race day12 Votes - [20%]
1 rest day prior37 Votes - [61.67%]
no rest days. An easy run prior11 Votes - [18.33%]

2013-11-08 6:49 PM

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Subject: Do you take a rest day before a race?

I've got a half mary on Sunday morning.  took it easy on the running this week with just 2 easy and one medium day.- not just to taper a little, but because I'm still recovering from last weeks Oly Tri.  

This isn't an "A" race, and I haven't even decided whether I'm going to 'run' it or 'race' it.  I was up to 25-30mpw, so I'm not worried about finishing.  Targeting sub-1:40 if I race it, and maybe 1:50 if I just 'run' it.  

anyway- I'm not on any kinda' training plan.  Just looked over a few HM plans and Higdon recommends taking two full days off of running prior to the race.  Other plans take off just the day before.  other plans have you run 5mi two days out, and 3mi the day prior.

which probably means that, as long as you don't go too hard, it really doesn't matter all that much.

So - what does everyone else do?  Rest day before a race?  or some easy running to stay loose?



2013-11-08 7:14 PM
in reply to: Guest

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
30 minute bike ride. No impact and warms your legs up.

2013-11-08 7:39 PM
in reply to: DanielG

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Seattle
Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
Nah. I always at least do a short run and strides the day before. If I were to take a day off it would be two days prior.
2013-11-08 7:54 PM
in reply to: #4895488

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
For Sunday race, take your rest day on Friday - and lots,of carbs Friday evening.

Saturday should be a short bike ride and an easy swim - no running!!

This is per my coach who regularly wins her AG in Ironman races.
2013-11-09 6:31 AM
in reply to: smallard

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
Same here. I normally do something easy the day before--short jog and/or bike ride. Usually the only time I would take a rest day the day before is if I need to travel to the venue on that day. For Saturday AM races, I often can't leave until Friday after work, and it's not unheard of for me to get in after midnight for a 7 AM race (sigh). So Friday needs to be a rest day in that case. For a Sunday race, Friday would still be a rest day, since it's usually the travel day.
2013-11-09 7:15 AM
in reply to: Asalzwed

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
Originally posted by Asalzwed

Nah. I always at least do a short run and strides the day before. If I were to take a day off it would be two days prior.



^^^^ probably the smarter thing to do … I too have a 'B Race' half mary tomorrow morning. I did not taper volume at all but did take yesterday off as a rest day (but still did upper body strength training). My "rest day" today is to tailgate before and then go to the Alabama-LSU game …beer is cargo loading, right? (<= probably not the smartest thing to do.)

It all depends upon what your goals are. While it probably could not be a true test of your run fitness given the lack of full taper it can be a pop-qwiz. If you don't want that pressure (and/or want to drink beer watching college football today) then just make it a training run to help run off the cheese dip.

Either way, good luck tomorrow!




2013-11-09 8:29 AM
in reply to: brian

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?

Depends on the race for me.  The day before an A race that is long, like marathon or IM and it will be a rest day.  B race or shorter race may have a bike or short run with strides. 

2013-11-09 8:40 AM
in reply to: kenj

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
I will do something uber light the day before. Dan's idea of a short easy bike ride is great idea, I often take a long walk
2013-11-09 9:09 AM
in reply to: Oysterboy

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
I assume by rest day you mean a light day. I always do something light to keep things limber.
2013-11-09 6:46 PM
in reply to: b2run

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?

I rest two days before and do a 1/2 distance BRICK the morning before the race. On the course, if possible.

2013-11-09 6:56 PM
in reply to: Guest

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
If you had a long drive or flight to get to the race site, a short run to flush out your legs is always a good idea. If you can run a few miles on the course (particularly the finish) it is a good mental prep for the race, but otherwise don't run just to run.


2013-11-09 8:58 PM
in reply to: southwestmba

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
I rest 2-3 days before a Marathon/Half marathon, HIM.

Showing up on race day with absolutely no soreness and fully rested and recuperated is priceless IMHO.
2013-11-10 8:33 AM
in reply to: amedal

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?

For an A race, I'll taper the week (or two, for long course) prior.  As for a day OFF, that's usually two days prior (as has been said above) this season.  Last 30 years or so I've taken the day immediately prior off.

I preferred the day prior until this year, when I tried 2 days prior and was indifferent at the start of the season.  By the end of the season, I came to prefer taking the day 2 days prior off.

Just felt better with a jog that had 2-3 x 60-90" at race pace or just below on the day prior.  Served as "openers" like before a bike race.

Matt

2013-11-13 2:49 PM
in reply to: Guest

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?

Originally posted by morey000

I've got a half mary on Sunday morning.  took it easy on the running this week with just 2 easy and one medium day.- not just to taper a little, but because I'm still recovering from last weeks Oly Tri.  

This isn't an "A" race, and I haven't even decided whether I'm going to 'run' it or 'race' it.  I was up to 25-30mpw, so I'm not worried about finishing.  Targeting sub-1:40 if I race it, and maybe 1:50 if I just 'run' it.  ...

 

Followup.  I did a light run two days out, and then took the day prior completely off.  I still felt like I was recovering from the prior week's tri, but otherwise, felt OK.  Went out at my intended pace of 7:35 or so, but felt good enough to ease it up a little faster and pretty much stayed at LT for the last 10 miles of the HM.  Ended up with a 1:36 (7:22 average pace/mi)- and I was pretty thrilled with that.  So- everything worked. 

2013-11-13 2:54 PM
in reply to: smallard

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?

I usually do an easy spin the day before, but it depends on my schedule and what type of race it is for me A/B/C.

2013-11-13 4:16 PM
in reply to: Guest

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
My HIM pre-race routine, which I consider "rest" is:

2 days prior, a short 1,000 m swim and a short 3 or 4 mile run.
24 hours prior, 5-10 miles on the bike, easy but with some energy.


2013-11-13 9:21 PM
in reply to: FranzZemen


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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
2 Days out - off

1 Day out -

30 min bike, easy with a couple very short efforts to keep the legs loose.
10-15 min run, easy with a couple efforts.

The more interesting question, is what do you do the morning of,

20 min bike, 10 min run, then swim right before the start if available.
2013-11-14 7:54 AM
in reply to: ziggie204

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Subject: RE: Do you take a rest day before a race?
It really depends on the nature of the race. For a run-only race, anything less than a marathon, at least 10 minutes jogging and some strides. For a sprint or Oly tri, maybe 10 minutes jog, a few strides, and about 7-10 minutes of swim warmup. I don't bike unless I need to bike to the race venue, aside from making sure bikey is in working order and setting my gears. Too much bike warmup fries my legs--the biking in the race is bad enough! For my HIM, I really didn't warm up, aside from riding the bike about one mile to make sure all was in working order, and swimming a hundred meters or so. Figured I'd get warmed up en route.
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