Okay,
all you marathon veterans, coaches and opinion holders; here's my dilemma: one of my favorite 5K races is this coming Saturday. 1-should I run it? If so, 2-should I race it? or 3-should I just train through it? 4-do you really think I can hold back in a race?Factors: $20 to enter. Eight days before my first marathon. It's a scheduled rest day on my training calendar. The day before is a rest day too. The next day is to be a 1-hour run.
12 comments:
I think it is ok to run it as well, but I would advise not over doing anything. Obviously the last thing you want to do right now is blow all your training by straining something in a 5K race.
If you run at around marathon pace you should be fine, but don't try to go all out - the risk of injury or strained muscles is just too great.
You could use this run to practice your negative split pace for the marathon. Not going out too fast is one of the hardest but most important aspects of running a marathon so entering a 5K with the intention of holding a reasonable 1st 1/2 marathon pace would be great. If you are not planning to negative split then I concur that just running this race at your intended marathon pace would be great practice. A race start is always a temptation to run too hard so this will give you a chance to practice restraint. All that and a t-shirt, too!
You could either skip the 1 hour run the next day or just do 1/2 of it to stay loose.
ps - in response to a comment you made on my blog I am still running at least 1x a week but I'm shooting for 2. I'm just not in training until March.
As I'm not (yet?) a marathon veteran, I won't dole out advice on the race. Enjoy your day off and your massage...I'm jealous :-)
The only opinion I hold is that it would be utterly *impossible* for YOU to enter that 5k and *not* race it.
I am no expert, but I say Go For It!
I'd run it but not race it. Which sucks and which also means I wouldn't end up doing it because I am an "elitist" and would hate to not race it as hard as I can. Great answer, huh?
I'm gonna stick with wishing you a great race for your marathon and heh if you run the 5km, just enjoy it.
a week before my two marathons, i ran a 5k race, and *raced* it. it was a great way to blow off some steam/nervous energy and still left me with plenty of time to rest up before the marathon.
your mileage may vary.
A 5k race is for speed so hardly you will be touch to go too fast... your marathon is ahead, just wait for it, it will last forever at some point!
i've no idea what you "should" do... cuz.. i dont really know what i'm talking about.. ever... but...
good luck with whatever you decide!!! :)
*claps for joy*
you're going to come and visit me? really? ME?! oh boy! i'd better be on my best behavior. no stress, just enjoy the experience of being with you again, maybe even, ahem, push the pace a little?
maybe? please?
don't worry about our date being too close to your 'other' date. i've done this before and your 'other' date will never even know. it might actually help your 'other' date.
Post a Comment