adding a race?

4boysmom · Sep 22, 2011

The first part of this season went very well. Training for fun, enjoying racing. Then, major bad stuff happened in my life which totally zapped my enjoyment for anything. My last two races (70.3 and championship Oly) were both major suckage. Just no fire in my belly. Heck, I could barely make it through the day. Racing?! Not happening!
 
A team mate and I were to go head to head at a sprint on 10/2. Before the race last weekend I informed her that I would not be racing. I'd do the championship race because I had to. Other than that, my season is over. Plus, it's two weeks before my marathon. Not the best timing.
 
Well... being a girl... Last night I got to thinking about maybe, just maybe, doing the sprint du. I've never done a du. Maybe that would be fun to try.
 
Marathon training has been going okay. I've been going into long runs on less than fresh legs. But, I'm actually starting to look forward to tomorrow's long run. My only goal for the marathon is to have a good race. I'd also like to break 4:00 but if I don't it's no biggie.
 
Am I nuts to do a sprint du two weeks before a marathon? I've done the sprint tri there before and done the marathon but I don't remember this race being so late.

Thor · Sep 22, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by 4boysmom <a href="/t/75231/am-i-crazy-adding-a-race#post_2014126"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> 
Am I nuts to do a sprint du two weeks before a marathon?</div>
</div>
 
This is going to sound pretty plain, but the truth is... The answer depends on your goals for the marathon. Not only that but nobody can answer it but you.
 
I say this from a context that is probably not what you are thinking.
 
A Sprint Duathlon for someone like you -- look at your cycling and running volumes -- is nothing. It is easy. You race it hard, finish, and recover in a day or two. Nothing to it.
 
So the questions becomes not if you should do the Duathlon but rather what you might miss in your marathon preparations by doing the Duathlon. If you miss nothing or very little, which is probably the truth, then it's a win-win... go race it.
 
You're two weeks out. That's a long time for such a short race (duathlon).

Thor · Sep 22, 2011

That (above) said, let me expound on something else...
 
Anytime, and I mean ANY time, I see a phrase such as "Am I crazy?" it always raises red flags. The person writing it is either looking for attention in their exploits (which is fair; just being honest here) OR they know the answer but need help pushing towards it.
 
Why would anyone here think you're crazy? We have many Ironman, warrior challengers, mountain runners, Team USA athletes, Kona Qualifiers, etc. So there is something that YOU think isn't right (need help) or IS right (attention).
 
Try answering the question of yourself. Pretend one of your athletes -- or friends -- asked the same question.

4boysmom · Sep 22, 2011

Is that better for you? I was only hoping to bounce the idea off of other athletes.

Thor · Sep 22, 2011

Is what better for me?
 
Sorry if I offended, as it seems I have done. I'll keep my distance. Was trying to answer the questions as it was posed.

MBannon · Sep 22, 2011

I don't think he meant "seeking attention" in a negative context.
 
Generally I would agree with Thor - if someone on this forum (experienced athletes) asks if they are crazy for considering something, it seems there must be some reason behind the question. Or maybe you just want to get some light banter going, which is A-okay by all, I'm sure. So why would YOU think this might be a crazy idea?

MBannon · Sep 22, 2011

duplicate

4boysmom · Sep 22, 2011

I haven't done a sprint tri the past two seasons. I don't remember what kind of recovery I had.
 
Going back through medals, I did this race in '07 (very first!) and '09. In '07 I did Tucson Marathon, which is in December. In '09 I did Towpath, which is a week later than Columbus, so I would have had 3 or 4 weeks between races.
 
I guess my reason for doing this race is to one very last race with the team before the long winter. I knew I didn't want the pressure of going head to head with a team mate. I've got enough stress, thank you. Plus, after last week's mess with a tri in cold weather, I really don't wanna do that again. But, a duathlon might be fun.
 
My concern would be trashing my legs on the 6.2 (vs 3.1 for a tri) two weeks before a marathon. My goal for the marathon is run a good race. I'd like to break 4:00. It's probably do-able, as most runs have been in the 8:40-8:50 range. I have a 20 tomorrow which will give me a much better idea.
 
As far as my team mate, as soon as I told her I was not racing, she switched to the aqua bike mini. She's been nursing a foot injury and I think she was glad to get out of the race as well.

1Topodope · Sep 23, 2011

Are you thinkig about Deer Creek, by any chance? That is the one I am doing on 10/2.
 
I guess I am looking at your question from a different angle. How much will the 20-miler take out of you? Will you be fatigued going into the Du such that it won't be as much fun as you would like it to be? 
 
I don't think the Du will take so much out of you that it would impact your marathon performance. If you were skipping a long run to do it or it was only one week before...then that would be different. 
 
Personally, I would wait and see how fresh I felt a few days after the 20. If you feel good, then I say go for it. If your muscles are feeling fatigued, then I wouldn't add more muscle fatigue on top of muscle fatigue. Doing that could negatively impact your marathon.
 
Just my two cents. Good luck on your marathon!

4boysmom · Sep 23, 2011

Yes, it is Deer Creek! The bike course isn't too bad. Only a few rollers in the last section, so a pretty easy course. Unless it's windy. I'm not fond of the run course, but mostly because it's XC. But overall, I'd say of all the HFP races, this is my favorite course.
 
Lately, all of my long runs have been during the week, usually Wednesday or Thursday. Because of this past weekend's race, I've put off my long run as late as I ever have. So next week I'd probably do my long run (12) on Thursday and should be recovered for the race. Actually, last year I did 18 days before a race (needed only to complete to win championship, so no pressure). Cranking out 6 was easy because mentally it was only a fraction of what I had just done.
 
So I guess I'm leaning more towards doing it. I just didn't want to do something really stupid and totally blow my marathon.

Yo Sake · Sep 25, 2011

I don't think it is cazy at all. Of course it all depends on individuals, but running a 10k race 2wks before a marathon is rather common as a tune-up race. Since you are a veteran of endurance events, a recovery wouldn't be that difficult, I would think. If you have been running a mega volume and your legs are in need of serious taper, that may be a different story. It comes down to what is important to you and the purpose of this du race. If doing a du is just for fun, and the marathon is the race you have been training hard, I wouldn't do it if I were you. I would be mighty POed at myself if I got injured or something. But that is just me. Good luck with whichever you decide. Let us know how it goes. 
Btw which marathon are you doing?

4boysmom · Sep 25, 2011

Goal for the du would be to have fun with the team one last time before winter. Because I've never done a du before, plan is to go easy on the first run, decently hard on the bike,, then let 'er rip on the final run. Whatever I do will be an automatic PR.
 
Goal for the marathon is to run a good race. I'd like to break 4:00. Plan is to start with the pace group, but trust my gut rather than the pacer. Yesterday's 20 went pretty well. Did two O&B's and the four splits were within 20sec. I'm doing Columbus. Not my favorite, but it just works out best.
 
So, yah, I'm feeling pretty good about this.

adding a race?

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