Half marathon 4 weeks before the Boston marathon

Yo Sake · Mar 8, 2011

Should I race it all out, should I taper for it? Or not. That is the question.
I know I don't need a supported MP run. I am curious what half time I can run, but at the same time, I don't expect I can run the half at PR level since I have been focusing on how to bring the full pace closer to the half pace (last year, the difference was about.... 55sec., 7:40 vs. 8.35, yikes). So how should I go about doing this race? Some suggested in the past not to focus on peaking on one race but to have 3-4wks of 'race peak' period. Based on the thought, I probably should start cutting down the volume and increase the intensity, and just race hard. There is a 10k two weeks before Boston, that could be another race. Or, staying with convensional wisdom, and just train through it (or taking just a few days easy prior to the half) and race. Still one more week to go after the half before starting a convensional 3-wk taper. I am just trying to figure out where to place the speed work before the half. And that will determine if I run a long run this Sat or Sun, and of course how long is another question. 
 
I realized I have never run a half as a tune-up race for a full. I have always run at least one 10k. 
 
You are probably tired of reading all of these questions related to a marathon training. Me, too. I thought I would know what I was doing by 7th marathon training. <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;">

pcsronbo · Mar 8, 2011

CAVEAT: I have never done a marathon, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express once so I feel I am fully qualified. (yeah,right!)
 
Ok, my 2 cents.
 
Is your goal a half marathon PR or is your goal a marathon PR? Whenever I've posed this type of question to CC the question is the same. WHAT DO YOU WANT? Do you want to race a bunch and have fun, ok, go ahead. But you will sacrifice the quality of the "main" goal and you increase the risk of injury. If the best possible marathon is in your sights, then I'd reconsider.
 
What is the purpose of the RACE? What will the gain be? Always go back to that. What is the PURPOSE to the workout at hand. How does that get you toward your goal? Will it mess up your goal? Every single workout should have PURPOSE and if you don't know the purpose, you should not do it. It's a waste of time, money, and energy.
 
So if you want to maximize the quality of the marathon, then I would not race a half. Run it? ok but you said you don't need a catered training run and knowing you over the years, if you show up, you will probably RACE it. So I suggest not showing up if you agree.
 
Is racing a half in the training plan? No, probably not, beacuse you will have more recovery from a RACE than a training day. Which reduces the quality other time you have to train. A 10k is different, it's 25% of the marathon and could be a speed day. But 50% or more starts getting more questionable IMHO.
 
Not to mention all out racing also means an increased risk of injury (during, or after if you resume too soon without recovery).
 
So, just like CC always does... I'm not saying DONT do it. Just do it for a reason, the fact that you are hesitating makes me think you know the answer already?
 
I'd very much like to hear from the more experienced marathoners. Like I said, I've never done one. I think 4 weeks is too close. 8 weeks? That might be a different story, as a step in the build progression. But 4 weeks... you race, then the next week you really are recovering, one more peak week, then start to taper. Seems like a road bump in the training plan to me. But what do I know?

Thor · Mar 8, 2011

Race it. Life is too short not to. As long as you're smart in recovering, this half marathon, even if you race it, should be nothing more than recovering from a stupid long run, only now you're getting some good quality. If you are mentally drained, skip it. But it sounds like you're pretty plugged in. I think if you approach the half easy (start on the easy side; ie don't go out at 5K pace) so that you set yourself up for success, you will take away great confidence.

juliemboyle · Mar 8, 2011

If you can set yourself up easy like Thor says go for it..................BUT you are trying a whole different training program, you have worked really hard and are doing great. Is racing the half part of the plan? If not, I would skip it.

em73 · Mar 8, 2011

I'm going to say skip it (and I'm a total race enabler!).
 
You're trying something different this year with your training... so unless this really fits into the plan (and I'm guessing it doesn't, or you wouldn't be asking) I would say don't do it. Give your training plan the best opportunity to work - don't put yourself in the situation of wondering "what if" if you don't meet your goal at Boston.
 
Ron really said it best. Go read his post again.

Yo Sake · Mar 8, 2011

Ron, you are making things way more complicated than necessary. no j/k.
 
I posted this question exactly because I am torn between what those who replied said. No, a half wasn't in the plan, but I don't have 'exact' plan anyway and I am tweaking as I see fit. Yes, I can use a confidence booster, but again, I am not doing any pure speedwork (i.e. vo2max kind) and not sure how a lack of it would play out in half. If my time was far off from PR, would I be discouraged even if I knew the speed for half haddn't been the focus. I am not too concerned about recovery. Thor's idea of approaching the first half a little easier (or may be 3miles easier) sounds good. Maybe the 'purpose' of this race can be 'to be patient and really focus negative split', instead of blsting at 5k pace like I always do. Nothing is on the line for this race, so I can really experiment. 
 
A lot to think about.

AdCo · Mar 8, 2011

BTW, I say do it, but control yourself -- says the guy who can't do that

just go easy and enjoy a supported training run

Thor · Mar 8, 2011

If you are mentally "plugged in" with your training right now such that you aren't on the edge of your rope in burning out with the training, then you should be able race the half marathon and recover physically (because you don't have to worry about the mental recovery) well enough in time. And since you are 4 weeks out, you can even run long the following weekend. I think it's a win-win. But SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS. Do NOT go out at 5K pace. Don't do it. Go out slower than the average pace you want to hold for duration. And do that for the first 3 to 4 miles. Don't cheat by going faster. Once you hit mile 5, slowly.... gradually... like trickle... pick up effort nice and easy, not one big wallop... so that you easy into an all out pounce of the last 5K. Recovery will be quick, very quick, especially after what you've been doing training wise. Be successful. Don't sabotage your training by treating the half like a 5K. You'll be fine.

cak73 · Mar 8, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">
Originally Posted by Yo Sake <a href="/forum/thread/72924/half-marathon-4-weeks-before-the-boston-marathon#post_1987575"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a>
 
Maybe the 'purpose' of this race can be 'to be patient and really focus negative split', instead of blsting at 5k pace like I always do. Nothing is on the line for this race, so I can really experiment. 
</div>
</div>
 
Yes! Make THIS your goal. 
 
It's hard to practice race day pacing on your own because you don't have the excitement of everyone around you. I use my HRM to help me with this because my perceived exertion on race day is not at all what it is during my solo training runs.

Alaska Mike · Mar 8, 2011

I always try and get a HM in 3 or 4 weeks before my goal marathon. I'm doing one this year on March 27, 3 weeks before Boston. I have gone without the tune-up race and been successful, but I feel better when I have done one.
 
There are several reasons I do this. One is a confidence thing. By this time of the training cycle, my fitness level is such that doing a HM, even at a hard pace, feels pretty easy. And I absolutely LOVE that realization that I'm in awesome shape and ready for the marathon. It really gives me a pretty good measuring stick about whether I'm ready to hit my goal on the full or not. And usually the answer is that I am ready. So the HM helps dial me in mentally.
 
I also use it to practice my race routines. Last couple years I've only raced one marathon per season. Doing a tune-up HM helps me go through what I'm going to eat, what I need to pack, what shoes will I be racing in, how I want to warm-up, were I want to line-up, how I need to pace the early miles, what I want to do going through aid stations, how I want to recover after the race. It's a walk through for the big dance. It's a big help come race day because I just went through all of this stuff 3 weeks ago, not 6 months ago.
 
And finally its a 13.1 mile tempo run that puts a cap on my training. It helps me mentally make the transition from heavy training to preparing for my race. I do the race, recover for a day or two, then start my taper (even though the first week of taper isn't much of a taper). It tells my body and my mind that the building blocks are all in place and the next three weeks are all about honing myself so that I'm 100% ready to go come race day.
 
So my recommendation is yes, do it! I suggest doing a mini-taper of just one to two days for the race and plan on one day recovery after. Know going in that you're going to be a bit tired, so don't expect a stand alone HM PR unless your stand alone PR isn't one you've focused on (I do tend to PR these tune-up races just because I don't race many HM other than just before or just after goal marathons). If things go well, great! If there are problems, you've not got a little bit of time to figure them out.
 
Mike

hobey · Mar 8, 2011

This...
<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Yo Sake <a href="/forum/thread/72924/half-marathon-4-weeks-before-the-boston-marathon#post_1987539"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> I know I don't need a supported MP run. 
 
</div>
</div>
 
And this... 

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Yo Sake <a href="/forum/thread/72924/half-marathon-4-weeks-before-the-boston-marathon#post_1987575"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> If my time was far off from PR, would I be discouraged even if I knew the speed for half haddn't been the focus. 
 
</div>
</div>
 
I have no doubt at all that you have the physical conditioning to race the HM and recover just fine. I tend to let bad "C" races go to my head despite my best efforts. Having a bad, or perceived bad, HM this close to taper, regardless of whether it's a C race, may really mess with you mentally. Your volume will be going down and the taper twinges will start. You don't need something like this to distract you from the task at hand which if I've been reading correctly is to knock Boston out of the park. If the HM was 6-8 weeks out, I would say go for it. Four weeks out? Find a 10-15K and race that.

jenotter · Mar 8, 2011

I have to go with: if you want to do it, do it. But take it easy and/or treat it as a long supported run. Now, this is coming from someone who has never made it to Boston, may never qualify (or if I do I'll be 90)...but if Boston is your A race, keep the focus there. I think it's great to do tune-up races for the reasons Mike gave above, but like Ron said, you need to think about recovering from a hard effort. Just my two cents.

jroden · Mar 9, 2011

I'd be inclined to run it in training shoes and look to get a good solid effort in. If anything starts to feel tender, drop out at the drop of a hat though. I agree that a 10-15k might be optimal but you can always run the first 15k of the race hard and see how you feel.

Half marathon 4 weeks before the Boston marathon

Top Contributors this Month