[juliemboyle]

<p>My "A" race is Big Lake Half Marathon on May 7th.  It is a hilly course and this will be my 4th time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There is another half I have done a few times that I really like, the race is on April 3rd, so that gives 5 weeks between.  This course is hilly too.  I would like to do the race, as I know I'll be itchin' to do one and was thinking I could test out my training, pacing, whatever with plenty of time to be rested and ready for Big Lake.  Is this a good idea?  Is it a bad idea?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your thoughts are appreciated!!!</p>

 

[hobey]

<p>For a training check, the longest I would race in preparation for a HM is 10K. If you really want to run the April HM, I'd find a friend to pace at your training pace and treat it as just another LR. I've put HM on my HM training schedules before as a "practice" and it didn't work out so well for me. It was the only time I truly injured myself running. I went ahead and ran my A HM anyway and that's just another "hobey was stupid" story for another day. Practice races can be really hard on you. I ran the Seattle HM over Thanksgiving and was disciplined enough to treat it as just another hard workout and stick to my MP for the entire race but recovery was still a bear and took several days longer than I would have liked.</p>

 

[juliemboyle]

<p>Ok, so just found out that a 10K I have always wanted to do is on April 10th.  Plus I have only done 1 10K in my racing career..........shall I do this one instead?</p>

 

[hobey]

<p>I'd choose the 10K over the HM and replace your tempo run that week with the race.</p>

 

[cak73]

<p>Julie, is that the Groton Road Race 10K?  You'll love it!<br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>juliemboyle</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72109/is-there-benefit-to-adding-a-hm-race-to-training-plan#post_1975882"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Ok, so just found out that a 10K I have always wanted to do is on April 10th.  Plus I have only done 1 10K in my racing career..........shall I do this one instead?</p>
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[juliemboyle]

<p>@Cak:  Yes it is!!  I've always wanted to do it but it usually falls the week of our family vacation..........</p>

 

[mrscoby78]

<p>I'm late to the party, but, I agree with Hobey.  In the past I've done the Kentucky Derby Half marathon, with the Triple Crown races (5k, 10k, 10 mile) leading up to it.  3 races spaced 2 weeks apart, then 3 weeks off, then Derby race was too too much, and led to injury for me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think doing just the 10k, and <em>maybe</em> the 10 mile (skipping the 5k) would be better. </p>

 

[juliemboyle]

<p>I am listening to you all and I remembered that 2 years ago I did 2 halfs within a month apart.  Raced the first one and didn't even want to attempt the second one I was still getting over it.  Ended up doing the second with a friend at a easy pace but I won't be doing that this time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Signed up for the 10K.  Will do that in place of my tempo run that week. Perfect, I get to enjoy a race but stay on track with my training!</p>

 

[KitKat]

<p>I have a related question.  I'm doing a half in May as well and was eyeing a 10k two weeks prior.  Like Hobey said, it would be in place of my tempo run that week.  Is the race too close to the HM though?</p>

 

[juliemboyle]

<p><br>
I would think if you stuck to your usual tempo pace it would be ok.  BUT if you can't resist and you try to all out race it, that might take a few extra days to recover and maybe not the best idea if you are really wanting to race your HM.  Let's see what everyone else has to say!<br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>KitKat</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72109/is-there-benefit-to-adding-a-hm-race-to-training-plan#post_1975926"><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><br><br><p>I have a related question.  I'm doing a half in May as well and was eyeing a 10k two weeks prior.  Like Hobey said, it would be in place of my tempo run that week.  Is the race too close to the HM though?</p>
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[hobey]

<p>I don't know what your tempo pace is but mine is 10K pace so if you replace your tempo run that week with a race, you're accomplishing the same thing. As with any hard workout, make sure you recover well but it takes less time to recover from 6 hard miles than 13. You would be used to running 5-6 miles tempo at that point so a 10K race is no different.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I actually like kicking off my taper with a race, of course a distance within reason though.</p>

 

[KitKat]

<p>My 10 k pace is pretty much my tempo pace but I probably wouldn`t maintain it for 5 or 6 mi if it were just a training run.  So, the recovery would be a little longer.  But like you said Hobey, it is right before tapering so plenty of time to recover. </p>

 

[Yo Sake]

<p>Julie - if your long is often over the 13.1miles and if you can stay within your targeted training pace (not racing), I don't think running a half as a training run is a bad idea at all.  I am not sure what would be the right pace to run this, but let's say 30-45sec+ your target pace for the first 10miles, and race the last 5k, something like that may tell you how your training is going.  Having said that, however, running 10k's would be a great idea too.  I would think you can race them and still recover well enough not to miss other workouts.  So many fun races, so little time...! </p>

 

[juliemboyle]

<p><br>
The problem is I would probably have a hard time staying at training pace and wouldn't be able to resist racing.............so glad I chose the 10K, no worries there.  Plus, I've only done (1) 10K ever and will be able to SMASH that PR..........58:52 is the standing PR for me for 10K<br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Yo Sake</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72109/is-there-benefit-to-adding-a-hm-race-to-training-plan#post_1976129"><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><br><br><p>Julie - if your long is often over the 13.1miles and if you can stay within your targeted training pace (not racing), I don't think running a half as a training run is a bad idea at all.  I am not sure what would be the right pace to run this, but let's say 30-45sec+ your target pace for the first 10miles, and race the last 5k, something like that may tell you how your training is going.  Having said that, however, running 10k's would be a great idea too.  I would think you can race them and still recover well enough not to miss other workouts.  So many fun races, so little time...! </p>
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[donskiman]

<p>Provided you train properly there is no reason at all you can't do 2 HMs within 5 weeks. Heck, a certain person on this forum raced a marathon every month for a couple years and seemed to do rather well in most of them. A few years back I did two marathons and a HM, plus a sprint du in a month. PRed them all, and won the overall in the du. Of course I was only 48 when I did that, but it wasn't all that big of a deal. I then raced a 10K a couple weeks after the second marathon and still did OK, although not a PR.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've found one of the keys to doing these kind of multiple races in a short period is higher overall training volume. Sticking to bare bones training plans often won't lead to the fitness required for racing very often.</p>