Is this junk miles?

603 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by pcsronbo, Feb 4, 2008

Yo Sake

Discussion Starter · Feb 3, 2008

I need your opinion. 
I just ran 5K this morning - with w/u and some additional miles afterwards before quickly heading to another commitment was 8 miles. My (slightly adjusted) schedule calls for 15mile long run today. (I am in taper for a marathon - 2 weeks to go). I was thinking to run another 7 miles to make it 15miles total today. Would this be 'junk miles' - just running to make the # - without a clear purpupose? 
Just to give you a little more complete picture, a tune-up race was suggested Sat (8-10K) then a long run of 15miles Sun today. I couldn't find any race yesterday so I ran a 5k today instead. I had a short interval workout last Wed. and will have another one (1600x3) this Wed. By running just 8 miles today instead of 15miles, my weekly volume is about 40% down from the previous week, which is way more than a typical taper suggested by many experts (usually 20-25% down for the taper week #1). Other than a slight tightness in my hip (which is very normal), I don't have any physical/potential injury concnern. 
Maybe this is TMI.... but I just don't want to de-train myself. I think I did that heading to Boston last year. 
Thanks for your quick help. Yes, I need your suggestion soon <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

Save

1 - 1 of 8 Posts

teacherjen

· #3 · Feb 3, 2008

I think you have to go with how you feel on this one... If you raced this morning, and you did a good warmup and cooldown, that would be plenty for me. But if that's just a little bit of nothin' for you, then go ahead and do the extra miles. But if you're feeling something in your hip, then I'd rethink it.... 
Did you really race this morning, or was it just a 5K with other people? I think that makes a difference, too. If you raced, I'd just recover this afternoon. If you just took it easy, then treat it as a broken long run, as Tithers suggested. 
How do YOU feel??? 
jen

Save

1 - 1 of 8 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month