Three weeks between first and second 20km

griffin100

Quick question, I'm due to do the Connemara Half Marathon on March 22nd. It will be my first half marathon. My training plan was to have at least one 20km / 13 mile training run under my belt by the end of February. I didn't want Connemara to be my very first attempt at running a 20km after the horror stories I have heard about all of the hills.

However I am now thinking of doing this half (http://www.stbrigids.net/marathon.htm) as part of my prep for Connemara. It looks fairly flat. Would this be a useful 'training' exercise for Connemara? As a novice would I have enough time to recover - two weeks between each race. To give you an idea of where I am for the last couple of months I have been doing at least two hours on the bike on a Saturday followed by a 10 mile run (8.30min/mile pace) every Sunday (except yesterday when I did the Raheny 5 mile in 39.40 - a PB and absolutely delighted to get under 40mins). Would be interested in peoples thoughts.

Krusty_Clown

Hi Griffin, I wouldn't be an expert, but have done the Connemarathon half a couple of times. If you're doing 10 miles regularly, then the St Brigits run will be no bother to you, and Connemara two weeks later will be no bother either.

Maybe you should decide which race is your 'real' race, and don't put in 100% effort on the other half-marathon. So, treat the St Brigits run as a training run, at around 9 min pace, then give Connemara your everything.

Oh and the hills really aren't that bad, but no harm to get some hills covered in training runs. Oh and well done on the Raheny run.

Abhainn

griffin100 I would say go for it. As you've completed a few long runs up to 10 miles you should be fully recovered for the Conn half. Your Sat cycling sessions will also stand to you.

That looks like an interesting race route also. Best of luck and let us know how you fare out.

griffin100

Thanks for the advice. Think I will do both of them. Connemara was always going to be my 'real race' given the challenges associated with the course. It was also an excuse to bring the wife and kids away for three nights to make up for my training and race day absences from the house . I will try and take it 'easy' on the St Brigits run, at least it will be a PB. Will probably also do the Wexford Half. I want to get a few half marathon races under my belt early in the season as I hope to do the half Eireman and psychologically having three half marathons done before the tri season kicks off in earnest will make me feel better.

TFBubendorfer

There's a rule of thumb that says it takes about a day per mile raced to recover from it, and most people seem to think that it's a rather conservative rule, at least for distances below the full marathon.

You'll be just fine, go for it!