Fitting 22M run around another event.

RedB

I signed up for the Connemarathon before the Limerick Marathon was announced and I'm now entered in both . I'm going to focus on Limerick as its home turf and I was going to swop down to the Half in Connemara as there's only 3 weeks between both events. I'm planning on a sub 4 hour run. I did an 18M run on Sat and my plan was to do 20M long runs every fortnight over the next 6 weeks (3 in total) and then a 22m run 3 weeks before Limerick when I'd taper down. I picked this plan originally for the Connemarathon as I really want to do a 22miler beforehand and ensure I have the required endurance. My difficulty now is that the 22miler for Limerick is due on the weekend of the Connemarathon and I'm considering the following:

1) Run 22M of the Connemarathon and hitch/walk the rest.
2) Reschedule the next several weeks so that the 22miler is the week before Connemara and I have an extended taper including a fast HM in Connemara. Maybe add on a long warmdown run after .
3) Squeeze the 22M in mid-week either before or after Connemara as I'm not sure about the ideal taper duration.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

ultraman1

option 1(without the hitchin)...

Krusty_Clown

The 22 mile run doesn't have to be the last run you do before you taper (in fact some programs will go up to 22 miles then back down to 20 miles before tapering). If you're doing 3-4 20 mile runs, then don't worry, you're not going to have any problem finishing.

You definitely won't be able to hitch a lift in Connemara, unless you're willing to wait a couple of hours after the event has finished, but the walking option after 22 miles is viable (start walking around when you hit the big hill - there'll be lots of others walking too!).

Sandwiching a half marathon (if you're going to do it as fast as you can) between a 20 and 22 mile run might prove tough (and risky), but is do'able too.

RedB

My only dillema about doing 22M in the Connemarathon is that I wouldn't stop and walk when I'm supposed to . I might plough on if I was making good time but then ruin my Limerick race. I'd have to walk the first 4 miles rather then the last 4 if I wanted to keep myself honest .

My 'fast' HM wouldn't be that fast but it might be PMP rather than a LSR.

Krusty_Clown

Well, if you ran the half a PMP (or close to it) then it's not a bad strategy. The first four miles of Connemara marathon are relatively flat. The last four miles are relatively up-hill!

You would have lots of company walking the last four miles. You won't have any company walking the first four miles, as everyone disappears into the distance (the walkers having departed an hour earlier). So which do you think will be harder?!

RedB

I've got a training buddy who's in the same boat so I think we could walk the first 4 miles handy enough together. Walking the last 4 miles would be easier on the body but it'd almost feel like quitting to stop then if I didn't feel like it . We'd be level headed enough to walk at the start but I imagine we'd then take off like rabbits instead of our slow pace! Can't win :rolleyes:.

rigal

Have you any other races planned before Limerick?

RedB

rigal wrote: »

Have you any other races planned before Limerick?

Just the Ballycotton 10 on March 21st

DustyBin

Hey RedB
I haven't ran a marathon, but if in your shoes I reckon I'd race the half and then tag on some really slow miles after it
That's probably gonna get shredded by some of the other posters, but I know that I wouldn't be able to plod around a race
And if you enter the full there's no way you won't race it

Realistically though if racing a half you're probably going to do 2 mile warm up, maybe a 1.5 mile warm down - add in the race and your at 16.5 miles for the day? - what's another couple (really slow) miles gonna take out of you at that stage?

Whatever you decide to do best of luck with it

Killerz

I would agree with DustyBin to an extent. I think doing a half-marathon (especially a relatively tough one such as Connemara) at full pace or close may well be as useful as an 18-20 miler at a slower pace. thats my opinion anyhow. and if you really did feel like it, you could do a warm-down mile or two (or more) if you wanted to at the end.

T runner

RedB wrote: »

I signed up for the Connemarathon before the Limerick Marathon was announced and I'm now entered in both . I'm going to focus on Limerick as its home turf and I was going to swop down to the Half in Connemara as there's only 3 weeks between both events. I'm planning on a sub 4 hour run. I did an 18M run on Sat and my plan was to do 20M long runs every fortnight over the next 6 weeks (3 in total) and then a 22m run 3 weeks before Limerick when I'd taper down. I picked this plan originally for the Connemarathon as I really want to do a 22miler beforehand and ensure I have the required endurance. My difficulty now is that the 22miler for Limerick is due on the weekend of the Connemarathon and I'm considering the following:

1) Run 22M of the Connemarathon and hitch/walk the rest.
2) Reschedule the next several weeks so that the 22miler is the week before Connemara and I have an extended taper including a fast HM in Connemara. Maybe add on a long warmdown run after .
3) Squeeze the 22M in mid-week either before or after Connemara as I'm not sure about the ideal taper duration.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

22 miles easy the week before. How about a 10 mile run the morning of the HM and then try and run HM sub 2 hrs? This would replicate the conditions of the marathon nicely, running at marathon pace when tired. Be defensive with the pace I guess, start slower and build up. You could prepare for it by doing an stepping stone like maybe 9 miles easy 9 miles PMP in a run.