Last race before marathon ?

TheRoadRunner

OK so I think I already know the answer to this question but i'll just throw it out there to see peoples opinions.

Have a marathon on the 25th of April. Haven't raced much lately but did a half last weekend and ideally would like to do a 10k 2 weeks before marathon. Problem is I can't find any in my vicinity (Dublin). There is a BHAA 4 miler on the 11th of April so I've penciled this in. It has the advantage of being a short drive but the disadvantage of being short of my desired race distance. There is a 10k on in Rosslare on the 4th but I really don't want to drive too far. The national 10k is on the 18th and I'd love to do this but common sense is telling me this would be too close to marathon race day.

Was just wondering
1) What peoples opinions are regarding racing cutoff before marathon 3weeks, 2 weeks 1 week ?
2) Is 4 mile too short to use as a tune up. I think it is and I suppose I could continue on at a decent clip for 2 extra miles at the end but might look like a tool.
3) anybody know of a 10k on the 4th or 11th of April

Cheers

Abhainn

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

OK so I think I already know the answer to this question but i'll just throw it out there to see peoples opinions.

Have a marathon on the 25th of April. Haven't raced much lately but did a half last weekend and ideally would like to do a 10k 2 weeks before marathon. Problem is I can't find any in my vicinity (Dublin). There is a BHAA 4 miler on the 11th of April so I've penciled this in. It has the advantage of being a short drive but the disadvantage of being short of my desired race distance. There is a 10k on in Rosslare on the 4th but I really don't want to drive too far. The national 10k is on the 18th and I'd love to do this but common sense is telling me this would be too close to marathon race day.

Back in London for more then The RoadRunner?. Best of luck

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Was just wondering
1) What peoples opinions are regarding racing cutoff before marathon 3weeks, 2 weeks 1 week ?

As this would seem to be your "A" race if it was me I would leave 21 days between last race and big day.

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

2) Is 4 mile too short to use as a tune up. I think it is and I suppose I could continue on at a decent clip for 2 extra miles at the end but might look like a tool.

If you were happy with last weekends half then a good result in the 4 miler would provide a good confidence booster and that should be enough. You will be racing it so that should be ample enough as tune up.
But then that race is 14 days prior

Krusty_Clown

For the last two marathons, I couldn't find a 10k race two weeks before the marathon (which the training program called for) so I did a 10k time trial, to assess what kind of level I'm at. In both cases it was a real confidence booster, and came at a perfect point in the training, during taper, when I needed a bit of a boost! The 17 mile run the next day was tough, but provided a final endurance jolt. Coincidentally, I covered 26.2 miles over the two days in around the same as my target time for the marathon.

So while we train at different intensities/mileage, maybe a 10k time trial would work for you too? It helps to find a route that's slightly downhill.

TheRoadRunner

Abhainn wrote: »

Back in London for more then The RoadRunner?. Best of luck

Same day different race. Kind of kicking myself I didn't enter London though.

I think I'm going to go with the 4 mile race. I had this in my head before I posted but said I would ask anyway. I generally don't do a 2 week taper as it just doesn't suit me at all. 7-10 days does fine, so I think while the 4 miler isn't long enough it definitely makes more sense than doing the national 10k which is only 8 days beforehand. I was actually thinking of doing this. If somebody else told me they were considering doing it I'd tell them to kop on.

Slogger Jogger

Races instead of training work for me.. Raced last weekend. Racing next weekend. Connemarathon 2 weeks after that.

tunguska

I think Rosslare seems like the way to go Roadrunner. I know its a bit of a drive but me and my mate are heading down that day(its the monday by the way, 5th, not 4th)so you can jump in the car with us and be a passenger, save yourself the hassle of driving.

village runner

tunguska wrote: »

I think Rosslare seems like the way to go Roadrunner. I know its a bit of a drive but me and my mate are heading down that day(its the monday by the way, 5th, not 4th)so you can jump in the car with us and be a passenger, save yourself the hassle of driving.

a 10k 6 days before a mararthon aint in my kind off taper although i know a lad that raced 10 7 days and done very well.

tunguska

village runner wrote: »

a 10k 6 days before a mararthon aint in my kind off taper although i know a lad that raced 10 7 days and done very well.

Jaysus VR, im not doing a marathon!! Had to knock Rotterdamn on the head Im afraid.

TheRoadRunner

tunguska wrote: »

I think Rosslare seems like the way to go Roadrunner. I know its a bit of a drive but me and my mate are heading down that day(its the monday by the way, 5th, not 4th)so you can jump in the car with us and be a passenger, save yourself the hassle of driving.

Thanks tunguska but I think I'm going to opt for the 4 mile race. Have plans for the Monday.