No Running Week Before HM, Good or Bad Idea?

GKiraly

Got a half marathon coming up next Sunday that I've signed up for. Done my last LSR today of 11 miles and noticed that my calf was a little achey ( ive a history of troublesome weaknesses with it btw, nothing major though, have done plenty races all year, just gets weak every now and then when I ramp up the hard training and increase mileage ) im thinking bout erring on the side of caution and doing absolutely no running this week for fear of aggravating it more on top of today, what do ye think, would I get away with taking that approach or would that have any ramifications on race day or should I keep the legs turned over this week???

TFBubendorfer

You don't gain any fitness the week before a race, so that's not a problem. Do whatever feels right.

tunney

But you can go stale.........

GKiraly

But you can go stale.........

Appreciate the feedback tunney, but what impact do you think that could have on the day??

dev123

tunney wrote: »

But you can go stale.........

Would it be worth doing some low impact cross training to minimise this? Something that spared the calf but worked up a sweat

RoyMcC

I'd have no problem with that approach. You might lose 1-2% fitness and be left slightly undercooked, which is never a bad thing. To avoid tunney's staleness I might however go out for a couple of very easy jogs (no hills) in midweek.

MrThrifty

RoyMcC wrote: »

... I might however go out for a couple of very easy jogs (no hills) in midweek.

Would second that - there's no harm in keeping loose and heading out on some easy runs every day or at least every second day before the race. Would want to be 4 miles minimum to get any benefit from it. Main benefits are psychological (you're actually getting out running), physical (you ain't going 'stiff' before the race) and also you'll be more in tune with and able to judge your calf form (and general form for that matter) much better.

Incidentally, without meaning to condone running on through an injury, have you ever tried training and racing on when you get that calf niggle. Oftentimes, a niggle can just be a reaction to say a slight increase in training and might well sort itself after a normal run or two.

GKiraly

Incidentally, without meaning to condone running on through an injury, have you ever tried training and racing on when you get that calf niggle.

when the calf first went on me was last winter, was just pulling bit by bit during the race before finally going PING on the last km! 2 or 3 times this year the same pulling began when i was well into either a LSR or hill work, remembering what happened in the race i then went to physio afterwards each time, he gave it a rub and nothing showed up, said it was fine, so im hoping that its just a case of the calf tiring and aching and sending the wrong signals and that when im going flat out over the gap of dunloe next sunday same doesnt happen again!

MrThrifty

GKiraly wrote: »

when the calf first went on me was last winter, was just pulling bit by bit during the race before finally going PING on the last km! 2 or 3 times this year the same pulling began when i was well into either a LSR or hill work, remembering what happened in the race i then went to physio afterwards each time, he gave it a rub and nothing showed up, said it was fine, so im hoping that its just a case of the calf tiring and aching and sending the wrong signals and that when im going flat out over the gap of dunloe next sunday same doesnt happen again!

That doesn't sound like just a 'niggle' then!

It sounds like it might be worth trying to get to the bottom of the 'PING' mystery some time, maybe even by going to a different physio.

GKiraly

It sounds like it might be worth trying to get to the bottom of the 'PING' mystery some time, maybe even by going to a different physio.

Went to physio yesterday evening and he reckons that its lack of strength and endurance when the intensity increases and when the work outs go to a certain level, just needs to be strengthened, makes sense to me!

Plan now is to concentrate on strength work all week, easy run this evening then a 5 mile run on thursday and if that works then I'll go ahead with race but if I cant manage that much at that stage of the week then its curtains to the weekend! Heres hoping Im taking the wise approach!......

MrThrifty

GKiraly wrote: »

Went to physio yesterday evening and he reckons that its lack of strength and endurance when the intensity increases and when the work outs go to a certain level, just needs to be strengthened, makes sense to me!

Plan now is to concentrate on strength work all week, easy run this evening then a 5 mile run on thursday and if that works then I'll go ahead with race but if I cant manage that much at that stage of the week then its curtains to the weekend! Heres hoping Im taking the wise approach!......

Wonder if any boardsies have had that same sort of calf issue and can offer some feedback. Seems strange that one calf only would be weak, despite all the existing training under your belt etc. But I'm not a physio I suppose!

Good luck with the training this week. Your body will probably be a bit stiff alright at the start, probably shouting to you "hey, what are you doing, I was beginning to relax and enjoy myself!":)

GKiraly

Your body will probably be a bit stiff alright at the start, probably shouting to you "hey, what are you doing, I was beginning to relax and enjoy myself!"

your probably right, Im expecting that should I make the start line but hey, I'd gladly take that over a weak calf as my pre-race issue any race!

Yes it would be interesting to hear what fellow boardies think......... I guess since the initial injury it looks as though it just hasnt been strengthened up to the level it should and now im paying at the wrong time (time for stern words with myself!)

Like I said, im just gonna bank on a load of strength work next couple of days, I'll put myself through 5-6 miles on Thursday, and make a call then