Varying from training schedule question.

TopCat01

Hi guys,
just looking for a bit of advice, might be a simple question (silly even) to those of you with some experience.

I'm using the Hal Higon novice training program to prepare for my first Marathon at the end of April, and would like to get a HM race in for experience before hand. The one that looks to suit best is the Kinvara run in a couple weeks. By my training schedule, my LSR that weekend should be 15miles, so that bit longer than the race.

My question is will it be a damaging to the long term goal to be a bit short that weekend, or will I be ok and just get back on schedule the following weekend?

Thanks in advance

TC

Clearlier

Hi Topcat,

Why not warm up for a couple of miles beforehand? I'm not that familiar with the HH plans but keep in mind that if you do go all out in the race it will have an impact on your training for the next week or two. If you're just looking for experience of running in race conditions then you might want to consider running it at whatever pace has been prescribed rather than actually racing it.

RayCun

I'd go the opposite way
Race the half-marathon. You'll learn more - about what paces are sustainable, about your preparation, about fuelling, hydration, etc - from the experience of racing than you would from treating it as a training run.
Being two miles short is not a problem, racing will be harder than a slightly longer slow run.
In the days that follow the half you'll need to take things a bit easier, but you can be back on schedule the following weekend.

TopCat01

Thanks for the replies. I can see both sides, and am kinda glad neither are recommending not doing it, so its more a matter of how. To be honest, I hadn't planned on "racing" it as such. The full one I'm doing, I do just want to finish (aiming about the 4hr 30m mark).

I had thought of either doing the extra distance either as a warm up, or probably easier timing wise to just do that bit extra afterward. It is a lot about experience though, and about pacing myself to not rush out the blocks on the day itself, I've heard enough horror stories.

But I have to say I'm a bit tempted to push on a little bit as per Raycun's advice. I've felt tired, but not absolutly shot after my LSR's, so might be good to know what its like closer to the limit, or even find out where that limit is. I don't mind the idea of taking a few extra days to recover and get back up to speed, the only worry is, will that be risking injury?

robinph

If you've not raced a half before then definitely just do the half and do it properly, forget about the missing two miles from the plan. They are irrelevant.

You'll get more from racing a half than you will from plodding round 15 miles. If you have to back off a bit in the sessions the week after don't worry about that especially either. There is probably a half race scheduled in the plan you have somewhere, so see how the week following that is planned to get an idea of what to change so you don't over do things the following week.

TopCat01

Thanks robinph. There was a HM scheduled for last weekend, but I couldn't find a suitable race.
Think its fairly clear in my mind now so. I'll have the long term goal in the back of my head if I feel any pains or niggles, but other than that, I will run it as a race. Will be my first solely running race, so really looking forward to it.
Many thanks to all for the advice!

smmoore79

Id go for a 1 to 2 mile slow warm up, then do the race and a 1 to 2 mile slow warm down. that way your getting the half marathon race pace, and your doing the 15 miles. Plus your warming your body up at the start and flushing out lactic acid with the warm down (i.e faster recovery)!

TopCat01

Just to concluded this thread, I did the Kinvara Half Marathon yesterday and delighted I went for it, so really appreciate all the advice and encouragement. Weather was lovely, couldn't have asked for better conditions. Will take a lot from the day.

I had in my mind a 9:40-10min/m pace, and tried to keep around that. I started toward the back, and fell even further backwards at for the first couple of miles. But my heart rate was up higher than expected, and I didn't dare push. Stuck at the planned pace and around mile 3 signs were more encouraging and I started passing some people. As the miles went by, I steadily caught and passed a few more. At about mile 10, got chatting to a couple of runners who knew the route and said there were a couple of hills left. Wasn't looking forward to that, but when the first, and worst was out of the way and I still felt good, I decided to push on a bit. The body felt good, and I was able to increase the pace all the way to the end.

First running race complete, and tired as I was, I was like a Cheshire cat!

Here are my pace splits. Not fast by any means, but considering where I've come from and my training pace, I'm more than happy.

1) 9:40
2) 9:38
3) 9:56
4) 9:47
5) 9:41
6) 9:53
7) 9:47
8) 9:44
9) 9:47
10) 9:30
11) 9:22
12) 8:49
13) 8:02
13.1) 6:58

One question I do have, is regarding my HR. I'd imagine it was down to nerves and adrenaline, but right from the start it was up around 165. From training, at this pace I would expect (hope) to be more around 150, or just under. Is this usual, or is there anything I can do to calm myself down or relax waiting at the start and in the first couple of miles?

grahmmorgan

Nothing unuasual with your heart rate mine goes up over 190 in races normally down around 150 when i'm slow or recovery runs.