Entering races when not at 100%

Cartman78

Had to take a few months off due to injury late last year.

Pretty much recovered now but the combination of the short evenings/sh1te weather and a couple of significant changes in my work and personal life have meant my training budget has been significantly reduced.

Would normally be entering the odd 10k/10 miler around this time of year but haven't really got the appetite for it as I know my times would be at least 10-15% off my best.

Anyway (there's a question coming here eventually) I was wondering what most people do in this type of situation - Would you enter a race knowing you're not at your best?

or only race when you're in peak condition and have a reasonable shot at a PB?

cheers cm

ecoli

Currently in the same situation as you. Personally I use races as a way of gauging but also bringing on fitness.

Races will bring you on more than any session. The only problem is we can't race the whole time as it compromises overall training. Throw in the odd race every 3-4 weeks if you are worried about times looks for odd distances (6ks etc) or low key races (Park runs or something)

Just need to accept you are not aiming for PBs and as long as it doesnt dent your confidence it will help you in the long run

ThePiedPiper

I've entered a lot of races when not at or near to my best, and to be honest with you, I've nearly enjoyed them all the more. One of my most enjoyable races was the Boston marathon in 2009. I'd been injured for 7 weeks coming up to it and had done the grand total of 2 miles training in those seven weeks, those being the day before the race! I absolutely loved the race, finished something like 34 minutes slower than my PB at the time.

However, if you're well under-cooked and go into a race, pushing hard, it can be a bit of a slog. Did this in a half marathon last year, and felt in bits in the last 2 or 3 miles.

Be realistic about where you are, enjoy the race, but don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Cartman78

@RunForestRun - if I had a place in somewhere like Boston I'd deffo enter regardless of what state I was in

Will probably do the DCM later in the year as well - don't envisage that i'll be in peak condition but will prob the only crack i'll get at sampling a big race atmosphere for a while.

Finding it a bit tougher though to raise myself for a 10k on a wet Sunday in the wilds of the Limerick/Clare countryside though - knowing that I'll be ~4mins off my PB

ThePiedPiper

Cartman, I've been in your position I think. My running was on an upward trajectory from 05-08, every single race I did in those years was a PB.

With kids, priorities changed. I'll now enter and take part in races and try and look at it from a seasonal perspective. This time last year, I was happy to run a below par time in London, as I just hadn't the time to dedicate to training. Time freed itself up a bit from July-October, and I was able to get into decent shape. I know its a departure from the constant peaking mentality I had 5 years ago, but it's more sustainable with life, family and ulitmately running for the sheer love of it, PB or not.

Cartman78

RunForestRun wrote: »

Cartman, I've been in your position I think. My running was on an upward trajectory from 05-08, every single race I did in those years was a PB.

With kids, priorities changed. I'll now enter and take part in races and try and look at it from a seasonal perspective. This time last year, I was happy to run a below par time in London, as I just hadn't the time to dedicate to training. Time freed itself up a bit from July-October, and I was able to get into decent shape. I know its a departure from the constant peaking mentality I had 5 years ago, but it's more sustainable with life, family and ulitmately running for the sheer love of it, PB or not.

Yep...that's pretty much where I am at the minute...I love love love love running and challenging myself in races (and am conscious of not wanting to become a time-chasing-PB-whore) - so, as you say, it's a matter of calibrating my goals and expectations.

thanks for the feedback, much appreciated

nerraw1111

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, give a few mountain/trail runs a go if possible.

PBs mean nothing so the pressure is off and you can run for the sheer enjoyment while also getting that bit stronger.

thirstywork2

I don't think any athlete is ever 100% when racing.If coming back from injury I usually do a race after my base phase of 8-10 weeks and in this way there is no pressure as I have no quality work done.

As nerraw111 said the hills can be good but be careful as it can take a little longer to recover from them.
I suppose sometimes you can race without leaving everything out on the road/track/hills or wherever you race.
A race can bring confidence and motivation but if not prepared and expecting your usual performance of little training it can have the opposite affect.

drquirky

I find the best way for me to regain fitness and get back into shape is to race...

BeepBeep67

I've had both a positive and negative experience of this recently.
+ve using races to get back into shape, as said above when used correctly can be more beneficial than a training session.
-ve racing when not well, to be avoided.
The former allows you to mix it up a bit also, go out handy and finish quick can give you a great boost or go out hard in a shorter race and then hang to give that fatigued feeling from a longer race.

ecoli

thirstywork2 wrote: »

I don't think any athlete is ever 100% when racing.If coming back from injury I usually do a race after my base phase of 8-10 weeks and in this way there is no pressure as I have no quality work done.

Was Dublin 8-10 weeks after base?:p

(Do as I say not as I do approach I would imagine )

Pisco Sour

Obviously if you are injured then don't race but if you are just simply not at your best then get racing. One of our coaches described racing as the purest form of training. It's true, you learn so much more from a race than you ever could from a training session. This whole thing of picking one race a long way out and just training all out for it is a load of codswallop IMO. Of course there are goal races, and of course some races are not as important and you can train through them, but not racing is a bad habit to get into.

We have a guy at our club in his 40s who ran a low 17 for 5000m last year. Was in the shape of his life, then he got injured during cross country season. He had considered skipping this track season then he thought, to hell with it, no better way to get back in shape. He has raced most weeks and he is slowly but surely getting there, and ran low 18 at the weekend.

On the contrary we have a sub 2 minute 800 runner who trains so hard, yet never races. He trains and trains and trains, but chickens out of races. He has raced just 3 times this entire track season and it is almost over now. It's become a bit of a running joke at the club now and the coaches have given up on him, and he trains with a different group these days.

Get racing. Besides it's more fun than just training anyway.

Cartman78

Cheers for all the replies - probably going to kickstart my season with the 10k in Adara in a few weeks.

Will be aiming for PB's based on season rather than lifetime so will give me something to work towards and realistically challenge.

Cartman78

Pisco Sour wrote: »

This whole thing of picking one race a long way out and just training all out for it is a load of codswallop IMO. Of course there are goal races, and of course some races are not as important and you can train through them, but not racing is a bad habit to get into.

Get racing. Besides it's more fun than just training anyway.

Agree 100% with the above - made this mistake when I started running first...makes things very monotonous & the learning curve can plateau out during endless month's of training. You learn a lot from racing, especially on the days when things don't go to plan.

thirstywork2

ecoli wrote: »

Was Dublin 8-10 weeks after base?:p

(Do as I say not as I do approach I would imagine )

Dublin was after 3 weeks easy running :eek: