A 26.2m Training run before a Marathon

AuldManKing

I was originally intending on doing DCM this year, so I have an entry.

I got injured in late June and missed about 4 weeks before starting back running in August.
I spent time building up the mileage and am hitting 70m most weeks.

During this timeframe, I've wrote off the chances of doing DCM as my sub3 attempt and am aiming for San Sebastian on November 27th.

My training plan has me down for a 22m run on Oct 30th - the same day as DCM (.............see where I'm going here)


What would be your advice to me if I was to consider running the full DCM at my long run pace (or slightly slower).

Would the additional 4+ miles be too much 4 weeks before my goal race?????

TRR_the_turd

Should have no negative impact and could be a good workout if run sensibly. If you get carried away and run too fast you'll obviously encounter problems down the line. Pick a pace group and stick with them. I've ran 26+ mile before in training although usually a little earlier in the cycle. It's the pace that is important not the distance and alll that jazz.

Gavlor

TRR_the_turd wrote: »

Should have no negative impact and could be a good workout if run sensibly. If you get carried away and run too fast you'll obviously encounter problems down the line. Pick a pace group and stick with them. I've ran 26+ mile before in training although usually a little earlier in the cycle. It's the pace that is important not the distance and alll that jazz.

Yeah but you have a relatively good record with injuries (did someone say TUE??!) whereas old man Peter Andre has had more pulls than a teenage tallaght girl.

I think it's a bad idea given how you regularly suffer from niggles and strains.

Ososlo

Could you maybe pull out at 22 and get a bus etc? If you have an entry anyway, and need to do a long one, it'd be a great way of getting the run done with a crowd around you. Even better if you have to do some mp miles.
I'd be of the opinion also that it might not be a great idea. Half the site seems to be injured atm, don't take any chances as you are going so well and don't want to end up on the bench too....

Firedance

I know I'm only new, and know jack about jack, but didn't you already run the 3/4's a smidge too fast and Gavlor is right. How badly do you want this sub 3? There's a wise old man we regularly quote on the novices thread and he says 'keep the main thing the main thing' Let it go A, it's really not worth it, Dublin will be there next year. (I wouldn't even suggest running 22 miles of it, you won't stick to your pace, you know you won't.....)

pconn062

Firedance wrote: »

I know I'm only new, and know jack about jack, but didn't you already run the 3/4's a smidge too fast and Gavlor is right. How badly do you want this sub 3? There's a wise old man we regularly quote on the novices thread and he says 'keep the main thing the main thing' Let it go A, it's really not worth it, Dublin will be there next year. (I wouldn't even suggest running 22 miles of it, you won't stick to your pace, you know you won't.....)

+1

There's a fine line between training and over training and as someone prone to injury I would be inclined to stay on the slightly "undertrained" side of that line. Ask yourself, what is the benefit of the session? A very long run? How often do people (at that level, sub 3) do a 26 mile run in training? I think it would be very easy to get caught up on the day and run too fast and leave your marathon right there.

At the end of the day it's your call but I think I would give it a miss.

sideswipe

Hang around outside the zoo. Jump in with a required pace group as they pass- 22 miles done at the correct pace......simples:)

Duanington

I actually like the idea of this A - in theory it could provide a lot of confidence and obviously a great long run with all of the fanfare of raceday thrown in.

BUT - you're in really good shape at the moment and do you honestly trust yourself not to get carried away on the day?

I can see why the idea is appealing for sure but is there that much more to be gained from it over the 22 mile run?

Personally, I'd give it a miss - simply because of the level of fitness you've worked hard to build up....the race atmosphere, the fact that you'll probably feel great after a few miles, the ego egging you on to pass other runners etc....lots of things that could turn a long run into a race ( of sorts).

If it were a but further out from SS , I'd go for it by the way

Tigerandahalf

Since you have paid €70 odd for Dublin it seems a waste to throw it away. 26 miles does seem long though with only a month to go.

It would still be nice to run it though and maybe finish up a few miles from the finish.

It is a good test of your own discipline to be able to run at a pre determined pace and stick to it and finish up when you need to.

robinph

It's a catered training run, with a bonus "free" tshirt at the end. Why wouldn't you do it?

Get to fully practice your race day strategy, but without the pressure of actually going for a time. Just need to be super strict on not going faster than planned and remember that it is just a training run that a couple of thousand others have joined you on.

Working class heroes

Jump in with the leader at the four mile marker. Sorted!
I'll say nowt.

overpronator

If you do it make sure you re doing it for the right reasons. Do you feel there is a GENUINE training benefit to be had? As someone said above its also a chance to practice race strategy, drinking, gears etc. Or, when it boils down to it are you just doing it because you have an entry and you fancy the jaunt around DCM with all that it has to offer in terms of atmosphere and buzz. If it s the first one go for it, the second, maybe not?
I personally don t think it would have a detrimental impact provided you run it at the correct pace. Find the 3.20 group and stay with them no deviations.
On you being injury prone, do you tend to get niggly after long runs or do you feel you re more susceptible to knocks at the faster end of things? You re well-conditioned to long runs at this stage so I d suggest that an easy run of that duration would be ok again provided its sensible pace wise
Disclaimer: I m possibly gonna run Dublin 5 weeks after detonating in Berlin at a pace I shouldn t really attempt so take whatever I say with a pinch of salt!

TFBubendorfer

I've done marathons as training runs on plenty of occasions, including when training for a goal marathon this spring. In retrospect that one wasn't a great idea and I'm pretty sure my goal race would have been a sub-3 marathon rather than 3:01 if I hadn't run the full in Tralee, though admittedly a slower Tralee marathon might have worked.

It can work but from personal experience as well as from what I've read, it's more likely to be a bad idea than a good one.

donnacha

Run the first 22 miles at your training pace and stop at the drinks station which just happens to be located at 22 miles. You could then rest for a bit and then take the final 4.2 miles at a much slower recovery type pace and be a major support to those around you that are facing the wall.

hot buttered scones

Just act as my windshield for the day. There's no way I'm running faster than 3.2x anyway. You can carry my gels as well if you like. Just to weigh yourself down a bit. ;-)

Gavlor

By the way, remember what happened the last time that you tried to run DCM at a slower pace?????

joesoap5

sideswipe wrote: »

Hang around outside the zoo. Jump in with a required pace group as they pass- 22 miles done at the correct pace......simples:)

Don't jump in or this could be you -> <<http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056794203>>

Bar the snotty nose and crusader shirt

sideswipe

joesoap5 wrote: »

Don't jump in or this could be you -> <<http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056794203>>

Bar the snotty nose and crusader shirt

I remember that thread, great crack!

joesoap5

sideswipe wrote: »

I remember that thread, great crack!

All I remember was his snotty nose doing the rounds on Facebook:pac:

Murph_D

hot buttered scones wrote: »

Just act as my windshield for the day. There's no way I'm running faster than 3.2x anyway. You can carry my gels as well if you like. Just to weigh yourself down a bit. ;-)

Mine too while you're at it. And my bus pass.

What does TbL say - he did a training marathon a while back. Much further out from the goal race though.

tomwaits48

yea, jump in during the park at the appropriate pace, job done

BeepBeep67

Just run 26 and forget about the 0.2

Still too soon?

FeenaM

Would you even enjoy doing it knowing that you are just pottering about and not racing?

Not worth the risk of getting carried away and injured if you ask me....

I'm getting very sensible, aren't I?

PaulieC

Let RunningKing run it for you.

AuldManKing

Thanks all for the feedback - it seems that the overwhelming advice is to do the full thing at marathon pace.

ok ok ok.......maybe I'll jump in at the zoo for a catered 22m run.

overpronator

Mods please rename thread "Last nail in Runningking's coffin"

aero2k

yaboya1 wrote: »

I remember aero2k telling me he didn't run further than 16m in training before running 2:48.

Glad to see you were paying attention - now if we can get AMK to take heed....

You're right P, for two marathon programs I never went beyond 16 miles except for race day. From memory the Hanson program has 3 x 16 milers but I only managed 2 each time due to races. I did those runs at around MP + 25-40 sec per mile. I actually did run about 18 miles the day of the Dublin half, but that would have included w/u and c/d at a very easy paces.

zulutango

Good to see somebody else here aiming for San Sebastien! I'll be heading over too. Have you done it before?

AuldManKing

zulutango wrote: »

Good to see somebody else here aiming for San Sebastien! I'll be heading over too. Have you done it before?

Nope - but one of our Boards colleagues has done it twice - inc a Sub 3.

I must set up a San Sebastian thread

BeepBeep67

AuldManKing wrote: »

Thanks all for the feedback - it seems that the overwhelming advice is to do the full thing at marathon pace.

ok ok ok.......maybe I'll jump in at the zoo for a catered 22m run.

See you about 9:30 Sunday week and don't forget to put your clock back