I’m signed up for a half marathon in ten days, but am considering doing a local 5k the day before (Sat 5k, Sun 13.1). I don’t think that racing a 5k would really slow me down for a half the following day, but what do folks think?
I mean, that seems to go against everything that anyone would tell you to do, but go for it. I guess it won’t hurt anything if you have no PR ambitions on the half.
Considering many people do the Goofy Challenge (Disney Half/Disney Marathon on consecutive days) and the Dopey Challenge (Disney 5K/10K/13.1/26.2 on consecutive days) every year, I don’t think a 5K will hurt your marathon. What matters is your goals; are you trying to BQ in your marathon? If so,why take the risk?
To me, it depends on your age and how hard you went on that 5k. I could easily do a 5k and then turn around and do a half a day later. Now that I’m in my 40s I have to pick and chose my races if I want to have a good race.
Considering many people do the Goofy Challenge (Disney Half/Disney Marathon on consecutive days) and the Dopey Challenge (Disney 5K/10K/13.1/26.2 on consecutive days) every year, I don’t think a 5K will hurt your marathon. What matters is your goals; are you trying to BQ in your marathon? If so,why take the risk?
It’s a half, not a full marathon. Goal for the 5k would be around 18 and somewhere around 1:22 in the half.
It’s a half, not a full marathon. Goal for the 5k would be around 18 and somewhere around 1:22 in the half.
That is so damn fast.
Go for it, I’d like to see what running 30s per mile faster does the day before an half does to there half performance.
Do it.
What could possibly go wrong?
Go for it, I’d like to see what running 30s per mile faster does the day before an half does to there half performance.
I’ve done a few sprint/Olympic doubles on a weekend when doing tris, so this would seem less demanding. I’d be a case-test-dummy!
I find straight up run races far more demanding on the body than tris, and certainly on back to back hard run days. IE- unless 18 min is an “easy” run pace for you.
I’m signed up for a half marathon in ten days, but am considering doing a local 5k the day before (Sat 5k, Sun 13.1). I don’t think that racing a 5k would really slow me down for a half the following day, but what do folks think?
I rode a hard 7 hour ride the week of Kona this year and look what it did for me!
Sincerely,
Lionel Sanders
Go for a PR in the 5k - and then in the half marry.
Please.
Then tell us how it went
It’s a half, not a full marathon. Goal for the 5k would be around 18 and somewhere around 1:22 in the half.
That is so damn fast.
Not really.
I’m signed up for a half marathon in ten days, but am considering doing a local 5k the day before (Sat 5k, Sun 13.1). I don’t think that racing a 5k would really slow me down for a half the following day, but what do folks think?
Yes, racing a 5k will slow you down for a half marathon. There is no doubt about that.
If you’re not trying to run an optimal half, sure have at it. But if you’re trying to maximize that half marathon, this is a pretty stupid thing to do.
Do it; consider it a warm-up. Lots of our local half marathons do a 5K the day before.
For me, just running a 5k the day before wouldn’t cause issues. However, racing a 5k the day before would definitely cost me time in the half.
I should add I have my athletes adding some hard paced efforts the day before an race. In fact 2 days before is usually much easier day than the day before a race, but not the full intensity for that type of duration.
IE- I’ll give them 5k distance and every 5th min is strong 100m stride effort + 3-4 strides post run. Now the rest of the 5k run is shake out efforts, but it’s more “priming” intensity the day before an race than anything.
I’m signed up for a half marathon in ten days, but am considering doing a local 5k the day before (Sat 5k, Sun 13.1). I don’t think that racing a 5k would really slow me down for a half the following day, but what do folks think?
As others have said, it does sort of depend how much of an ‘A’ race the half is. There is no doubt that the 5K done the day before (if raced) will take a bite out of your performance for a HM being done 24 hours later. Anyone that says differently is kidding themselves. If it helped performance, everyone would be doing 5K’s as ‘sharpening workouts’ the day before. Now the classic sharpening w/o is actually 3x1mile at 5K RP, but it is done 2 weeks prior to a marathon…
Anyway, some of the answer lies in how your recover also, as well as what exactly your goals are for the two races. Another important variable is how your have trained. If you have not done a significant amount of 3-5K race pace, there is certainly a chance for an injury from the 5K race.
If your are looking for permission to go out and race both from ST, you’ll get it (along with the added risk).
Buyer beware…and good luck in your race!
I’ve ran (not raced) a 5K the day before a half Ironman. It didn’t work out too bad for me but neither was an A priority race. The key is making the 5K more of workout than a race. I would also take a day or two completely off before the 5K. A short fast workout (5K) before a big race isn’t a bad plan. It can be hard to hold back in 5K because your tapered its hard to resist the competition. Going for PRs in both races is a bad plan.
I do not see an issue with it. I always run the Las Vegas Half Marathon. As part of that race there is a 5K the day before. A Lot and I men A LOT of people do both (5K and Saturday and half on Sunday). I see it as a great warm up and 5K is not that far (considering that you are in good shape).
Do both.