My A-race is the half. My only goals for the tri and 50K are to finish with a smile. So for the tri this means getting time in on the bike and in the pool. For the 50K this means getting a couple of 20+ mile training runs into the program. I'm not sure how feasible it is to do a training plan for 26.2 miles and expect it to get you to 31 miles, but from what I've read it is doable. I can't say I've participated in a marathon where at the end I would have liked to have run an additional 5 miles, but what the heck? Let's give it a shot! For the half, I'm going to continue to try to incorporate runs which I am more mindful of my pace and to do regular speed work.
I think the most important thing I've learned in my years as a runner is to listen to your body and to be flexible. While training for my first marathon I followed my training plan to a "T." I thought there was some sort of magic in the plan that would get me to cover the distance. The 4 miler had to be Tuesday and I had to run 9 miles on Thursday. No more, no less. No questions asked. Nowadays I know it's okay to shuffle the schedule around to accommodate life and recovery.
I will be reevaluating my goals and plan as I go along the next few months. I am willing to abandon the 50K if I feel the prolonged miles are making my body too weary for a quick half marathon attempt. In all honesty I feel like my plan is under preparing me for a 50K. I've snuck in a build up of the long runs but I don't feel I have the overall mileage I might need. Registration for the 50K isn't too pressing until October so I have some time to definitively decide about that. Ferdinand and I haven't gone out for a ride since the duathlon and I've only been to the pool once so it'll be interesting the next few weeks to say the least as I find my legs and arms again. I kick off the new training cycle with a 6 mile run with intervals tomorrow.
5 comments:
I've never run farther than a marathon, but I do know that most marathon training plans only take you up to 20-22 miles. It is assumed (usually correctly) that if you can make it that far, your fitness and adrenaline will get you the rest of the way.
If your 50K plan takes you up to 26 miles or more, I'm pretty sure the same rule would apply.
Just remember that it's all about percentages. When you've only trained to run a mile, running two miles is twice as far and it's a big undertaking. When you're trained for 20 miles or 25, an extra five or six isn't a big deal.
Well, when I say I'm following a training plan for a marathon, I mean that my longest run will likely be around 22-23 miles. So I'm trusting that a long run length that usually takes me to 26 will get me to 31. I've read that a lot of people just follow marathon training plans (which I'll assume peak at around 20 miles) to do their first 50K.
Wow! Good luck with your training. My fall marathon is sneaking up on my too (marine corps) and I haven't penciled in my long runs & training yet. You should check out sillylillie's blog - she went from running Boston to a 50k in a month or so.
Well, don't ask me! About all I know is that if you train for a marathon you sure can run a good half-marathon!!!
I would, however, think that the psychology of the extra 5 miles is what needs addressing.
Oh lordy - 50K? See, you get props from me for that. I'm so excited for you (and could never imagine running that far).
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