Marathon training: "last long run" coincides with another race (1/2 marathon) I want to do

[Anonymous]

So I'm thinking of running a marathon the weekend of Sept. 13 as a last chance attempt to Boston qualify. According to a training plan I have, I should do my longest run (22 miles) the weekend of August 23. Aug. 30 my long run should be about 13 miles and September 7 around 6 miles...

However, I have already signed up for a 1/2 marathon on August 23. What is the best way to work this?
A) Run the 13.1 half marathon on August 23, and run 22 miles on August 30 (that would make my longest run just 2 weeks before the marathon, too close?)

B) Run the 22 miles on August 17 (that would be 4 weeks between my longest run and the marathon--too far apart?)

C) Run 13.1 miles at the half marathon on August 23, and later in the week (maybe Tuesday or Wednesday) do 22 miles in lieu of one of the shorter runs (and if this, should I do it in lieu of an "easy" run, a "hill" run, or a "speed work" run?) That would give me a lot of tough runs in one week, but it would be about 2 1/2 weeks before the marathon. Enough time to properly recuperate?

D) Don't even try to do both. Make a choice between the Sept. marathon and August half.

E) Something else I haven't thought of

If it makes a difference, neither race is VERY local to me. I live in Northern VA, and the half marathon I want to do in August is in Richmond--just far away enough that I think i will spend the night before in a hotel. The marathon I am considering is in the midwest so I will probably be flying as well as spending at least 2 nights in a hotel.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you run the half on August 23rd and then tack on additional 9 miles so you get your long run in as planned? Are you planning on really racing the half (i.e trying for a PR)? If not, here is what I would do:

2 mile warmup
13.1 race (with 8-10 miles at marathon goal pace)
7 mile run after the race

I actually think that this is a really good way to get a long run in! It will make it fly by and you'll have aid stations. Just dont don't stop for more than a few minutes at the end of the half.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. Can you qualify for Boston with a half? I thought only full marathon times qualified?

If your goal is really Boston, then I would ignore all other races and stick to your training schedule for the qualifying marathon. You can probably defer the half you already signed up for and run it next year.

Good luck with your races! I'm a marathoner, too. But I will be buying my way into Boston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you run the half on August 23rd and then tack on additional 9 miles so you get your long run in as planned? Are you planning on really racing the half (i.e trying for a PR)? If not, here is what I would do:

2 mile warmup
13.1 race (with 8-10 miles at marathon goal pace)
7 mile run after the race

I actually think that this is a really good way to get a long run in! It will make it fly by and you'll have aid stations. Just dont don't stop for more than a few minutes at the end of the half.

Hmm that's a good idea. I had thought of doing the additional 9 miles post race, and thought that would be too much (too long after the race, I'd want to make sure to leave enough time to go back to the hotel room and shower!) but didn't even think about doing 2 miles prior, and then just 7 post race! I think i will explore that possibility (check out the local area on mapquest to see the best place to run those last 7 miles.) I'm not usually one to hang out for the beer tents or anything thing anyway. I'll just need to figure out a place to stash my medal

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Can you qualify for Boston with a half? I thought only full marathon times qualified?

If your goal is really Boston, then I would ignore all other races and stick to your training schedule for the qualifying marathon. You can probably defer the half you already signed up for and run it next year.

Good luck with your races! I'm a marathoner, too. But I will be buying my way into Boston.

No, you need a full marathon to qualify for Boston. The September race I want to do is a full, the August one is a half... I have a few other full marathons over the winter that are Boston Qualifiers, but those will be in time for the 2016 Boston Marathon and this one in September would put me in time for the 2015.

Thanks and good luck to you too!

[Anonymous]

I agree with 18:59. I would NOT run a 20+ mile long run only two weeks before a marathon, especially one in which I was hoping to qualify. You really need those two taper weeks.

I would do a couple of 20 and 22 mile training runs before that, with the last one on August 15th. You want at least 2 or 3 20 and 20+ milers I think. When I BQ'd, I did a 20-miler, a 22-miler and a 24-miler 2 weeks apart, with the final one 3 weeks before my qualifying race.

Do you run with a water bottle in a hand holster? Your medal might fit in there. Or you could run back to the hotel with your medal and stuff, drop it off and continue running. You could probably just do 7 afterward and stop, since you're running the other 13 at race pace.

Or see if you can transfer your half-marathon entry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 18:59. I would NOT run a 20+ mile long run only two weeks before a marathon, especially one in which I was hoping to qualify. You really need those two taper weeks.

I would do a couple of 20 and 22 mile training runs before that, with the last one on August 15th. You want at least 2 or 3 20 and 20+ milers I think. When I BQ'd, I did a 20-miler, a 22-miler and a 24-miler 2 weeks apart, with the final one 3 weeks before my qualifying race.

Do you run with a water bottle in a hand holster? Your medal might fit in there. Or you could run back to the hotel with your medal and stuff, drop it off and continue running. You could probably just do 7 afterward and stop, since you're running the other 13 at race pace.

Or see if you can transfer your half-marathon entry.

Thanks! I wear one of these
http://www.fitletic.com/ultimate-ii-running-belt.html
With water bottle add ons when I run. I usually put my phone in the large front pouch, and my phone is in a pretty big/bulky case so I'm not sure I'd have room for both the phone and the medal. I could try taking my phone out of the case for the race and as long as the medal isn't too big (I have no idea how big it is!) it will probably fit.

The half marathon entry fee was only $45, I don't think they allow transfers or deferrals...but at only $45 it won't be the end of the world if I end up not doing it.

[Anonymous]

I agree with doing an extra 9 on your half marathon day.

If that isn't going to work, I would do the long run the week before. That might make a really fast half impossible, but salvages the marathon schedule. If you have enough depth of training at the distance that you are thinking about a BQ, I imagine doing your long run a week early isn't going to hurt your training.

[Anonymous]

OP, you can just wrap the medal ribbon around your hand and hold the medal in your hand as you run back to your hotel. Drop it off, pee, refill your water and finish your run.

You can use gmap-pedometer.com to search for the finish line and hotel and then plot a good run.