Sunday, June 05, 2011

Advice needed!!!


So I am really bad a tapering before a race and usually do not do it before a 1/2 marathon at all.
Some recent history, in April I ran a 1/2 and it was miles 39-52 for the week. It was a hilly course and I ran a 1:35:39. After the race I wondered what I could do if I had not run so many miles that week before the race. So I have 1/2 this Saturday and it will be the 4th time that I have run this race. Last year I ran a 1:35:something and won my age group. I would really like to beat my PR for this race (would love to PR but, this course is hilly and my PR was on a downhill/flat course) and feel like I have a good shot if my left hamstring cooperates. I am still going to run this week but I want to try and cut back and see what I can do on fresher legs. Do any of you have any advice? I am crazy and have a hard time Not running! I know I am not the on;y one who suffers from this disease so share your thoughts with me, things you have tried that have worked for you, or things that you have read about. All signs point to that I should be able to do it but because I did so well last year but I have a goal this time and I am putting a lot of pressure on myself. I would love any and all thoughts :)

6 comments:

The Green Girl said...

Aw, I would focus on gently stretching and babying that hamstring instead of fixating on having to taper. ::hugs::

Latter-day Runner said...

I have never officially trained for or tapered before a 1/2 marathon since I've just done them as part of my training for full marathons, but I would like to know if my performance would improve if I gave undivided attention to the race prep and strategy for a 1/2. I want to try it sometime. Since you haven't really tapered for a 1/2 before, why not try it this week to see how it works for you? It seems like race performance won't change drastically from the past unless there is something quite different about the training as well.

Erica Gorman said...

I know it is hard to not run as I am like you but my two best half marathons times are when I was forced to cut back running prior to the races due to life events. Prior to one I didn't run the whole week...yikes! I don't suggest that but go ahead, cut back some miles and stretch.

cherl said...

I've been looking at half marathon training programs for myself. The one I like still has a good long run the week before (12 miles) but the week's runs leading up are cut back to just 4 miles, a 30m tempo, a 3 mile run and two Rest days before race day (in that order). This is the approach I'll take in my next 1/2.

Caolan MacMahon said...

It's pretty typical of runners to have a very hard time tapering - and it's a delicate balance between having fresh legs and feeling sluggish, which tapering can sometimes bring on. I usually don't taper much for halfs because they're almost always scheduled as fast training runs for some marathon I'm training for. And Yet, I never actually do what I set out to do in a half- which is usually to do it as a marathon pace training run - I end up running harder. Since I'm usually at the end of hard week at that point, my performance suffers, though it is a good training run, it's not really a 'race'. What I've learned about tapering for marathons is a little is good - too much is not - but that's for me. Two weeks for a marathon is plenty. If you actually want to PR, then you're going to have to back off just a bit for a couple days - which according to your post is NOW. Really easy, short (5mi or under) runs and walks - keep the blood moving - but rest. The day before throw in a few strides. Remember, at this point you really can't do anything to improve your fitness, but you can certainly do something to undermine all the work you've been doing;)

cherl said...

Good luck tomorrow!!