Sunday, August 23, 2009

Should I, or Shouldn't I?? Your Feedback Please

I'm sitting at my computer, looking over the remaining 10 weeks of my training schedule for the N.Y. City Marathon, and I have a "crazy" thought. I'm scheduled to run-walk-run 28 miles (Yes, 28) the day after the Hartford Marathon. So now I'm thinking that maybe I should enter the Hartford Marathon and test the run-walk-run in an actual marathon. Based on how well or how badly it went, I could readjust my training for the 3 weeks after it leading to the N.Y. City Marathon on November 1st. At 6 a.m. and after drinking one cup of coffee it makes sense to me. It certainly wouldn't be too strenuous, since I'd be alternating running for 4 minutes and walking for one minute the entire 26.2 miles. Your opinions, please! UPDATE: I'm not looking to PR at NY. NY's going to be my 3rd (or 4th) and LAST marathon. I just want to finish NY, take it all in, and most importantly HAVE FUN!!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

totally depends if you think you could really run it as you had planned. it wouldn't be a good idea to run it if you want to have your best marathon at ny.

Unknown said...

I agree with Carlee, if you want to PR in NY or really go strong there, I don't think it would be a good idea to test our the run/walk idea. Tapering is there for a reason, even the walking because it is time on your feet. That being said, I'm all for being crazy and taking risks and I've done back to back marathons with 5 weeks between and everything went well with both of them but one was more significant than the other in my brain so I made that my focus race...didn't PR though, just had two good marathons.

TELL us what you decide and good luck with your decision!

Lindsay said...

i'd do it. but we've already determined i'm a little crazy. you're gonna have to do the 28 miles anyway right for training? why not have the convenience of water stops and crowd support of another race.

i used a marathon as a 20-mile training run once and told myself i'd drop out after 20 if anything was feeling off. ended up qualifying for boston so... didn't quite hold back and run it easy :) like i said, we know i'm crazy. you have better self-control, i think you'd be fine.

Mel-2nd Chances said...

you know you best, and I certainly have no business providing marathon advice, but using the run/walk method, and you knowing you best, and if finishing is your goal, go for it. just remember to listen to your body.

Unknown said...

Okay...this is what nap time looks like in a K class and you should already know this because of your daughter:
20 little wiggly, sweaty bodies pop up from their towels during a mere twenty minute period to drink water, go to the potty, choose a book, ask about their mom, tell me a long, long story about a pizza..or a butterfly..so no, I can't take a nap and rest up from running BUT...thanks for your advice!

Marathonman101108 said...

LMAO, Meg!

joyRuN said...

Given you're going to take it easy at NY, I say go for it! I love having races for training runs - great support & much better than going it alone, PLUS water stops.

Tara said...

Since you aren't looking to PR at New York, I say go for it!! Sounds like a good time to me; although I'm probably not very qualified to give marathon advice yet. Seems like good practice to me!

Irish Cream said...

I totally agree that you should go for it. If you have to cover 28 miles anyway, you might as well do it with the convenience of aid stations, mile-markers, crowd support, etc. I would just make sure you stick to the plan, and don't get too carried away in the race day excitement ;)

Lisa said...

I think as long as you don't push yourself during the Hartford, it would be a good idea. If you put race effort into it, you'll need those three weeks just to recover. I am sure your 28 miler is supposed to be done at a very easy effort.

I agree with Irish, you might as well take advantage of the aid stations and get some cool shwag.