Coach...Question about training between Halfs

[verticalchaos]

Hey Coach (or anyone else with experience)...

I found out today I got into the NYC Half on 3/20. That gives me 9 weeks between races. My program I've been using has been 14 weeks. Would I just go to about the midway point to continue training or what would you recommend? I'm using a run/walk plan if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance!

~beth

 

[cewait]

You can easily over think this... I would thak the simile route. Run the half in January. The following week just get out and loosen up. Then the following weekend jump back on your training plan at the point where you would have normally been.

The other option would be to just alternate long and short runs on the weekend - l inning hem up for a week or so taper. An example would be to alternate 6 & 9 mile long runs during the period. This option will keep you ready for a 13 mile run where you could lose a small amount o f endurance on the former plan.

Those two options are the easiest to create and follow.

 

[Stitch2007]

Congrats! My co-worker and I got into the NYC Half too. We did it last year. Good luck!

 

[verticalchaos]

Thanks Coach!

And thanks Stitch2007! I'm excited! It was my first time entering it, and they've revealed that it's modeled on the NYC Marathon lottery with weighted entries to non-locals (the almighty tourist dollar). And only 12000 slots! WOW!

 

[Stitch2007]

So far NYC half has been my favorite. I've run Disney and the Hartford half 2x each. I really enjoyed running in central park last year and the crowd was amazing when you exit central park going towards time square. That was around mile 8 when mentally it's the worst for me.

 

[geaux_half]

I got in NYC 2011 1/2 as well. I'm looking forward to running in Central Park early in the race. I didn't really enjoy Central Park when I ran the NYC full in November 2006 as I was so ready to be done by that point.

 

[verticalchaos]

I got in NYC 2011 1/2 as well. I'm looking forward to running in Central Park early in the race. I didn't really enjoy Central Park when I ran the NYC full in November 2006 as I was so ready to be done by that point.

Yeah...if the course is the same as last year (I found a map), you'll get to see the WHOLE park! Parts of it twice. LOL.

I'm really excited - and glad I've got here I can talk about it because a LOT of people from NYC didn't get in as they weight it towards those who will be traveling to run it, and with 35000+ people overall who applied for 12000 slots... No one else I've talked to from my running club got in via lottery (a few are in on time), so I'm trying to be low-key about it.

I've already figured this probably means that I'll only be doing the full in NYC if I decide to pony up all my summer school money and run for a charity (I have great friends and family, but none of us are rolling in dough, so raising $2500-3500 or more just won't happen) - this probably took all my lottery luck for a while!! But that means that it's a pretty good chance next year's WDW Full will be my first! (Nice symmetry - WDW first half; WDW first full!)

 

[fashionista311]

Congrats on getting through the lottery! Glad to hear some positives about the lotto yesterday. I was in the city last night and I was half afraid to go anywhere near cp because I thought the masses were going to go after nyrr with pitchforks people are talking about starting the "rebel half marathon" and writing their congressmen, it's pretty nuts.

 

[verticalchaos]

Thanks! Yeah...I know it's easy to say this since I did get in, but I like to think I would have been calm had I not. Disappointed? Yes. Sad? Probably. But I've done enough things with ticket or place lotteries (theatre all the time) that I know it's a crapshoot and there's a chance you may not get in.

I can't see Facebook at work, but their page has been NUTS.

I'm frankly surprised with their announcement of the 4/5 borough half marathons for guaranteed entry that the Manhattan half isn't sold out already. All the people who are so angry have been given an option for 2012 now. Pony up!

Central Park itself wasn't bad last night - just COLD!!!!! But I do admit I'm a little afraid to go and pick up my stuff for the Corbitt 15K this afternoon. However, it's the only time I can (besides Sunday morning and with weekend trains, just NO!), so... I don't think I've got any markings that say "I'm local and I got in" on me. Hopefully I'll be safe!

(And then there are the sour grapes ones I've seen around who are all "It's overpriced and a boring course" Again, easy for me to say now, but it wasn't so overpriced and boring when you were trying to get in... Ah people!)

 

[fashionista311]

i kinda feel bad for all the out of towners on their page experiencing their first dose of new york attitude

i didn't get in, and i was a bit disappointed yesterday, but i've moved on with my life..probably going to sign up for the national half in dc the weekend after if i can the boyfriend on board for travel

i'm surprised the manhattan half didn't sell out last night too with the annoucement..i figured that would be the next line of complaints for today it's kinda bad i can go on facebook at work, it's so distracting! it's like a car crash...you just can't help but look at the disaster

 

[verticalchaos]

i kinda feel bad for all the out of towners on their page experiencing their first dose of new york attitude

i didn't get in, and i was a bit disappointed yesterday, but i've moved on with my life..probably going to sign up for the national half in dc the weekend after if i can the boyfriend on board for travel

i'm surprised the manhattan half didn't sell out last night too with the annoucement..i figured that would be the next line of complaints for today it's kinda bad i can go on facebook at work, it's so distracting! it's like a car crash...you just can't help but look at the disaster

I know!! I should be sleeping but...

And what gets me is all these people who "can do math" and are like "Only 12% of local applicants got in while 85% and 87% of national and international applicants got in!" Well, yes...but there were almost 3 times as many local applicants as there were slots (45% of the available 9500) for those in the local pool. So clearly there are going to be fewer accepted. If there had only been 5000 applicants in the local pool, the percentage accepted would be much higher.

Ah well... I need to try and sleep.

Oh good luck with the national!! I'm not fast enough for that one yet.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

sheesh i didn't realize so many people were so worked up about the nyc half! i didn't get in but...whatever! there are like a million half marathons out there, just pick another one. i'm thinking of joining a charity team but, like you, my friends and family aren't exactly rolling in it and i don't know if i have the $1000 to make up for what i don't get in donations!

good luck with the race and don't let the naysayers get you down! phooey on them! they are just jealous!

 

[verticalchaos]

sheesh i didn't realize so many people were so worked up about the nyc half! i didn't get in but...whatever! there are like a million half marathons out there, just pick another one. i'm thinking of joining a charity team but, like you, my friends and family aren't exactly rolling in it and i don't know if i have the $1000 to make up for what i don't get in donations!

good luck with the race and don't let the naysayers get you down! phooey on them! they are just jealous!

Thanks!!

OMG the NYRR and NYC Half facebook pages are train wrecks right now! It's a good thing I can't see FB at work or I'd get nothing done. It's crazy!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If you do go the charity route, PM me your info. I can't give a lot, but I can give something.

 

[fashionista311]

Thanks!!

OMG the NYRR and NYC Half facebook pages are train wrecks right now! It's a good thing I can't see FB at work or I'd get nothing done. It's crazy!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If you do go the charity route, PM me your info. I can't give a lot, but I can give something.

haha yeah, it's good i had a slow week! if you go to to the nyrr page, they actually released the numbers of the lotto...

thank you! that is so sweet of you to offer. i thought about going the charity route (i've never done it before...and it's kinda something i've always wanted to do once in my lifetime) but i think i want to save it for a full marathon, and one that i wouldn't be able to get into any other way (boston and london are two that come to mind quickly.) it's going to be half marathon #10 for me so it would of been nice to have that landmark in my ciy..but meh, i'll use it as an excuse to travel and knock another state off the list!

sorry for hijacking your thread! back to your original question..i would say your training strategy should be based on what your long-term goals are. if you are thinking of running a full in the fall, before you start training for it, you should be at a point where you can run 10 miles comfortably as your long run every week. so if that's your ultimate goal, i would def do coach's plan of alternating 6 and 9s to help get you there. if you are just sticking to halfs, going back down to 6s, and working your way back up to 10 over the 9 weeks (well 8 weeks...my body always needs a taper week before a big race).

 

[verticalchaos]

No problem on the hijacking. It's understandable!!

Yeah...I'd had a couple of other halfs in mind for the spring if this one hadn't panned out - Country Music Half in Nashville since my parents are there so it would have been cheap, Ottawa because I've never been there and it's over Memorial Day, or the Long Branch because it's close and a lot of Front Runners do that one.

Thanks for the tips. I'll sort of evaluate how I feel after Disney and work out a plan from there.

 

[geaux_half]

Regarding the train wreck, Chevron Houston Marathon/Aramco Half had the same reaction earlier this year when they instituted a lottery for the first time for the January 2011 race. I guess it's a good sign that so many people want to participate in fitness events. Luckily there are many alternative races available.

Regarding the training, I've done several halfs that fell within 12 weeks of each other. I usually take it easy the week following the first race and then jump back into my half training program at whatever point it is in order to get me to the second event. You know you can run the distance as you've already run the first event so there shouldn't be any problems jumping into the middle of the training program for the second event.

 

[verticalchaos]

Cool, thanks! And good to know that it's not just here people freak out.

 

[cewait]

Cool, thanks! And good to know that it's not just here people freak out.

The freaky thing is that for the first time the Disney and Houston weekends are 3 weeks apart.... Normally they are one week apart.

Guess who is doing Goofy and a full three weeks later?


I have until Sunday evening to get sane and change the Houston race to a half.

It's nice that Houston had a conflict with the management of the convention center this season. My goal was to run Houston as my first marathon. Unfortunately in those days I could not have finished Houston in the alloted time - it was a 5:30 cut off. I run 2-4 races a year on much of the same course as the last few miles of Houston. I really hate the pavement on those roads. Even in a 5k the concrete seems 'hard' on the legs. I know it is mental but I have not been able to get past that thought.

 

[verticalchaos]

The freaky thing is that for the first time the Disney and Houston weekends are 3 weeks apart.... Normally they are one week apart.

Guess who is doing Goofy and a full three weeks later?


I have until Sunday evening to get sane and change the Houston race to a half.

It's nice that Houston had a conflict with the management of the convention center this season. My goal was to run Houston as my first marathon. Unfortunately in those days I could not have finished Houston in the alloted time - it was a 5:30 cut off. I run 2-4 races a year on much of the same course as the last few miles of Houston. I really hate the pavement on those roads. Even in a 5k the concrete seems 'hard' on the legs. I know it is mental but I have not been able to get past that thought.

Oh wow! Good luck Coach!!!!

I hear you on the mental thing. I MADE myself run all the way up Cat Hill in Central Park on Wednesday - even when I was supposed to be on a walk interval - because I have it TWICE in the 15K on Sunday and was totally psyching myself out. I did it, so I know I CAN. At least once. I'm going to try my best the second time, but since it'll be mile 8, I'm going to try not to beat myself up if I walk it even during a run interval.

I am already starting the three-weeks out freak out. I was telling myself I was freaking over the 15K...but the more I analyze it, the more I realize I'm just letting that mask the first Half Marathon freak-out.

 

[FFigawi]

I have until Sunday evening to get sane and change the Houston race to a half.

Actually, you can switch during the race if you want. Even if you cross the start line for the full, if you make the turn for the half, they'll record you as a half finisher. Just figured I'd pass that along in case you want to think about it for a few more weeks.

I still can't believe the organizers screwed up so badly in reserving the convention center. It's not like they didn't know when their dates would be for the next however many years. I'm sure the Mary Kay folks who will be there instead will be happy to have the space. And you're 100% right about the hard concrete. That's why I think the best runs in Houston are the trail runs in Huntsville (Rocky, Texas Trails, etc.) and Seabrook Lucky Trail. All are run on nice, soft trails.