Dumbo, Goofy, Dopey, Glass Slipper runners..I need advice

[Raenstoirm]

I signed myself up for a local race series this week called the Nut Job. Because only a nut job would run it! Anyway, its a half marathon on sunday morning, a 5k the following saturday evening and then a second half marathon sunday morning (30 miles in 7 days) (Oh and a 3rd half marathon, but that isn't until October). How the heck do I train for this? Do I treat them like separate races? I ran two half marathons a month apart last fall with no issues (in fact I PRed the second one), but I am unsure about this. Of course it doesn't help that I have not run more than a 5k since the last half marathon in November , but that is a whole other issue entirely. I have 6 weeks to prepare and I have been doing other cardio things 4-5 times a week, just not long distance running.

Also how do you recover from one to prep for the next one? I always take 2 days off from exercise after a race to just veg. So I assume it won't be an issue since I have a week between the long races, but I have never done a 5k and then literally 12 hours later run a half marathon (evening 5k, crack of dawn half marathon).

What did I get myself into??

 

[goofeygirl]

I did the Dopey this year and Goofy last year. I thought the same thing...*** did I do?

6 weeks is just about enough time to get yourself ready. For me when I was training for Disney I would try start out with what I could do, write everything down, use your gps for how long it took you and go from there.

One of the things I wanted to do was to get used to getting up and doing it over again the next day x 2. So I would do 8 miles one day and then try to do it again the next...at first I would do 8 miles one day and the next get up early and do 5 miles and then later on try to add another 3. Basically I was trying to get my body used to little rest in between.

Don't rush into it. Start at whatever you can do, write it down. I think you should have just enough time to get yourself both physically and mentally ready for this.

Cardio workouts are good but nothing compares to actually going outside and getting it done. Nothing does. I found the best training I ever had was not from hard core dvd workouts (tho they help) or the treadmill (zzz) but going outside and facing the elements and the road conditions...for me...I trained in a state park that is loaded with steep hills...so I was working out all muscles at the same time.

Get yourself mentally ready! Don't over due it! Do what you can do right now and build from there..you have 6 weeks.

 

[afnaechiquita]

i would take the first half easy and the second full race pace. many half training programs have you doing 12-13 miles on the weekend long runs consecutively, so it's really no different than that. six weeks is more than enough time to get you ready. good luck

 

[SAHDad]

Yep. You might try doing some back to back runs - evening one day, and then a longer run the next morning.

I have a similar situation coming up - they do a challenge, which gives you an extra medal if you run the 5k on Friday night, and then either a 10k, half or full on Saturday morning. (Different challenge medal depending on how far the second race is, IIRC). The 5k just makes the race the next morning feel a bit longer than it really is.

 

[kappyfamily]

I did 48.6 miles in 8 days last week. (Glass slipper plus the 5k then the following weekend did back to back halfs). I will be honest I took most of them slower then I normally would which was fine with me. I'm not the kind of runner that has to PR every race. I just took really good care of my feet and legs in between races and didn't run at all in between them, I was walking around in the parks so that did keep me moving.

You can do it! Dig deep and good luck!

 

[Raenstoirm]

I did 48.6 miles in 8 days last week. (Glass slipper plus the 5k then the following weekend did back to back halfs). I will be honest I took most of them slower then I normally would which was fine with me. I'm not the kind of runner that has to PR every race. I just took really good care of my feet and legs in between races and didn't run at all in between them, I was walking around in the parks so that did keep me moving.

You can do it! Dig deep and good luck!

Wow you're crazy! 48 miles AND walking around the parks. I know I would keel over! I guess my 30 miles pales in comparison.

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you considered being a Half Fanatic? http://www.halffanatics.com/are-you-a-fanatic/fanatic-criteria (look down below the race ads for the criteria)

 

[ludari]

I did Dopey this year followed by Tinkerbell (5K, 10K and half) all within 7 days which was 71 miles in 7 days and all with very little training due to injuries the months before Dopey. My times where nothing to brag about, infact I had the worst times I ever but I finished them all without being picked up.

Anyway, during your first race you need to accept a slower pace and conserve your energy but continually check your pace to make sure you are not falling behind. Having done Goofy in 2013 and Dopey this year I usually do more walking than running during the half marathon. You have time to recover before you next race but if you had a race the following day I like to use my foam roller to work out any knots and I usually where my compression socks the next day. I am also a firm believer that if you have any blisters you pop them before your next race. Some people are against doing this but I am a firm beliver based on my own experience with running and backpacking. After each half marathon after I've showered and eaten I like to keep moving. Try not to sit around and stiffin up. Moving around will aid in your recovery. Feel free and send me a private message if you have any other questions. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Diskidatheart]

They key is to not race the first half. I would set up your training schedule as follows for your long runs:

Week 1: 8 miles
Week 2: 9.5 miles
Week 3: 10.5 miles
Week 4: 7 miles
Week 5: 12 miles
Week 6: 13.1 miles at training pace
Week 7: 13.1 miles at race pace

Personally, I would add in 3 days of running during the week. I personally prefer Tues-Wed-Thur. You could start at 3-5-3 for the first few weeks, then increase to 4-6-4 for the next week, then in week 5 I would move my Thursday run to Friday. You could also switch one or two of your Thursday runs in the first 3 weeks to Friday also. I wouldn't get all worked up about running a 5k prior to the half marathon. Unless you are planning on trying to PR on your 5k, it'll be an easy run for you anyway. I hope that helps and it should have you ready for both races...as I already mentioned and worth repeating (and others have also), don't race the first half. Obviously, you don't have to race the 2nd one either, but this would allow you to. BTW, I would cut back on the weekday miles in week 7. Perhaps doing 2 or 3 miles on Tues and Wed.

 

[Raenstoirm]

I did Dopey this year followed by Tinkerbell (5K, 10K and half) all within 7 days which was 71 miles in 7 days and all with very little training due to injuries the months before Dopey. My times where nothing to brag about, infact I had the worst times I ever but I finished them all without being picked up.

Wow! . I guess if you didn't die doing all that, I will be fine. I have been told the first half is very hilly and not great so I guess I will take my time with it and maybe even walk much of it. I am not sure what the sweep is, so I will have to figure that one out. These three races net me 5 medals (I am a bit of bling ***** ). There is a 3rd half marathon in the series, but that isn't till October. But since I ran these, I will get two medals after finishing the fall race. Seven medals for 4 races...I like that! I ran the fall half this year which is where I discovered that it was the last of a series. I was jealous of those that got two medals. I vowed I would earn them this year!

Have you considered being a Half Fanatic?

I didn't realize such a thing existed! I fit into that and then some. I will have to look into joining. I made Neptune last fall with 3 races in 8 weeks. If I run all the races on my schedule for this year I will make Uranus! I may even be able to add an extra one somewhere and sneak into Saturn! I can see this going bad places!

 

[bumbershoot]

I didn't realize such a thing existed! I fit into that and then some. I will have to look into joining. I made Neptune last fall with 3 races in 8 weeks. If I run all the races on my schedule for this year I will make Uranus! I may even be able to add an extra one somewhere and sneak into Saturn! I can see this going bad places!

They seem to be based in my town and I thought it was just a local thing, but I remember seeing a shirt at the WDW Half. That's when I looked at the website and see that it's not just local!

I'm just trying to parlay my horrid WDW Half showing plus this coming weekend's "probably won't be much better since I haven't run distance since January" St Paddy's Day Half into the lowest level, but it means another one before 4/11. Not sure if I can convince my legs, my hubby, or my wallet to do that! But once you find out about, it's like you *have to* try to qualify, LOL.