Modifying training plan to add a race?

[johde]

I'm currently training for the Columbus Half Marathon on October 16? A couple of people at work are going as well. This same group is looking at doing a 10K on September 25th to get ready for the race. It's a race I wouldn't mind entering, and looking at last years results I might get an award in the cruiser catagory. I'm following the Marathoning for Mortals walk/run half marathon plan, and the problem is that weekend is supposed to be my 10 mile long walk/run. Fortunately I started training a couple of weeks early so I have a little bit of play in the scheduling. The end plan as written has the following distances and Walk/Run ratio

8 Miles 3 walk/1 run
6 Miles 3 walk/2 run
10 miles 3 walk/1 run (conflicts with 10K)
8 miles 3 walk/2 run
5 miles 3 walk/2 run
Half Marathon

I'm thinking of using up the 2 extra weeks as follows
8 Miles 3 walk/1 run
6 Miles 3 walk/2 run
10 miles 3 walk/1 run
8 miles 3 walk/2 run
10 K race
8 or 9 3 walk/2 run
5 miles 3 walk/2 run
Half Marathon

My one concern is that would put my 10 mile walk/run over a month before my race. Is that too long before to "max out" before the race? Does this schedule look good or can anyone think of a better way of doing this?

 

[Duanerice]

I'm currently training for the Columbus Half Marathon on October 16? A couple of people at work are going as well. This same group is looking at doing a 10K on September 25th to get ready for the race. It's a race I wouldn't mind entering, and looking at last years results I might get an award in the cruiser catagory. I'm following the Marathoning for Mortals walk/run half marathon plan, and the problem is that weekend is supposed to be my 10 mile long walk/run. Fortunately I started training a couple of weeks early so I have a little bit of play in the scheduling. The end plan as written has the following distances and Walk/Run ratio

8 Miles 3 walk/1 run
6 Miles 3 walk/2 run
10 miles 3 walk/1 run (conflicts with 10K)
8 miles 3 walk/2 run
5 miles 3 walk/2 run
Half Marathon

I'm thinking of using up the 2 extra weeks as follows
8 Miles 3 walk/1 run
6 Miles 3 walk/2 run
10 miles 3 walk/1 run
8 miles 3 walk/2 run
10 K race
8 or 9 3 walk/2 run Make this a 10 mile run
5 miles 3 walk/2 run
Half Marathon

My one concern is that would put my 10 mile walk/run over a month before my race. Is that too long before to "max out" before the race? Does this schedule look good or can anyone think of a better way of doing this?

I've had to adjust every marathon training plan due to races. Heck, that's why we train. Not sure what you mean by having 2 extra weeks but the schedule looks good. I would just do the 10 miles again 2 weeks out. maybe switch to the 3/1 (whatever you plan on using race day)

For a half that would probably be plenty of time to taper. Many people only use a week so there is really no right or wrong, just what is right for you.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[johde]

Thanks for the information
As far as having 2 extra weeks, I started the plan 2 weeks before I needed to to have a "cushion" to possibly repeat weeks, or incase I missed a week. I did something similar for the first marathon in May because of fear of snow, and the final ramp up. For May, I missed only one long workout because it snowed all weekend and I didn't have access to a treadmill. I used the extra time to do a 9 mile between the 8 and 10. After the success the first time I decided to build in the cushion this time as well.

With reguards to doing the extra weeks at a 3/2 interval, the plan calls for a 3 walk/2 run for the marathon. That why I wanted to went with the 3/2 ratio on those final runs. Depending on training I know those ratios might need to change.

Thanks again for giving my plan a second set of eyes.

 

[cewait]

I'm currently training for the Columbus Half Marathon on October 16? A couple of people at work are going as well. This same group is looking at doing a 10K on September 25th to get ready for the race. It's a race I wouldn't mind entering, and looking at last years results I might get an award in the cruiser catagory. I'm following the Marathoning for Mortals walk/run half marathon plan, and the problem is that weekend is supposed to be my 10 mile long walk/run. Fortunately I started training a couple of weeks early so I have a little bit of play in the scheduling. The end plan as written has the following distances and Walk/Run ratio

8 Miles 3 walk/1 run
6 Miles 3 walk/2 run
10 miles 3 walk/1 run (conflicts with 10K)
8 miles 3 walk/2 run
5 miles 3 walk/2 run
Half Marathon

I'm thinking of using up the 2 extra weeks as follows
8 Miles 3 walk/1 run
6 Miles 3 walk/2 run
10 miles 3 walk/1 run
8 miles 3 walk/2 run
10 K race
8 or 9 3 walk/2 run
5 miles 3 walk/2 run
Half Marathon

My one concern is that would put my 10 mile walk/run over a month before my race. Is that too long before to "max out" before the race? Does this schedule look good or can anyone think of a better way of doing this?

OR you could just put the 10k in place of the 10 mile and run it as a true race. A hard 10k would do the soul some good. Just make the 8 mile weekend a 9-10 mile weekend and you will be fine

 

[johde]

Thanks for the suggestions Charles. For me, I'm hoping to run the 10K using the strategy I'm planning for the Half in miniture. Mainly, not starting out too fast in the beginning. In my last 5K, I started out running too fast, my pulse jumped way up and never dropped. Even though I got a PR, I probably could have done better with a slower start and working for negative splits. So, for the 10K I shooting for 2 miles a little slower than race pace, 2 miles at race pace, 2.2 miles giving it all I have left.