Runners: How often do you do races?

[KarenAylwood]

I just started getting into running- a few of DBF's friends asked if I wanted to do an 8K with them in March so I said yes and trained for it. I did much better than I expected and am now hooked.

So that was 3/20... then I did a 5K on 4/2 and now I want to sign up for another 5K on 5/1 but DBF says I'm crazy (and that I don't need to run every race there is ). I don't think I'll do anymore until 10/30 because I don't see any fun ones in the area, and then I'm doing the Princess Half in March 2011.

How often do you race?? Am I overdoing it? If I did the Princess Half next year on 3/6, would it be crazy to do an 8K on 3/19?

My goal is to run about 10-15 miles a week when I'm not training for the half. I'm really new to this whole thing- I was one of those people who could barely run a quarter of mile without wanting to die

 

[jmasgat]

Karen Congrats on y our first of many races! I think the answer to your question is the ever popular "your mileage may vary"--meaning, it depends on distances, trainig, your own body's ability to recover, your race goals, etc.

I have read that for most "average joe" runners (and not walkers) that 2 marathons a year is enough. Shorter races like 5k or 10k--those don't take too long to recover from, and don't put as much strain on your body, so you could probably run those more frequently.

The other thing to consider is what your goals are. If you just want to run the races and not PR every time, then I think you can do all the 5k or 10k you're willing to pay for! They are just another short-medium run.

As for doing Princess and then doing an 8k two weeks later, I would say you may not want to "race" it, but if you have recovered from the half, you could probably run it. BUt listen to your body and don't overdo it.

Maura

 

[MouseDogMom]

There are all different levels of crazy...

I don't see any problem with doing a 5K every month. Since you're fairly new to running, I wouldn't do anything longer than an 8K on a regular basis until you have a little more mileage behind you, but those are really good distances, and races are a great way to get into the running community.

I actually just did 2 half marathons in the same week (one on Sunday 3/20, one the following Saturday 3/27), and am doing a 5K on 4/24 before another half on 5/8.

A lot of us who run half and full marathons find that it helps to schedule shorter races throughout the year to keep motivated. If you only have the 2011 Princess on the schedule, it's really hard to stay focused on something that far in the future. And as long as you've been training consistently, you shouldn't have a problem running an 8K a couple of weeks after the Princess. You'd be fully trained and wouldn't need to do much more than a few short maintenance runs after the half.

Welcome to the insanity!

Jackie

 

[SAHDad]

As Maura says, this is very much a "your mileage may vary" kind of question. If finances and locale permitted, I would glady run a 5k or 10k every week, maybe even up to a half marathon every week. Unfortunately, it just isn't possible.

In a typical year, I will run anywhere from one to four marathons, maybe an ultra or two, and perhaps as many as a dozen 5k or 10k races. But I probably won't "race" them all, and may not "race" any of them.

This year, off the top of my head, I have the following planned this year:
Zoom Yah Yah marathon (already done)
Illinois Marathon (next month)

Planned:
CRUD 8 hour ultra
Oaklawn Hospitality (5k and 10k, I do both back to back)
Binder Park Zoo 5k
Grand Rapids Marathon
Chicago 50/50 (planning my first 50-miler)

I might add more, but there just aren't many 5k or 10k races in my area, and I have a hard timejustifying driving 30-50 miles each way for a 5k race.

Anyway, if you are running 10-15 per week when you aren't training for a longer race, you could make one of your weekly runs a 5k race. You don't need to put in your best effort every time (although you could - most agree that you need to recover about one day per mile of distance raced, so one 5k per week would have plenty of recovery time.)

 

[Bookwood]

I agree with what was said earlier by everyone else- listen to your body. 5K and 8 K are not that much off my "regular 4 mile runs" so I'd do them as they present themselves and you think they might be fun. Longer runs half marathons ect basically I do what looks like good "bling" if the medal looks intresting I might to it!- especially if I can talk a friend or 2 in to doing it as well. I however have to admit I really don't race anymore- it's all a run for the experience or the bling- times are nice but not the issue with me.

 

[APrunner]

I usually put a minimum of two weeks between races. I like to have a month. Everyone is different though. Part of my reason is that I like to train with a routine that involves tempo runs, long runs, interval training, and some barefoot running. Alot of times when I run races, I get off my routine some. That is fine, but I do not want to stay off it too long. Races are usually on Saturdays, which is the best day for me to get my long run in, so that is often what gets missed. It is also hard for me to do intervals and races in the same week. I tend to race with more intensity than my usual training. So having races and intervals in the same week is probably pushing my luck a little too much.

So I think it all depends on what you can handle and what your goals are.

 

[Duanerice]

I don't think I'll do anymore until 10/30 because I don't see any fun ones in the area

You said it all right there. In season I could race every weekend. But, not all of them are fun. Some are just boring 5K's. No special course or charity, etc.

A month ago I did a 5K then 2 weeks later a half then a 5K the next weekend because they were fun. Since then I completed a Triathlon Sprint which was a lot of fun.

A race a month in season is not too much. I don't really like 5Ks becasue getting up at 5 am on Sunday to go run 3 miles is not really fun. I need at least a 10K to get me up at that time Going forward I have a short Triathlon planned about ever other month. If there is a running race that comes up that is fun - I'll do it.

Congrats on getting into the running habit. You'll have a blast! Run as often as you want. A 5K doesn't take that much out of you unless you try to PR every time. of course, I can ever remembering any race that I didn't try to PR. Not sure I could just run a leisurely race.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[DISaholic's]

This is such an individual decision. I ran my first 5K last year in April and then did two more, one in June and one in July, then my 1/2 in October. I like the motivation of the 5K and the camaraderie of running with others. It's fun and exciting.

My sister has never run anything but a marathon and isn't interested in doing any 5K's or anything else. She just trains for the marathon.

 

[FireDancer]

Except for the winter when we don't have any races up here I do at least a 5K per month. Some weekends I do two races, one Saturday and one Sunday. I am part of a race series so I have to do a bunch of the races in that series but even when I am not I average about 20-25 races per season.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I definitely do not think your current plan is unreasonable.

I see the shorter events as part training for speed. I do one marathon/year (WDW) and the others mostly halfs now for travel and goal of trying to do a half in half the states. (half2run idea).

If you are in serious mode for scoring a placement or particular time goal for a special event, then you might want to track backward with your work out schedule to see where another event might fit to that schedule and enjoy an event or two. Mostly I'd advise to learn to read what your body is telling you it can take and go with that. You don't want to lose sight of the training aspect by doing a number of events if it won't fit into your training schedule. That may lead to unnecessary injury. As APrunner has said and currently I can speak to this since I've scheduled several half marathons and actually find that my training is being sacrificed for the events.

Make it fun where you can.

 

[stampingoddess]

During the "racing season" it is not uncommon for me to do 5ks most every weekend.

 

[JimB.]

In Florida, the "race season" is probably opposite of the northern Wisher's. Lots of fall/winter races. Nothing much further than a 5k in the spring / summer (with the exception of some Tri's). I don't do much in the summer except for training. I don't do ANYTHING without a finishers medal. Yes. I know. I am a bling *****. But that's just me & I am PROUD of it.

That being said, I probably do about 8 races a year. Unfortunately, Time, Distance & $$ are a factor. Being a firefighter, 2 out of every 3 weekends are usually trashed by my schedule, so that's a factor too. I cannot justify taking time off for a 5k or 10k without the aforementioned bling.

My next race on the books is the Disneyland 1/2. Something may pop up prior to that, but I'm not optimistic.

 

[FireDancer]

In Florida, the "race season" is probably opposite of the northern Wisher's. Lots of fall/winter races. Nothing much further than a 5k in the spring / summer (with the exception of some Tri's). I don't do much in the summer except for training. I don't do ANYTHING without a finishers medal. Yes. I know. I am a bling *****. But that's just me & I am PROUD of it.

I torture myself by looking at the Tampa area races in Dec, Jan, and Feb and wish I could winter down there.

 

[Caseydilla]

Anywhere from 1-3 races per month. It just depends on what races are going on. I did 18 races in 2009.

 

[K80K]

Between 4/11 and 6/27 I have 6 half marathons, 2 ten milers and a 7 miler. So your plan seems completetly reasonable to me.

 

[crewmatt]

Hey. you can participate in races as often as you'd like, altho racing a race is a differnt story. If you're simply there to have a good time, then its not a problem at all, you can do as many as you'd like. If you're going to be pushing for a PR or doing a distance that leaves you sore for 2 days afterwards then I'd do one every other week at most. But if you can run a 5k on Sunday and be fine on Monday or Tuesday at the latest, then feel free to do them as often as you'd like.

Now if you want to race, run super hard, die at the line type of race, I'd hold off to one a month at most. You dont want to over-exert as you can give yourself injuries.