The Running Thread - 2026

[avondale]

If you would normally be doing 12-14 miles on the day of your 10 miler, then I'd say you would be good going for a 10-miler PR, given that the marathon is 2 weeks later.
My thinking is that the 10 miles is a slightly shorter distance, but with higher effort to achieve the PR, so largely a wash.
If you assume 2-3 days to recover from the 10-miler (depending on how all-out you do it for the PR), resume the taper with whatever mileage you would have been at on that day in the training plan, or even a mile less or at a slightly easier pace than you would've for that day.
As Bob likes to say, by that point most of the hay is in the barn, so I personally don't think a few recovery days will hurt your marathon time.
YMMV

I would actually disagree with this, based on my experience and lots of reading into running/training research.

Putting in PR-level effort for 10 miles only two weeks before a PR-level effort for a marathon doesn't seem like it would give enough recovery to go for that second PR-level effort in the marathon.

Usually the rule of thumb for recovering from a race-level effort is that you should take 1 day easy per mile raced. So for your 10-miler, that's 10 days easy. Then after those days of easy effort, you're ready to start training again....I would be concerned that you wouldn't be ready for a PR-level effort again so soon.

Your 12 - 14 miles that you have in your training plan for two weeks before the marathon are presumably at easy or maybe "long run" pace, which is going to be a much easier effort level than you'll be putting out for a 10-mile PR.

There are obviously a lot of variables in there. Are you young and recover pretty quickly? Maybe your previous PRs weren't all that great (no judgment, just saying), so a PR-level effort won't be that huge?

But if you're pushing the envelope on both of them for real, I wouldn't count on being able to make that level of effort for both. I know that there's no way I would be able to do that, and I've got quite a bit of long race experience. A real PR effort wipes me out for quite awhile.

I would suggest you pick one that you really want to PR and run the other race appropriately for that. It's not like there aren't more races in the future, so you can work toward the PR of the other one down the road.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Looking for opinions! I’m in the midst of planning out my training/race schedule for the year.

I’m signed up for my favorite 10 mile race in early October followed by my A race marathon 2 weeks later. I’m wondering what the group thinks about my 10 miler being an “A-“ race as in I’d love to attempt a PR there as well as in the marathon. I usually plan on a 12-14 mile run that day as I start my taper so I’m curious if the drop in mileage would allow me proper recovery going into my taper. What do you guys think?

I was going to say pretty much what @avondale did. I think this could work for some people, especially if you're pretty high-mileage, but I personally wouldn't do it because I know I recover pretty slowly from races and I'd be worried about my marathon performance. But if you've seen quick recoveries in the past, you might be able to. You'd just have to be willing to take the risk that an all-out 10M affects your M.

 

[Dopey 2020]

@RuntheMouse I was going to say maybe, it depends. Agreeing with @avondale and @WillRunForPizza it could be tough to recover enough to put out a true A level at your marathon. I personally would try it as I like a shorter taper but I would need near perfect conditions as in how do I feel at the ten miler and what’s the weather. If you’re feeling the mid taper yuck and it’s getting extra warm that all out effort may take too much out of you. I would say if you’re feeling it go for it but be prepared to dial it back if you start feeling like it’s costing you too much based on past recovery times.
I’m actually doing my A marathon the weekend after Springtime Surprise so that will be a very easy 10 miler and it will take all my will power to keep it dialed back.

 

[RuntheMouse]

I would actually disagree with this, based on my experience and lots of reading into running/training research.

Putting in PR-level effort for 10 miles only two weeks before a PR-level effort for a marathon doesn't seem like it would give enough recovery to go for that second PR-level effort in the marathon.

Usually the rule of thumb for recovering from a race-level effort is that you should take 1 day easy per mile raced. So for your 10-miler, that's 10 days easy. Then after those days of easy effort, you're ready to start training again....I would be concerned that you wouldn't be ready for a PR-level effort again so soon.

Your 12 - 14 miles that you have in your training plan for two weeks before the marathon are presumably at easy or maybe "long run" pace, which is going to be a much easier effort level than you'll be putting out for a 10-mile PR.

There are obviously a lot of variables in there. Are you young and recover pretty quickly? Maybe your previous PRs weren't all that great (no judgment, just saying), so a PR-level effort won't be that huge?

But if you're pushing the envelope on both of them for real, I wouldn't count on being able to make that level of effort for both. I know that there's no way I would be able to do that, and I've got quite a bit of long race experience. A real PR effort wipes me out for quite awhile.

I would suggest you pick one that you really want to PR and run the other race appropriately for that. It's not like there aren't more races in the future, so you can work toward the PR of the other one down the road.

Thank you for the wisdom! I know you have a lot of races under your belt. The marathon is truly my priority, the 10 mile is local and I love it but it will be there in the future. I do tend to have pretty decent recovery but I don’t want to mess this up. I specifically chose this marathon because I bombed my A race due to heat last year so I’m invested in success for sure.

I was going to say pretty much what @avondale did. I think this could work for some people, especially if you're pretty high-mileage, but I personally wouldn't do it because I know I recover pretty slowly from races and I'd be worried about my marathon performance. But if you've seen quick recoveries in the past, you might be able to. You'd just have to be willing to take the risk that an all-out 10M affects your M.

You two agreeing give me a lot to think about, you’re both very experienced! I do really have to consider the recovery time, it’s been good in the past but no guarantees for the future. My mileage last year was at 1500 miles and I handled it pretty well but I worked at it for sure so I don’t want to mess that up.

@RuntheMouse I was going to say maybe, it depends. Agreeing with @avondale and @WillRunForPizza it could be tough to recover enough to put out a true A level at your marathon. I personally would try it as I like a shorter taper but I would need near perfect conditions as in how do I feel at the ten miler and what’s the weather. If you’re feeling the mid taper yuck and it’s getting extra warm that all out effort may take too much out of you. I would say if you’re feeling it go for it but be prepared to dial it back if you start feeling like it’s costing you too much based on past recovery times.
I’m actually doing my A marathon the weekend after Springtime Surprise so that will be a very easy 10 miler and it will take all my will power to keep it dialed back.

I too like a shorter taper so I was hoping this would work but the weather at the 10 miler has gotten me before! I think there might be some room to PR but not red line, maybe that’s the compromise. I’ll for sure have to reassess as I get deeper into my training. Can’t wait to read about your race, good luck!

 

[Naomeri]

Officially signed up to do the Loony Challenge at the Twin Cities Marathon weekend. It’s a 10k followed by a 5k on Saturday of the race weekend, and a 10 mile on the Sunday. And then like 2 or 3 weeks later I’ll be at Wine and Dine .

I’ve completely fallen off of running since Princess (somewhat Dr recommended, but not fully). So I guess this means I need to get back to it. I’m walking a 5k this weekend with my husband, and I’m trying to get out more, but I think I fell into a bit of post rundisney weekend blues. Is that a thing?

Anyway, just wanted to throw it out there that I am doing another race series!

Looking for opinions! I’m in the midst of planning out my training/race schedule for the year.

I’m signed up for my favorite 10 mile race in early October followed by my A race marathon 2 weeks later. I’m wondering what the group thinks about my 10 miler being an “A-“ race as in I’d love to attempt a PR there as well as in the marathon. I usually plan on a 12-14 mile run that day as I start my taper so I’m curious if the drop in mileage would allow me proper recovery going into my taper. What do you guys think?

Dis Party at TCMW!! Some of you out-of-towners should come hang out with us!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Thank you for the wisdom! I know you have a lot of races under your belt. The marathon is truly my priority, the 10 mile is local and I love it but it will be there in the future.

This changes my response a little bit. If the marathon is the true priority, then do the 10-miler at 8.5/10 or 9/10 and just use it as a long run. But I still think that 10 miles vs 12 for that day won't make much difference in overall readiness, so enjoy the 10-miler and then resume the taper runs per the schedule.
As always, YMMV. Good luck with the PR.

 

[RuntheMouse]

This changes my response a little bit. If the marathon is the true priority, then do the 10-miler at 8.5/10 or 9/10 and just use it as a long run. But I still think that 10 miles vs 12 for that day won't make much difference in overall readiness, so enjoy the 10-miler and then resume the taper runs per the schedule.
As always, YMMV. Good luck with the PR.

Thanks for the follow up! I do think this might be the best, I want to race to 10 mile but I really want to PR the marathon.