Training for First Half – Vacation at the End of Training

[MommyMcQueen]

Hello! I am a fairly new runner (after being an avid walker for many years) and have decided I’d like to attempt my first half this fall. I’ve been running for less than 4 months, just started running the end of March of this year. I did the C25K and finished that the end of May, did my first 5K on 6/5. After C25K I did a 6-week 10K training program and ran my first 10K on 7/10. My long run is up to 8 miles, which I finished in 1:28, I usually run 4 times a week (3 @ 4 miles, 1 long), about 18-20 miles per week right now.

I am looking at doing my first half on 9/19 – 9 weeks from now. We are, however, taking our first trip to WDW from August 20-29 and I am somewhat worried how this potential 10 days off from running will affect me, especially 3-4 weeks before the half when training should peak. I’m hoping to run 3 days while I’m down there, but honestly it would probably only be like 3-4 miles each time. We’re staying at Pop and I have looked at the path there as potential place to get a little running in. Since this is our family’s first trip, I don’t want it to be dictated by my running schedule. I am planning to either get up early before everyone else and run a few miles, or if the kids crash early and we’re back at the hotel I could do some in the evening.

I have shifted around my training schedule a bit to try work around my vacation plans. The week before we go I would do 25-27 miles (with a 13 long run) and the week we return I plan the same. I’d then have 2 weeks to taper before the half.

So, my main question is will it be disastrous of me to have only 3 short runs that week of vacation? Or no running at all? It is a bad idea to go from maybe 9 miles one week back to 25+ the next? My biggest worry is coming back after 10 days and not being able to get through even a couple of miles! (I've never taken more than 4 days off from running).

My other option is to not do the half in September, but do one on October as there is another one in my area then. But the September one is right in my community and I have several friends/coworkers running it and really have my heart set on that one. Obviously I'm not out to break any records and I just want to be able to finish it in a decent time. I haven’t registered yet which is why I’m looking for advice now – need to register soon!

Any advice is much appreciated!
Karen

 

[cewait]

First great job on getting into the swing of things. I would not take a vacation from running while at Disney. Your idea of getting up early is a great one. I would not try to run in the early evening if you are not from a hot/humid area. You should be ok dropping back miles on that week, but would offer adding a short long run while on vacation. Maybe a couple 3-4 milers and one 6-8 miler.

I am not a Pop runner but have run the perimeter of the resort a couple times. If you have a car I would suggest heading over to the Boardwalk for one or two of the runs.

Pop Run - http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/detail/19939614/

One version of Boardwalk

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/detail/19940250/


For the most part you will not feel too tired in the parks following these runs. We have always used the time while I was out for a run for my DW to get up and ready for the day.

Feel free to ask questions

 

[disney_mommy]

I don't think you will lose all of your training in 10 days, but it will certainly slow you down. I think you will have to make a real effort to get miles in while you're on vacation. If you make a real effort and make it a priority, you can do it.

 

[rubato]

Running at Disney is really great! I say go for those early morning runs. You could have hubby work on getting the kids ready while you're gone, if that's an option. We were at the Caribbean Beach Resort while I was in training. I did 3 runs at 4 miles and 1 at 8 miles while we were there. I actually enjoyed running there much more than I do here. I just got up at around 6 to get it done and get showered and out the door in time for rope drop.

 

[FireDancer]

I am normally not a morning runner but when I am at Disney I love to go do some of the resort runs. My favorite is the Boardwalk Area followed closely by the POR run along the river and a run between the Poly and GF. Even though I usually stay at POP I go to these locations to do my early morning run. It is easier with a car but can be done with the buses.

Keep in mind that while I wouldn't completely stop running for that long of a time while training you are doing a lot of walking so doing less miles than normal won't have as big of a negative effect as not doing the miles and sitting around on a beach or something like that.

 

[MommyMcQueen]

Thank you everyone for your responses!

First great job on getting into the swing of things. I would not take a vacation from running while at Disney. Your idea of getting up early is a great one. I would not try to run in the early evening if you are not from a hot/humid area. You should be ok dropping back miles on that week, but would offer adding a short long run while on vacation. Maybe a couple 3-4 milers and one 6-8 miler.

I am not a Pop runner but have run the perimeter of the resort a couple times. If you have a car I would suggest heading over to the Boardwalk for one or two of the runs.

Pop Run - http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/detail/19939614/

One version of Boardwalk

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/detail/19940250/


For the most part you will not feel too tired in the parks following these runs. We have always used the time while I was out for a run for my DW to get up and ready for the day.

Feel free to ask questions

Thank you for the links to the maps and for your suggestions! We will not be having a car, but doing loop of the Pop path is completely doable for me. I usually run loops of the same route through our subdivision, so I'm used to the same path over and over.

I will defenitely consider adding 1 longer run to my week. I planned our trip to have a day off after ever 2 park days, so that leaves me with a morning every couple of days that I could get out and run and not hold up the family from any plans. I can also get a run in on our last morning there since our flight leaves later in the afternoon and we don't plan to go to a park that morning. So I'd basically be running every 3 days, and would do a longer one in the middle.

I don't think you will lose all of your training in 10 days, but it will certainly slow you down. I think you will have to make a real effort to get miles in while you're on vacation. If you make a real effort and make it a priority, you can do it.

I will have to make the effort to get it in, and I know when I'm home I have no problem doing that! Even we we go camping I've been taking my running stuff and going out on weekend mornings to get the miles in, so I just hope that I have the motivation do it on an extended trip like this!

Running at Disney is really great! I say go for those early morning runs. You could have hubby work on getting the kids ready while you're gone, if that's an option. We were at the Caribbean Beach Resort while I was in training. I did 3 runs at 4 miles and 1 at 8 miles while we were there. I actually enjoyed running there much more than I do here. I just got up at around 6 to get it done and get showered and out the door in time for rope drop.

DH would defenitly get the kids up and ready while I go, he's been completely supportive of my running and I'm sure it won't be a problem down there. I'm glad to hear so many people say that running down there is so much fun!

I am normally not a morning runner but when I am at Disney I love to go do some of the resort runs. My favorite is the Boardwalk Area followed closely by the POR run along the river and a run between the Poly and GF. Even though I usually stay at POP I go to these locations to do my early morning run. It is easier with a car but can be done with the buses.

Keep in mind that while I wouldn't completely stop running for that long of a time while training you are doing a lot of walking so doing less miles than normal won't have as big of a negative effect as not doing the miles and sitting around on a beach or something like that.

I have to say that I believe I am the world's worst morning runner. Give me a nice evening and I can go and run it and love every second of it. Mornings I just really struggle, I don't know what it is. I've tried to do them, and gone back out after each disaterous one and tried again with little improvement. Now I just do afternoon/evenings unless it's an event. I would love to be able to run better in the AM, maybe I just need to get up earlier and be awake longer!

But, if it means morning or nothing, I'll go and do the mornings. I was considering doing an evening since my kids are used to pretty early bedtimes and we plan to come back to the hotel probably after dinner most nights, assuming that they will go to sleep early after tiring park days. But I have no idea what the temps are down there in the evenings, or the humidity. I just know it will be hot and humid.

Thanks for the links to the routes - they look really nice! I won't have a car, so probably be limited to the Pop area, but it is good to know there are other areas if I do decide to venture out. We'll have 6 full park days of walking, plus the 2 days off from parks that we'll be walking DTD or Boardwalk or other sights. And with 2 little energetic kids in tow, there usually isn't much sitting in a lounge chair on the beach for us! (sigh)...how I wish there were sometimes!