J
Jay Hennigan
Guest
I'm a long time lurker and occasional poster in the group.
I have been running for recreation and doing orienteering for over a year
now. I will typically run three or four times a week, averaging between
six and ten miles per run on local terrain that is about half pavement
(bike paths) and half dirt trails with some hills. Typically I run for
the enjoyment and exercise, concentrating more on duration and endurance
than trying to run fast. I'll typically run for about an hour to an hour
and a half depending on where I run, hills, etc. Also run for fun with
the local hash group, though I'm not a beer drinker. In addition to the
orienteering I have run one competitive race, a 5K in July with a time of
22:51.
I've entered a local half-marathon that will be taking place on November
6. My goal is to complete it without having to stop or walk. My longest
runs have been just over ten miles, about every two weeks. Today I tried
going for speed and matched my 5K race time as opposed to a typical hour+
run.
The general advice I've seen here and on websites is that one is ready for
a distance race when his training "long" run is somewhat shorter than the
race distance, say ten miles for a half-marathon. Based on this advice
I'm ready to attempt the half-marathon. But, this seems to be counter-
intuitive. Baseball hitters practice swinging with weighted bats so that
when they step up to the plate the regulation bat seems lighter. Is it
really sound to attempt a race that is some 30% longer than one's longest
training run? Logically, I would think it makes sense to train at longer
distances than the race. Then, when it comes to the real thing you've
routinely and regularly done that distance and feel comfortable with it.
Ready or not, here I come, but should I go for 13 miles a couple of weeks
prior just for the fun of it?
I have been running for recreation and doing orienteering for over a year
now. I will typically run three or four times a week, averaging between
six and ten miles per run on local terrain that is about half pavement
(bike paths) and half dirt trails with some hills. Typically I run for
the enjoyment and exercise, concentrating more on duration and endurance
than trying to run fast. I'll typically run for about an hour to an hour
and a half depending on where I run, hills, etc. Also run for fun with
the local hash group, though I'm not a beer drinker. In addition to the
orienteering I have run one competitive race, a 5K in July with a time of
22:51.
I've entered a local half-marathon that will be taking place on November
6. My goal is to complete it without having to stop or walk. My longest
runs have been just over ten miles, about every two weeks. Today I tried
going for speed and matched my 5K race time as opposed to a typical hour+
run.
The general advice I've seen here and on websites is that one is ready for
a distance race when his training "long" run is somewhat shorter than the
race distance, say ten miles for a half-marathon. Based on this advice
I'm ready to attempt the half-marathon. But, this seems to be counter-
intuitive. Baseball hitters practice swinging with weighted bats so that
when they step up to the plate the regulation bat seems lighter. Is it
really sound to attempt a race that is some 30% longer than one's longest
training run? Logically, I would think it makes sense to train at longer
distances than the race. Then, when it comes to the real thing you've
routinely and regularly done that distance and feel comfortable with it.
Ready or not, here I come, but should I go for 13 miles a couple of weeks
prior just for the fun of it?