As I’ve mentioned a couple of times previously, I’m going to be running the Denver Half Marathon this coming Sunday. As you also know if you’ve been following along, my training hasn’t gone all that well this year because of various injuries. In fact, the longest run I’ve been able to get in since mid-August is the 10-miler I did this past Saturday.
Because of this lack of solid training, I’ve decided that I’m going to run/walk the race using a 4 minute/1 minute ratio. I’ve also decided that since the race is no longer a goal race for me, and I haven’t really trained enough to warrant it, I’m not going to bother with any sort of taper. Instead, I trained pretty normally last week, putting in a bit over 20 miles plus a bit of cross-training and weight work, and I’m going to do about the same this week. The only concession I’m going to make is that I’ll skip the leg weights this week to make sure my legs aren’t stiff on Sunday.
So what’s my plan for Sunday? Well, besides just trying to stick with the 4/1 run/walk ratio, I just want to finish the race feeling good and not injured. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes, particularly since I’ve never run/walked a race before.
Any of you have experience running a race after coming off any injury and not being as fit as you’d like? How did you adjust your goals and tapering schedule?
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{ 3 comments }
Kristen,
Last year when I first hurt my knee, I was going to run the full marathon at The Outer Banks Marathon in North Carolina. I ended up doing the half, and it was a PR for me. I think though a lot of it had to do with it being at sea level, but I’ll take it!
Twitter: runningcomm
October 13, 2009 at 2:18 am
Good luck for the race on Sunday. I didn’t realise you’d been injured. You seem to have kept up a pretty steady training regime.
As for run-walk in races and the fear of a slow time, I always quote Hal Higdon who said:
“You will lose less time walking than you think. I once ran a 2:29 marathon, walking through every aid station. My son Kevin ran 2:18 and qualified for the Olympic Trials employing a similar strategy. And Bill Rodgers took four brief breaks (tying a shoe on one of them) while running 2:09 and winning the 1975 Boston Marathon. Walking gives your body a chance to rest, and you’ll be able to continue running more comfortably. It’s best to walk when you want to, not when your (fatigued) body forces you too.”
A 2:18 marathon? Sounds like a reasonable endorsement of a run-walk approach!
Andy
Twitter: kchealy
October 13, 2009 at 8:13 am
Andy,
Thanks for the good wishes. I know run/walk has resulted in better times for some people, but I know that’s not going to be the case for me this time based upon how my most recent “long” runs have gone.
I’m okay with that though. There’s always next time.
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