Sep 22, 2011 7:54 AM
2 races within one week?
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I have been running regularly since April and run pretty much every day. Right now I run between 2 miles on a bad day and 5 miles on a good day. I am planning two races this fall/winter. I want to participate in a 5k trail run in December and I want to run a 10k (a regular one, not trail run). I have been running races years ago but those will be my first races in a long time. The one in December I will run for sure. I could be running a 5k or 10k exactly one week before the trail race. Is this something to recommend? two races within a week? And should I go for the 5k first as I haven't run races in a long time and also the route will be hilly. I am running hills a lot and love them, but I am not sure if a 10k (it would be my first ever) and hills would be to much? Should I go for another easier 10k or go for the hilly 5k? I definitely want to run a 10k soon. I am about one mile shy from a 10k right now. It should be doable within the next two months I guess. Any advice?
Thanks!
Britta
XTERRA Crystal Cove Trail Run 6k - 52:33.5
Redondo Beach Superbowl Run 10k - 01:05:49
Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay 11/18/2012
Normally it takes about one day of recovery (no hard running or racing) for each mile raced. So racing a 5K and 10K one week apart should not be a problem for you.
I've raced 5K's and 10K's on consecutive weeks a number of times - sometimes that's just the way a race schedule works out. Some have been flat and fast courses, some hilly and others in between. I wouldn't do it for many weeks in a row, but two in a row has never been a problem.
"...I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do....I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't..." --- author unknown
2013 highlights...
@ 5K: Ontario Mills 5K, Ontario, CA, 24:42
Heart of the City Run, Los Angeles, CA, 24:13
Bruin 5K Run at UCLA, Westwood, CA, 24:54
@ 10K: LA Chinatown Firecracker 10K, Los Angeles, CA, 51:42
The Great Race - Old Agoura 10K, Agoura Hills, CA, 51:12
I would recommend the 5K the week before, for a number of reasons.
- You haven't raced in a while.
- The race is hilly.
- You haven't been running consistently for very long.
- Running the 5K will allow better recovery for the trail race.
- A trail 5K will be closer to a road 10K in terms of effort.
All in all, a road 5K, followed by a fairly easy recovery week, will leave you better prepared for the trail 5K.
Len
Len
Thanks for your reply! Well, I might go ahead and try it :-) It is true, ususally even after my long runs (4 miles and up - 5.3 miles running nonstop has been the most so far) it never takes me a long time to recover, usually one or two days. Maybe I will be able to run some races before December. :-)
Britta
XTERRA Crystal Cove Trail Run 6k - 52:33.5
Redondo Beach Superbowl Run 10k - 01:05:49
Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay 11/18/2012
Len, thanks! I also thought if I do a race before the trail run it should be rather the 5k. Regarding the Trail 5K, I will go and check the route out soon, so I get a better idea of what it will be. Hopefully I can increase my distance soon to 6 miles (so far 5.3 miles was the maximum I ran nonstop), I would love to run a 10k this fall. Maybe I will be able to reach this goal until November. Increasing distance hasn't been a problem though so far, and I even noticed that on most runs I increased my pace nicely compared to the past months. :-)
Britta
XTERRA Crystal Cove Trail Run 6k - 52:33.5
Redondo Beach Superbowl Run 10k - 01:05:49
Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay 11/18/2012
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