Racing too much?

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girlygirlrnr

28 posts since
Dec 20, 2005

Jun 5, 2006 6:48 PM

Racing too much?

I love to race. I love all distances. However, i've decided to keep the marathoning low and focus on what I can do for shorter races. This month I've been racing a 5k almost every week. I replace the race with one of my intense workout sessions. I will be really focused on training for a 15k for the fall. Is doing a race every week or every other week too much on anyone's opinion? Does it cause one to peak to soon?

TD Runner

298 posts since
Oct 25, 2001

1. Jun 5, 2006 6:59 PM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

If you don't treat them as goal races and you train through them you'll be fine.

maryt091

806 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

2. Jun 6, 2006 6:00 AM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

The combination of racing often and racing short may be a problem. I have found in the past that I have lost conditioning and/or practice for the longer distances by racing too many short races. Make sure you don't neglect your longer runs. The temptation to substitute a really fun shorter race for a longer run is hard to resist. Do you have any 5 mile or 10K races that can keep you in better racing shape for your goal 15K?

TD Runner

298 posts since
Oct 25, 2001

3. Dec 20, 2007 9:48 PM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

The 15K is in the fall! Some early summer 5Ks aren't going to affect it unless she is completely tapering for them.

Number one goal is to have fun! I know that sounds cliched. But you can do sheety long run after sheety long run and it won't do you any good if you quit 2 months before your race cuz you hate running!

girlygirl - if you're having fun, keep doing what you're doing!

http://This message has been edited by TD Runner (edited Jun-06-2006).

girlygirlrnr

28 posts since
Dec 20, 2005

4. Jun 6, 2006 8:06 AM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

Thanks TD. I appreciate all the advice everyone gives me.
I just love racing. I think it's because I'm just too competitve even though I am slow. I ran a 1:05.30 in the 15k last year. This year I hope to PR and get an even 1:05 but am wondering what I need to do in my training to get me there.

WI MTP

461 posts since
Jan 7, 2006

5. Jun 6, 2006 10:21 AM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

Sounds like lots of LAT work with some nice long runs each week. 15K is right around your LAT pace - Pace that you could hold for 1 hour during a race. 15K goal pace 1:04 = 6:53 to 1:05 = 6:58

LAT = right around 7:00 - Once a week (Tuesday or Wednesday)

* You can do 1 straight run of 3-4 miles at this pace
* You could do 4-6x1 Mile at this pace with 2 minutes easy jog between
* You could do 2 x 5K at this pace with 5 minutes east jog between
* You could do 4 miles w/ 4 minutes easy jog then 3 miles with 3 minutes easy jog and then 2 miles at this pace - THis would be a killer work out.
* If it is the week of a key race - Do 3x1 mile at LAT with 4 minutes rest on Tuesday and then take it easy until race.

Run 5K race on Saturday or do a Vo2 workout and then follow up with long run on Sunday -

Striders - Striders - At the end of eany easy day of running - Add 4-6 50-100 meter striders @ 1-2 mile race pace.

Have fun - I am sure others have better workouts for you - just things I would do to build to a 15K while racing 5Ks

girlygirlrnr

28 posts since
Dec 20, 2005

6. Jun 6, 2006 12:29 PM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

those workout ideas sound awesome and not too far from what i did last year.
last year I did alot of 1 mile LAT's with 2 min rec and sometimes I'd do 1.5 mil LAT's. I did these at 7:00 min pace.
I will try and maybe get some of the miles down to 6:55's? maybe that would work too.
So, should i start these workouts now and keep up until the 15k which is in November?

WI MTP

461 posts since
Jan 7, 2006

7. Jun 6, 2006 12:53 PM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

Other than 2-4 weeks post marathon or maybe an occasional week (A couple times a year) just to take it easy - I do some sort of LAT training year round. I try to do at minimum a 3-4 mile tempo run at LAT or 5x1 mile every week. Something like 4M-3M-2M you would have to work up to.

reagiesmom

61 posts since
Jan 10, 2006

8. Jun 6, 2006 9:33 PM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

I love to race too. I never taper for 5k's though. I also substitute them for speedwork.... like instead of my 400's.

Racing keeps me motivated to keep training through the week.

Most importantly, if you are having fun, why stop.

girlygirlrnr

28 posts since
Dec 20, 2005

9. Jun 6, 2006 9:37 PM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

I am having fun. Right now I am a bit slow because i just started doing track workouts and it is hot!
I have also been replacing 1 hard workout for the week for a race. For the past few years I have trained for marathons and my shorter races have suffered. Now I'm focused on shorter stuff to get faster and maybe when i'm ready for another marathon that speed will help the marathon.

rip van racer

70 posts since
Dec 5, 2004

10. Jun 12, 2006 11:50 PM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

I have run races every week for months at a time. I try to pick a goal race every 4-6 weeks. I also like to mix up the distances and run 4 mile, 5 mile and 10k races. I sometimes skip a week of racing if the race is longer. As you get closer to the 15k, move up to racing a couple 10k's. You may also want to run a 15k to half marathon about 3 weeks before your goal 15k to get used to the distance and help your pacing.

You will find that after about 6-8 weeks of racing, you will peak and not be able to improve much on your 5k time, but you will be able to transition into longer races and run comparable times in those as the year progresses.

My week looked like this:

Sunday-10 miles steady run
Monday-hour stairmaster*
tuesday-3 warmup, tempo, 3 down
wednesday-hour stairmaster am, hour stairmaster pm
Thursday-intervals or easy 45 minutes if tired a.m., hour stairmaster pm
Friday-off
Saturday-5 warmup, race, 3 down am, hour stairmaster pm

*You can substitute easy running or eliptical for stairmaster.

girlygirlrnr

28 posts since
Dec 20, 2005

11. Jun 13, 2006 5:09 AM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

Question about the peaking after 6-8 wks. You said after that time i would peak at the 5k? So, that would not hurt anything leading up to the 15K? I thought once someone peaked it would last a while and then that would affect everything,but this isn't so?

MilebyMile

308 posts since
Aug 15, 2007

12. Jun 13, 2006 5:30 PM

in response to: girlygirlrnr

IMHO Most competitive runners will run races in a competitive way. I really dont buy the idea of running races as training. When I race I am going to give it all I have and I think most people will taper to some degree.
Therefore I feel that racing every week will result in a slower 15K goal race as compared to if you followed a training program specifically and totally focused at your goal race.

Especially if you dont have your mileage base where it could be. Its hard to build a base while racing.

Now having said that if you want to just have fun. Keep racing but if you really want to see what your capable of. Train for your goal race. That is what I am doing and it is hard. I would love to race every weekend but I know down deep that I am not going to be able to run my best time for the goal race if I do.

Jun 5, 2006 6:48 PM

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