Some advice needed.....should I run a shorter race mid-training for a new distance?

[SaskAlliecat]

There is a new trail race coming to my home province this summer which is restricted to 100 runners. It looks like there are 3 distances: 12.5k, 25k and 50k. There isn't a lot of information available on it, but I am guessing it is probably 12.5k loops. There is no elevation profile available but it is being run in a recreational area on cross country ski trails. The map of the trails show some areas with hills. It is 2 1/2 hours from home in the middle of July. I'm going to start my training for my 20k trail race (with lots of hills 700 m of elevation change, to be precise) in mid-September mid-May. This race will be at the halfway point of my training. I was thinking of signing up for the 12.5k distance in this new race. Does that sound like a reasonable plan? I'm just finishing up a HM training plan right now that I'm mainly running on the road, but plan to hit the trails early next month and hope to run the trails at least once a week (more often when summer hits, if possible). This is my first time running the 20k distance so that is my main goal but thought another race midway might be fun...and given it is a new race, I wanted to support it. Good idea or should I give it a pass until next year? I recall seeing roseabi had put a 10k race in her HM training plan, so I thought this might be ok, but I'm not 100 percent sure where I'll be in my training at that point because I don't want to mess up my current myAsics plan by trying to enter a new plan until this first one is done.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

There was indeed a 10k race in Abi's plan. Essentially it lowered the mileage for that week but gave a chance to go for speed and to refresh that 'race feeling'. I actuaĺly enjoyed doing it at that point in the plan. Sounds like it would be a shame to miss your one 🙂

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

That's exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks. I'm leaning more and more towards just signing up for it. There are no other local runners from here signed up yet, but you never know. But if not, it'll be good for me to venture out my comfort zone......maybe 😁

[Macmac Marathon]

Sounds good to me. My hm plans have always had a shorter long run every other week or a race at 1/2 distance. Lovely to be on the trails too 😊

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Macmac]

Perfect. That's what I thought. I'm sure I can modify my plan to make it work too, if needed.

I'm really chomping at the bit to get on the trails. We just came back from the lake where I run most my trails and saw they had the road open to access all but one trail. Yippee! Just have to get over my eww factor of the darn ticks that are waking up now and get back out there.

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Seems like a good plan to include the race in between. It should keep you motivated and with something to work towards through your training.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

That was kind of my thought. I've been finding this last little bit of this HM training plan more of a mental game. It may be the time of year for me (super busy and stressful) or the monotony of the road runs (I'm running more neighbourhood loopy runs than creekside pathway runs, it seems). I'm worried the same thing may happen with the trails, although I never found that last year (my runs were 10k or under though). It'll maybe help break it up into 2 sections with a "mini goal" mid way. I may be doing it on my own though, since my trail running partner is scaling back and still working on getting through some knee issues. I've tossed it out to her as a girl's trip (even if she doesn't race), but I'd be willing to venture on my own....I think. I remember after last trail runnng season searching out races and wishing I could do more.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I’d say go for it. Sounds like you are already mostly convinced. Mini goals are great to keep the fire stoked. And it means more trail training which is more interesting than road by far

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Just registered! Yay! Now I just have to finish the training plan I'm currently on and get back on those trails! Yippee! Thanks everyone for the advice. It was exactly what I needed to hear.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Excellent! 😊😊😊

[Hidden]

Oh great. Good idea to put in a mini goal and a race at that. Hope your friend can go and support you at the finish line. Might be fun after all that road running (beep beep !)

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Hopefully, but if not, it is 20 minutes out of a city where we have friends we could go visit, if they were around. Regardless, it is something to look forward to, which is really needed after all this road running (if only I was as fast as the Road Runner 😂)

[Hidden in reply to SaskAlliecat]

You know, roadrunner believed that he could run without his feet touching the ground. As soon as he doubted himself, he fell into the ravine. So as mrrun says below, you can already do 25km. 😉

[mrrun Ultramarathon]

Psychologically it always helps if an important smaller step precedes a larger one. Whenever l wanted to increase my mileage l always tasked myself with an easier but equally confidence boosting job first. Admittedly, race is different to training runs (that l always do) but your brain can easily be tricked when you apply various tactics. Although you probably can already do 25K (it’s less daunting than its numerical sum), going for the 12.5 first is a proper boost.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to mrrun]

It is amazing what a mental game this Running malarkey is. I've been quite regimented in my trail racing to go from 5k, to 10k to 12.5k and now looking at 20k (with another 12.5k before the 20k now 😊). There is a 25k race that is quite a ways away in the mountains of BC that I am looking at for next year if the 20k this year goes ok....but it sold out in 45 minutes and with the time change, it might be tough for me to get into (I'll be at work already)....might have to book the morning off....but that is getting ahead of myself. One goal at a time 😁.....must concentrate on this year....