HM in 4 days, do I do a little run or not??

[Hedgehogs123]

Hi all,I have my first HM race on Sunday, and have a question for you more experienced HM and FM runners.

So on sunday, I did 16 miles trail and hill training for another challenge in May. Still feeling a bit tired in my legs plus I have arthritis in both balls of my feet and they have been playing up a little. So what exercise would you recommend I do before the race on Sunday?

Last night I did some yoga and stretch to help my legs and this morning I've done a 2 mile dog walk. Should I do a steady easy run today or Tomm or not??

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I'd say you've done enough running! One more easy run won't add anything other than keeping your legs moving. If it was me I would focus on gentle stretches - yoga or pilates. If by Friday your legs feel good and you'refewling twitchy, maybe a very easy 3k trot - but it really, really isn't necessary. You've done all the hard work. Now it's time to ease right back and then make the most of Sunday 😊

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you Linda, much appreciated .🙏. With it being my first one, I just wasn't sure what I should do.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Fresh legs are worth their weight in gold! But do keep moving ankles, knees, hips - don't stiffen up 😊

[Freecloud Marathon]

I've ran 4 half marathons so far this year. If it was me I'd still be following my plan and would be doing a 45 minutes very easy run today and another 20 minute the day before.

These would be very slow and low heart rate and are run to help your body with the acids and technical stuff.

I know you mentioned arthritis but you still have a run on Sunday. I don't want to be treading on anyons toes, but if it was me I'd be doing something even if it was 20 minutes and then 10.

Best of luck on Sunday have fun take the start easy and enjoy the experience. Running in a pack is very different from running on your own. I started at the very back on Mondays HM and concentrated on keeping it nice and easy. I was still running at a place faster than I would have liked but I would have been much faster if I was towards the front trying to hear what the race director was saying at the start.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Freecloud]

Thank you. I may just do a little run Tomm.😄

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Of course it's entirely up to you and it should only be a very very slow workout, nowhere near the actual run pace itself. Don't give yourself any expectations on the day and don't be afraid to walk if you have to. The only person your doing this for is yourself.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Freecloud]

Thank you, great advice and you're right. A few people are predicting what they think I will do it in, and I don't want that pressure, I just want do it and enjoy it.

[Bladerunner2049 Marathon]

Good morning 😀 wow your first half marathon, how exciting. You’ve probably done enough not to make much difference in your overall performance.

Turning up fresh and rested to the start line is a great start to your HM. I personally feel the benefit of an easy 20min run the day before, nothing strenuous. It helps me not feel so leggy on race day.

Remember there’s always more events and this won’t be your last HM. Plenty of opportunities to ‘test’ things out.

Good luck!

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Bladerunner2049]

Thank you, I'm excited and nervous all at the same time,but really looking to it!!

[Cmoi Marathon]

Based on the immense wisdom I've acquired from my vast experience of training for precisely one event, which I absolutely refused to race, I'd say you don't need to run before your HM.

My personal reasoning was that I didn't want to injure myself in a pointless run and put myself out of the event towards which I'd been working so hard for five months. I'd have been devastated, as it wasn't just another race to me.

(I did actually run in another event while I was training for the trail marathon. The idea was to be less terrified on the day of the real thing, and to practise on challenging, properly hilly terrain. It provided invaluable for that.)

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

I was a bit concerned on Sunday when we did the trail and hill training, I thought just my luck to get injured, but luckily, I was absolutely fine. Looking to Sunday (been visualising how I think I will feel when I finish!!) 🙏🙏

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

For what it's worth (with your HM being yesterday), I like to run a gentle ParkRun the day before running a marathon.

Do, how did you get on on your first HM?

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

hiya, Im going to do my race report shortly, but.......I got a sub 2hr on my first one, 1.59.05, I was so chuffed and absolutely loved it!!! Can't imagine doing double that distance though, so total respect to you for your marathon. 👏