Is it a good idea to race a long-ish road race two weeks in a row?
Last weekend, Tyler Jermann raced his second hilly half marathon in the state of Texas in as many weeks. On the heels of his 1:05:16 second place finish at the Austin Half, he ran 1:05:26 at the Cowtown Half Marathon, placing 15th in the USATF Half Marathon Championships.
Tyler took a fairly conservative approach to pacing, letting the lead pack go and running his own race. He was able to run a very steady, consistent pace over the rolling hills of the course, but was somewhat isolated and on his own throughout much of the race. Nonetheless, he comes away with a couple of very solid efforts under his belt, which he hopes to use as a springboard for the next couple of months of racing.
Is it a good idea to race a long-ish road race two weeks in a row? Well, people do it with some frequency (last week’s first and second place men from the half marathon champs will be back to race the 15k this weekend, for example), and sometimes successfully. However, it’s certainly not for everyone, and does carry a certain amount of risk. For some context, Tyler is our team’s highest mileage athlete, and one who has proven himself durable to higher volume work.
Given the unconventional nature of this back-to-back half marathon double, I thought I would use this opportunity to discuss race selection. What factors should factor into choosing your races? Whether you are a recreational runner or an elite athlete, many of the same variables come into play. Here’s a brief list of considerations:
Excitement for the race
To my mind, this always has to be at the forefront. When you think of the race, does it get you feeling amped up and excited to be there? Will it get you out the door to train on those days when inspiration is running low? Runners are going to be inspired to train and compete to the best of their abilities if they are preparing for an event that they are genuinely excited about. Find that upcoming race that gets your heart rate up just thinking about it!
Fit with long-term goals
Many of us have big dreams and goals out there that may be a few steps away from where we are currently. Picking races that provide a stepping-stone toward those big goals can bring them closer to being within your reach.
Timing
There are all sorts of events that one may wish to do, but it’s not always the right time to train and prepare for that particular event. Doing an honest evaluation of the time and energy demands of training for a race, and of the demands of other plans, racing or otherwise, is an important step. For example, if you both want to train for your first marathon and chase that PR in the mile from several years ago, you would likely be wise to do those one at a time, rather than trying to do it all at once. Likewise when considering work, family and other priorities and goals in life, and balancing those with your racing plans.
Gather external advice/feedback
Find a coach or trusted individual who can talk you through your plans, and make sure you are setting a wise course that serves you well. It can be easy to convince yourself that the things you want to do are a good idea, but having to share and explain your thinking with an objective person can help you to avoid mistakes or mismatches between your choices and your ultimate goals.
Finally, enjoy the process of plotting out your upcoming races – it’s a great chance to reflect on your running goals and the way they fit into the contours of your life.
Chris Lundstrom is the head coach of Minnesota Distance Elite – formerly Team USA Minnesota – which includes some of the top distance runners in the USA, including Annie Frisbie, Dakotah Lindwurm and Joel Reichow.
