First things first, I must address you crazies who love Bit-O-Honeys. There is a support group for people like you. It’s located in the comments section of last night’s post.
Workout
Today as I got dressed for the gym and bent over to put on my socks, my hamstrings still felt sore from Monday’s leg workout. (Those 100 squats are legit!)
I decided to flip flop my scheduled leg workout with the five mile run I had planned for tomorrow and trucked along on the treadmill for just under 46 minutes.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of nervous for Saturday’s long run. It will be the first time I’ve run a double-digit distance in more than a year.
Runners, I’d love your take on the upcoming long distance runs I have on my half marathon training plan…
For the previous two half marathons I’ve completed, the longest I ran before race day was 10 miles and I felt fine. Well, I have 10 miles on the schedule for Saturday but after that I still have four more long runs on the agenda before the Savannah Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon on November 5.
Ryan and I are thinking of running 11 and 12 miles for the following two weeks and then dropping it back down to 10 for the final two. Thoughts? I don’t want to do the full 13.1 miles before race day because I love saving the full distance for the big day and I don’t really care about my time at all.
Breakfast
Breakfast = Banana bread protein pancakes
Whenever I make these pancakes I always think of the song “Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson. Such a fun song to listen to in the morning. His voice is so pretty.
Time to get to work.
Today is a very special day in our house and I want to have a completely FREE evening to enjoy it!
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I had an extra week when I did my training. I went up to 12 miles and then dropped back down to 10 miles! I crossed the finish line, so that’s proof it worked! 🙂
I got married a couple weeks ago and plated “Banana Pancakes” while we cut our wedding cake! LOL
Congratulations Briana!
congrats!!! such a cute cake cutting song. what kind of cake did you have for your wedding cake?
That is so sweet! It’s such a loving and cute song!
I also think of it about pancakes all the time!
1) Happy birthday to Ryan
2) I’m glad you’re on board with the new ‘holiday’ I initiated as of this morning: PANCAKE WEDNESDAY
3) I’m no expert but I actually think after the 11 and 12 milers, I would drop down to 8 miles for the final 2 runs as a means of tapering…interested to read what others suggest!
Happy Birthday, Ryan!!
For my first half last year my plan was to run 12 as my longest 2 weeks before the race and 6 the week before but I ended up sick on the 12 weekend so I flip flopped them and did fine. This time around for my race on Nov. 20th I’m planning it the same way, hopefully no colds kick in and screw things up. So, I think you will be fine doing 11,12,10. In fact, you could probably even drop your 10 down more. That’s what a taper is all about 🙂
I wish I knew anything about long runs, but I don’t. However, I do know Halloween candy and the globs of goo are downright awful! 🙂
I’m running a half in November and my training plan has me going up to 12, but then dropping the long run down to only 6 the week before the race. I’m hoping the shorter distance and subsequent rest will make me speedy on race day!
I like doing a test run of the full 13, but that’s also because I’m training for my 3rd and 4th half and now I really am going for PRs since I know the distance isn’t a problem. If you’re not concerned with time I don’t think its necessary, especially if you’re planning on doing 12. I’d drop back down to 10 or even 8 depending how comfortable you feel.
I think it’s smart to do 11 and 12 miles so that you are prepared for the distance. The reason that marathon runners don’t usually go very close to the race distance in training is that, for most people, any distance longer than that breaks you down so much that you’re unlikely to recover in time for the race. 11-12 miles, however, won’t be as taxing, assuming you’ve built up to it.
For my first half I went up to 12 miles about 3 weeks before the race. Then I dropped down to 10 and then 8 or 7. I wouldn’t do 11,12,10,10..I would probably do 11,12,10,8 or something like that..cut back more before the race to keep your legs fresh.
I was going to say the same thing. Doing 10 as your long run the weekend before your race doesn’t seem like much of a taper…
Its really important to taper properly for endurance events – I am not an expert, so I can’t tell you exactly what to do for your race, but you may want to look into a better taper schedule for your last 2 weeks of training…
Either way, you are going to do GREAT!
I agree. Doing that many long runs in a row before the race would probably do more harm than good.
I’ve only just gotten back in to running as opposed to walking in the evenings after work and my legs don’t know what’s hit them! Happy Birthday to Ryan! 🙂
When I train for races, half’s included, I always build up each week starting at 8 miles, adding 1 or 2 miles each week until I am at 11/12 miles and then drop back down and build up again, but always with the twice or three times a week doing a 5 miler. It’s always worked for me and helps me know how to fuel myself during long runs.
Happy birthday, Ryan! Hope you have a great birthday!
I love, love love love, Jack Johnson. Fave of all time. His voice makes me melt. I saw him in concert last year and when he came out for his encore he dedicated all three of his encore songs to his wife, as they were originally written for her. I was dying. DYING. So romantic. Ahh, I love JJ.
that is so sweet!
dear ryan, please write me romantic songs. love, julie
YAH! Happy Birthday to RYAN!!
I’d say for the running thing that if you don’t care about your race time really, then I would drop down to the 10 and 10 for the last 2 weeks…..but that is what I would say/do if I were in your shoes.
your b-fast looks YUMM!
Hahaha that picture of Sadie and the caption literally made me LOL. 🙂
I can only tell you what my plan does. It does one week high, then drops down, then one week high, then drops down. Now, I missed a long run due to the 5k so I am doing 2 weeks high (meaning long) and then dropping down for a recovery week. So I will do 10 this week, 12 next and then back off. Then it goes up to 14 and drops back down. My half is 11/13.
Happy Birthday Ryan!
The Kidless Kronicles
I recently ran the Philly Rock N Roll half and honestly I only ran 10 miles once and besides that nothing over 6 miles. I didn’t exactly have a training plan, I just ran when I could. For as much as you workout, you’ll definitely be fine either way, especially if you don’t care about time. I’m sure you’ll get well under my 2h14m.
You probably know this, but if you can run 10, you can definitely run all 13.1! Don’t worry at all about tomorrow, you will be just fine..and worse case scenario, you walk a bit. Not bad at all!
The longest I ran before my first half was 11 miles. After that I scaled way back and only ran 6 or 7 miles the week leading up, and I’m so glad I did. I think if I personally would’ve pushed 11, I may have been worn out for the race. But everyone’s different. I’m sure if you ran 12 you’d be very well prepared the race!
Enjoy your run tomorrow!
i think you’re completely right. i like the idea of dropping back mileage before the race.
Looks like a delicious b-fast!!
As for training, my suggestion is to do 7-8 miles the week before, 11-12 mile 2 weeks before. The resting certainly pays off and having fresh legs on race day is better than trudging through it!
Have fun with your 10 miler this weekend, you’ll do great!
i like that idea a lot. i’m thinking 10 this weekend, then 11, 12, 10 and 6-8.
that’s plenty….and really the weekend before i wouldn’t do a “long” run more than 6 or 7…as everyone said…taper. i’m hitting 12 this weekend and i’m a month out from my half…but i just felt like getting my mileage up early…but i only run long every other weekend or only 2 out of 3. i’ve found that what really tells if you will be fine is your total weekly mileage. if it’s consistent and more than your race distance by a little, then no problems. i’ve done 2 marathons that way. my weekly distance was 25-30 miles but no runs over 12 miles. and the actual marathons didn’t kill me and i felt great doing them.
I have no advice about your long since I’ve never ran more that 3 miles, but I wanted to with Ryan a Happy Birthday!
today is Ryan’s birthday right? Happy Birthday!!
yep! 28!
You’re nervous for a long run? You will definitely be just fine, at least you have Sadie and Ryan to keep you company….those 10 miles will fly by and I’m sure you will feel great afterwards!
I always ran a max of 10 miles for half-marathons but having gone up to 11 or 12 would have been beneficial 🙂 Since you have 4 weeks, I say go ahead but always listen to your body to make sure you are ready for it that day 🙂
Happy Birthday to Ryan!!
I always run at least one 12 miler before my half marathon, usually about 3 weeks out OR I run a slower long run and run for my goal time, so it isn’t the full distance but my legs and mind learn the time they will be moving/running for. I use the second trick for full marathon training since there is no way I would run that distance before the race!
Before my first half, I ran 12 miles two weeks before the race, and then I tapered down the last two weeks. It worked well for me!
Oh, and happy birthday to Ryan!
I think that is my favorite captioned picture of Sadie you have ever posted. I snorted in my coffee a little bit.
Haha – EVERY TIME I have banana pancakes that song gets stuck in my head! I’m glad I’m not alone there 🙂 They look amazing!
Before my 1st half, I had never run over 11 miles — and still went on to run an excellent race. As you’ve run a 1/2 before, I’d say you’re probably fine to scale it back the two weeks prior to race day – 9 or so?
I would run the 11 and then the 12. It will help a lot with soreness and fatigue after the run. You will recover much quicker 🙂
i like reading these ideas about your long runs because i’m about to start training for my half – the disney princess! – it will be my longest race since i’ve only ever done a 5k! do you have your training plan somewhere?
yes! https://www.pbfingers.com/2010/06/17/my-half-marathon-training-plan/
Happy Birthday to Ryan! 🙂
I love Jack Johnson. I saw him in concert a few years ago and he was amazing. His voice sounds even better in person than it does on his cd. I love that banana pancakes song.
I think that sounds like a good running plan – I don’t really see much point in running the full distance if you know that your body is capable of doing 11 or 12 – save it for race day! And in the weeks approaching the race, you’ll want to start your taper anyway, so I think knocking it down to 10 miles sounds fine.
Happy birthday to Ryan!
I just ran my first half on Sunday. I ran 9, 10, 11, and 12 miles the four weekends before the half…with 12 the week before. I found that no run was more difficult the the one before. I would mentally prepare for the said distance and would be fine…but could not imagine running a tenth of a mile longer then I had mentally prepared for. I loved the half so much that inspir of the moment signed up for another…that is in 10 days
Happy Birthday to Ryan 😀
Loved Sadie’s comment this morning- hilarious!!! & I agree about those bit o honey’s- nasty!
Happy birthday to Ryan – enjoy the night!
Long runs are so much fun to plan (is that weird?) I’m no expert, but I think your plan sounds good as far as tapering before the race. As long as you’re confident in your ability to hammer it out on race day, it seems fine!
Happy Birthday Ryan!!!
I just did RnR Philly and my two friends who are Endurance gurus wrote my plan.
Id suggest giving yourself a bigger taper. Theres no need to hit 10+ that many times. Maybe do 10, 11 (or 12), then 8 then 5-6.
Happy Birthday Ryan!!!!
Oh and I saw your last post, I used to not like getting popcorn balls, did u ever get those?! So yuck, lol!
i actually like those 🙂
I like them when they are covered in chocolate, but plain nope!
Happy Birthday to Ryan! And I have zero advice on the running front for you, I’m currently training for a 10 miler and I ran 7 yesterday, my longest ever! I think it’s worth giving 11 or 12 a try, my running schedule has me getting up to 9 before the race, but not 10.
Julie you definitely don’t need to do a full 13. Somewhere between 11 and 12 for your longest run should be just fine. I agree with Megs (above) in that you should give yourself a good taper-it’s well deserved and you’ll need the extra rest!
I just recently ran my first half marathon, and planned on only running 11 miles before the race but then actually got a little carried away in my last long run and actually ran 13 miles! Running the 11 and then the 12 miles the next two weekends sounds like a great way to be prepared 🙂 They say that if you can run 8 miles you can run a half marathon (sounds crazy to me!) How did you get Ryan to run it with you? I was able to get my fiance to run a 6 mile race this summer with me, but he said that is where he draws the line but I would LOVE for him to complete a half with me sometime!! How did you bribe him?? 😉
I like to do a full 13 (or 14) before the race because I have done several races now and like to get my body used to doing the longer runs so I can focus on going a little faster. Towards the end of my training I tend to alternate the really long runs (10+ miles) with a medium run (6-7) so I am only doing those really long runs every other week and my body can have more time to recover. If it was me and had 4 weeks left, I would do 11, 6, 12 or 12.5, 6. That last week is whatever you feel comfortable with doing 1 week before the race, 6 is what I usually do to keep the legs moving.
Good luck whatever you do!!
I’m doing two eleven milers and two twelve milers because I know the mental challenge jumping from 10 to 13.1 would be too tough. If you feel too sore and really don’t feel up to 10 yet this week, you could still do one eleven or one twelve and be good though too I think. 🙂
Happy Birthday to Ryan!! I hope you both have a super special day!
And those pancakes look delicious!
Omg, “Banana Pancakes” came on Pandora while I was making those pancakes this weekend — I’d never heard it before and thought it was a perfect pancake-making song. : ) I also play “Send Me On My Way” by Rusted Root because that’s the song that plays in the movie Matilda when she is making pancakes.
Guess you gotta have a soundtrack in order to make those babies right.
I agree with the banana pancakes song! I sing it in my head every time I make banana pancakes!
I think your plan with the long runs sounds good! I’ve done several half marathons and most I’ve done up to 12 (even 13) miles. If you don’t want to do the full 13, I think tapering back dow to 10 is a good idea.
Haaapppy birthday toooo Ryan, God of the “seatbelt shoulder exercise” I love so much.
I’d definitely recommend not going to 13 miles before the race. For my very first half, I went up to 12 once, and that’s it.
AND you’re a baller for still working your legs so hard while training! I’ve had to completely cut out the lower body training for the marathon… my legs just can’t do both.
Your plan is a good one – go up to 11 and 12, then drop down. Maybe even taper down to 8 for your last long run. It takes 2 full weeks to lose cardiovascular ability, so you’ll be good to go!
seatbelt shoulder exercise. haha! i’m telling him that one when he gets home today.
I would definitely recommend doing your 10 this weekend, plus your 11 and 12 the following weekends. After that, I would then scale back down with a 10 mile run, and taper off with a 7.5-8 mile run the week before. I did that before one of my halfs back in August and I felt great race day!