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10K or HM?

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Revbarbarag Oct 2013 9:26pm, 5 Oct 2013 657 posts	Quote Pin Revbarbarag Oh, dilemmas, dilemmas!! My first race, in May this year, was the Trailblazer 10K at Clumber Park. I loved it, and resolved to come back next year, if the dates worked for me. Since then I've done another 10K, and am training for VLM in April. My opportunities to race are limited, since most races are on Sundays, and I kinda have to work. Anyway. the dates for next year's Trailblazers have been announced... and they've added a half marathon!!! What to do? Having (hopefully) completed a marathon in April, I should be good to go for either a 10K or a half at the end of June. It would be my 3rd 10K, but my first HM (this time round).
Velociraptor Oct 2013 9:51pm, 5 Oct 2013 27,531 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor Don't you plan to do at least one half marathon in preparation for VLM?
Velociraptor Oct 2013 9:53pm, 5 Oct 2013 27,532 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor (There's a nice Saturday 10k hereabouts in December ... http://greatlangdaleroadraces.co.uk/christmas-pudding-10k/)
Son of a Pronator Man Oct 2013 10:01pm, 5 Oct 2013 7,399 posts	Quote Pin Son of a Pronator Man Agree with Vr... in that it would be a big step up from a 10k race to marathon. I think a 1/2 marathon race would do your VLM preparation a lot of good
Derby Tup Oct 2013 10:15pm, 5 Oct 2013 7,463 posts	Quote Pin Derby Tup Revbarb, many (probably the majority) of marathon runners will do a half and more than likely a 20 mile race on the way to a marathon. If you check race listings it's not coincidence that there are loads of halves in Feb and March and 20's in March and April
Velociraptor Oct 2013 10:19pm, 5 Oct 2013 27,533 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor Yup, a positive feast of lovely races, some of which are on a Saturday ... rhayaderac.org.uk
Revbarbarag Oct 2013 11:06pm, 5 Oct 2013 658 posts	Quote Pin Revbarbarag I had hoped to do the Shakespeare half in November, but the date got snaffled for an event at one of my churches. Saturday is technically a working day - in that it's not my day off - so I can only race on a Saturday if there isn't something on. Rhayader's a very long way away.... as is Langdale.... I had come to the conclusion that long training runs are going to be where it's at for my marathon prep. Had anyone noticed that my dilemma was about what to do after the marathon, not before
Velociraptor Oct 2013 6:43am, 6 Oct 2013 27,535 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor I had indeed noticed, Rev. And thought, who knows where you'll be at with your running that far ahead?
Revbarbarag Oct 2013 8:43am, 6 Oct 2013 659 posts	Quote Pin Revbarbarag Fair point, VR. I have become accustomed to the fact that this is part of my nature - to plan the crossing of the bridge four bridges ahead of the one I have yet to cross. I can live with it. The reason for thinking about the Trailblazer race now is that there is an early bird discount if you enter before the end of October. I was going to do the 10K, assuming the date was OK (which it is). Then they confused me by adding the HM. SoaPM - can you elaborate on it being a big step to go from a 10K race to a marathon without passing through a half? I'll be doing the training.... and I would do a half, if I could find one on a suitable date in a suitable location. But I can't.
Son of a Pronator Man Oct 2013 8:47pm, 6 Oct 2013 7,403 posts	Quote Pin Son of a Pronator Man In terms of mental preparation, keeping your focus for 26.2 miles is a challenge if you have not done it before and while a 20 miler would be better, there are very dew of them so a half is as god as you are going to get