20 mile races - good marathon prep or not?

3 watchers

gilly1709 Feb 2012 4:11pm, 24 Feb 2012 3 posts	0 gilly1709 Hi All, I'm having a bit of a quandary as to whether I should enter the Worthing 20 or Cranleigh 21 race in preperation for the London Marathon. It's probably my own personal issue but I'm worried that I'll get on the start line and decide to race it. I guess my question is this - How do some of you treat these races? Worthing 20 is a 4 lap course so I was thinking I could run the first 5 at an LSR pace, the next 5 at marathon pace, next 5 LSR pace then the final 5 at marathon pace. Again, my worry would be with self control, doing the whole thing at MP and losing a bit of freshness in my legs for London. Maybe I should just sack the idea and go for a nice long run on the South Downs!
BigChiefRunningBore Feb 2012 4:14pm, 24 Feb 2012 16,364 posts	0 BigChiefRunningBore Hi gilly seems a sensible plan so long as you are sure you won't get dragged into the whole race
emdee Feb 2012 4:15pm, 24 Feb 2012 1,727 posts	0 emdee I'd switch those sections. If there's the temptation to go off too fast, make the first 5 MP, then LSR, MP, LSR. Or do 10 at MP and then chill out. As for 20 mile races in general, it's a good way to do a LSR, but you also get to practice race prep (kit, gels, whatever). Just don't have your best race there and scupper your marathon!
becca7 Feb 2012 4:17pm, 24 Feb 2012 3,605 posts	0 becca7 Keep your sensible head on, as already said. Some helpful advice on here: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/viewtopic.php?id=49248&page=1
gilly1709 Feb 2012 8:25pm, 24 Feb 2012 4 posts	0 gilly1709 Great, thanks for the advice and link. I knew I'd seen a thread about it somewhere!
Ted Feb 2012 8:30pm, 24 Feb 2012 10,882 posts	0 Ted How far away from VLM are those races Gilly?
Foxy Davy May 2012 10:48am, 5 May 2012 26,881 posts	0 Foxy Davy I see a few folks are moaning about the lack of 20 milers in preparation for Autumn marathons would there be any interest in a 20 miler on August Bank holiday Monday ?
AJH May 2012 11:00am, 5 May 2012 42 posts	0 AJH I would be interested in that Foxy. I'm not looking to run anything long til autumn.
Foxy Davy May 2012 11:02am, 5 May 2012 26,884 posts	0 Foxy Davy someone was discussing the fact that you get ashby,Oakley & Ducch 20's as warm ups for London but there's nothing for Autumn marathons - I will get my website manager on to it
AB May 2012 11:08am, 5 May 2012 54 posts	0 AB I'm just in the process of organising a 18- 20 miler on the first weekend in September in Surrey. Cost will be around £10, but no thrills..ie medals etc. But will give some chocolate out at the end....It will have to have 3 laps I think...