Marathon training question

[katluvr]

I have a marathon on Feb. 21st. I have my plan all mapped out.
Now here is the question...(w/ a bit of background info)
I have friends doing the ING Miami marathon. That is 3 weekends before mine. These friends are coming down from Wisconsin. I RARELY get to see them. They want us to meet me and my SO to meet them. We live on the west coast of FL (St. Pete). So we would have to make a weekend of it.

I would be doing a 22 mile long run that day.

So I COULD sign up for the marathon and only run 22 miles. Just think of it as a supported long run...and w/ lots of people. But that leaves me 4 miles short. Do I have someone pick me up at mile 22? Then I would have a recored DNF. I don't know if mentally I can see that DNF posted!
I think walking 4 miles after running 22 would not be good either.

So should I just skip the chance to see them?
Run 22 and get picked up and ignore the DNF?
Run 22 and then walk?? 1 hour?? 3 weeks prior to my marathon?

What would you do/suggest?

This is my FIRST marathon. So I don't want to mess things up!

K

[Urlea]

Does this event only host a 26.2?

If they have a 13.1 you could always run that & keep running until you get your 22. That way you could map your own route for the rest of the miles getting you close to the finish where you can meet up w/ friends.

[channlluv]

If you're up to doing 22 miles anyway, is four more miles really that much to add on? This from a non-runner, of course, and runners, please correct me if this is off base, but it seems to me that if your training runs are into the 20-mile arena and you're running that far already that day, and it's a fun event and you'll be with friends and it's a well-supported run, you could do that marathon, too, with ample time to recover before your scheduled marathon.

I'd hate for you to get injured, though, but isn't three weeks plenty of time to recover between long runs? (Keeping in mind I do long rides every weekend now, with short rides in between, so I'm likening the running recovery to cycling recovery.)

It sounds like fun. I'd be sorely tempted to do the Miami marathon, too.

Roxy

[KnottedYet]

I think I'd be tempted to take a slow and easy pace, ignore the finishing time, and run the whole thing.

You get to see your friends, you get to have a cool experience with your friends, and you get a "practice" marathon that wasn't on your radar!

[kacie tri-ing]

If you're up to doing 22 miles anyway, is four more miles really that much to add on? This from a non-runner, of course, and runners, please correct me if this is off base, but it seems to me that if your training runs are into the 20-mile arena and you're running that far already that day, and it's a fun event and you'll be with friends and it's a well-supported run, you could do that marathon, too, with ample time to recover before your scheduled marathon.

I'd hate for you to get injured, though, but isn't three weeks plenty of time to recover between long runs? (Keeping in mind I do long rides every weekend now, with short rides in between, so I'm likening the running recovery to cycling recovery.)

It sounds like fun. I'd be sorely tempted to do the Miami marathon, too.

Roxy

Yes, 4 more miles really is more. You should not be running 26 miles before a marathon 3 weeks ahead when you want to get a good time. Remember that 20-26 is the really tough part. If you were a really experienced runner, maybe. I would not have done it before my first marathon. 26 miles really beats on your body. You could run your 22, then walk (slowly) the last 4. Or, Ulrea's idea is really good too. I think it would be really hard not to finish it once I had started it. Maybe this should be your key race instead.

Then again, every body is different, but for me (and many people) two marathons 3 weeks apart is not a good idea (particularly for that second one).

Tough call, but my coach reminds me that you do have to make sacrifices for the big goals.

Good luck! I look forward to hearing all about it!!!!!

[kacie tri-ing]

Oh! I guess I didn't add my opinion that cycling recovery is nothing like running recovery. Running beats so much more on your body.

I also ended up with an injury this year from putting events too close, so I have strong feelings about running recovery....however, not everyone works the same way. Maybe you should run your first 20 miler and see how it feels

[katluvr]

Thanks for the info...I am still awaiting more "IMO".

I like the idea of 22 "supported" miles. It is the left over 4 miles I am trying to deal with.
What I really should do is take the DNF and have SO pick me up.
4 extra miles is not good, even walking very slowly (probably)

I need to check out route map. Of course the day befor I will need to run. The TP I am doing has a shorter run on Sat. and then LSD run on Sunday.

Of course IF I knew they were doing this marathon I could of picked this one!! Darn bad planning!

K

[channlluv]

Okay, well, there you go. Running does not equal cycling. I like Kacie's suggestion of making this your key race, if you can bump up your training to include those last four miles.

Good luck with your training!

Roxy

[maillotpois]

Could you get a ride to the 4 or 5 mile mark and meet your friends there and complete the rest of the course with them? You're still not doing the whole thing (and maybe you should duck off course before crossing the actual finish line), but you are not stopping before the end. That just seems more fun.

[Wahine]

If you want to do the supported 22 mile run, I would go with the plan of running 22, take the DNF and get your SO to pick you up.

The other possibility that you did not present is throwing your plan out the window for that day. You could skip the 22 all together. I know it's hard to believe but physiologically speaking it's not going to harm you to miss one of your long runs. Mentally though you have to be able to trust that you're body can still do the marathon without that 22 miler. The psychology of that run might be important. Do you have another long run the next weekend and then a taper? Or is that your last long run?