{"id":1497,"date":"2009-07-22T09:49:50","date_gmt":"2009-07-22T14:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/?p=1497"},"modified":"2009-07-22T09:49:50","modified_gmt":"2009-07-22T14:49:50","slug":"guest-post-tune-up-races","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2009\/guest-post-tune-up-races\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: Tune-up Races"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coach Mike Nawrocki with MDRA’s 2009 Fall Marathon Training Class<\/a> had some good words to say about tune-up racing for the marathon.<\/em><\/p>\n

You may be asking, what is a tune-up race? \u00a0It is a race you run between now and Labor Day weekend to simulate the race day environment of a marathon. \u00a0I recommend some of the bigger races with fast fields, because that will be closest to what you will experience when the marathon comes around.<\/p>\n

Why do a tune-up race?
\na. Fourteen weeks is a long time to train without racing. \u00a0A tune-up race helps break your training up into smaller pieces, so this training process won\u2019t feel like such a grind.<\/p>\n

b. Practice race day logistics. \u00a0Take it from a savvy veteran like me, who famously (infamously?) ran the first mile and a half of the 2006 TC10 with a safety pin in my sock: race day logistics matter. \u00a0I lost over a minute fishing that **&%$# safety pin out of my sock and am still bitter every time I see a safety pin (unfortunate, because they are used at every race, making me one bitter guy). \u00a0A tune-up race allows you to practice your eating, bathroom, drinking, and gear preparation routine.<\/div>\n
c. Practice pacing and running your own race. \u00a0Savvy veterans and eager rookies alike need to practice race-day pacing. \u00a0Running a tune-up race is a low-stakes way to find out if you are prone to being unwittingly sucked out to a faster start than you intend. \u00a0Better to find this out now than at mile two of the Twin Cities Marathon.<\/div>\n
d. Help determine your marathon pace vs. Practice your marathon pace. \u00a0Don\u2019t know what your marathon pace should be? \u00a0Race a ten miler, 15k, or half-marathon. \u00a0Consult me or Marty afterwards and we can put the race in the context of your training to help you come up with a goal pace for October 4. \u00a0Already know your goal pace? \u00a0Go run a half-marathon at that pace. \u00a0See if you can hold it without getting sucked into the dynamic of racing harder.<\/p>\n

Buyer Beware
\na. Tune-up races may not be for everyone. \u00a0If you are recovering from, nursing, or managing an injury, a race could very well be too risky in terms of aggravating this injury. \u00a0Remember everyone\u2019s second goal for this class: get to the starting line healthy.<\/p><\/div>\n

b. Racing is essentially a hard workout. \u00a0You should contact me or Marty for guidance on how to train the week before and after any tune-up race.<\/div>\n

c. No races after Labor Day. \u00a0It breaks my heart to not recommend the MDRA City of Lakes 25k<\/a> to everyone, because I serve on the MDRA board and have MDRA pride. \u00a0But it\u2019s just a tad too close to the marathon. \u00a0Talk to Marty or me if you are interested in the City of Lakes race and we can decide together if it is a good idea. \u00a0If your competitive streak is such that you are prone to racing hard no matter what, City of Lakes or any post-Labor Day race is just too close to the target marathon, as you may put wear and tear on your legs without enough time to fully recover.<\/p>\n

Thanks Mike! <\/em><\/p>\n

\"Reblog<\/a>