14 miler 1 week before a half?

[ebeth]

Would you run 14 miles 7 days before a half? I've run up to 12 the week before and it was fine. Wondering what people think about 14?

Given:
Running about 40 mpw
Half is 7 weeks out of an 18 week marathon training cycle
Want to PR at the half rather than train through

[lb2006]

I'm in week 15 (i think?) of marathon training and ran a half last saturday.

The week prior i ran 20 miles(7 days before the half) as a training run and PR'd the half by 5 minutes.

I say go for it

My best half times are during marathon training.

[Wines Not Whines]

I've run halfs during marathon training, but they were always part of my training and I didn't focus on PRs for those races. If I wanted my best chance to PR in a half, I'd run a shorter distance the week before, probably around 10 miles, and taper the entire week prior to the half. That doesn't necessarily work with marathon training though.

Are you running a spring full?

[gt7301b]

I ran 20 the week before my last half and PRed by 3 minutes, so I don't think it was a horrible idea.

If I really wanted to focus on the half as one of my A races I'd probably dial it back to 10/12 the week before or do the 14 miler a little earlier in the previous week (hard if you are talking about a spring marathon).

[lb2006]

As another example - a few years ago i ran the OBX half during the step back week of my two 20s, and it was my fastest half (until this past weekend). I feel like the bulk of marathon mileage helps for half marathon races. At least for me it it does.

[ebeth]

Wines Not Whines I'm a maybe on the spring full. I will make no decisions until after New Year's Day. That said, I have registered for the spring MTP with DCRR and my pace group is doing the hard sell on the RnR full. The jacket came up on our run this Saturday and I do want redemption after MCM.

This is for Kiawah. I want to PR, want to get a 14 in, but I've taken it really easy the last two weeks. I ran 10 last Saturday. I'm debating between 10/10/12/14/race, 10/12/14/10/race, 10/10/12/10-12//race

[cinco]

I've always run half marathons during marathon training so I don't see 14 the week before as a problem.

I did my longest run for my upcoming half 2 weeks out (15), did 11 (horrible, awful miles) today, and won't be doing any more double digits until my half in 11 days. I can let you know if actually tapering for a half will help on 11/29. I'm hoping to find the pep in my legs again with a little taper.

[taratru]

I ran 20 the week before W&D and pr'd the half. However, I did end up cutting one of my runs (a 7 miler) during the week before the half, so I was a bit fresher than I would have been. When it's part of a cycle like that, I think the effects are pretty minimal.

[arch01]

I'd do it.

[clseale]

I don't think it's a huge deal, but if the options you suggested, I's definitely do 10,12,14,10. You COULD do 14 the week before, but if you have time to do it 2 weeks out, I'd do it that way.

ETA: I have also PR'd after a 20-miler, but could I have had a bigger PR if I hadn't run it the week before? Maybe. LOL There's no way to know.

[runaways]

I think I did 16 or 17 the week before my last huge half PR, so yes.