OS Final Run Test Selection

[Deleted User]

Well I've picked a local half marathon for post OS but given I'm in NJ the pickings were slim for a Feb race so it's not until March 8th.
http://celebratelifehalfmarathon.com

So wondering how you'd reco applying this to the end of the OS for testing purposes?
I.e. should I still look to roll my own 10km or HM individually closer to 2/1? I ran 13.1 this Sunday so could repeat that if necessary.

Thanks in advance

judson

@ David - Likewise, I am limited by snow, daylight, and extreme cold. I just registered for the Arizona Desert Half in Tucson on March 22 during my Spring Break. I still can't believe my wife is letting me go! My final OS test will likely be on the treadmill. Sorry, no advice, but I am looking forward to what others have done.

John Henault

I am suffering from the same problem. My plan is to run my own run (likely 13.1) at the end of the OS, then do the Rock-n-Roll Half in DC mid-March.

Brad Marcus

Always am issue for us who live in the cold climates. Worse is that I've gone out to test or race and ice and snow on the roads will not give you an accurate reading since it slows us down. No real good answer unless like Judson, you can take it on the road!

drjohnson08

I’m in the same boat too!  Rochester, NY in February is not a fun time to be running outside.  I think it depends on what your situation is.  If you’re going into a long course plan after OS it’s probably more beneficial to get that longer test/race in.  In my case I’m doing the swim camp and then get faster plan.  I’m not going to pummel myself doing a half marathon on the treadmill.  What I plan on doing is the same 5k test and using that for the next several weeks of training.  There is a local 15k on a hilly course at the end of March that I will run.  I’ve done it several times so I can measure this year’s fitness against previous years.  In the past this race has set my training zones up for the summer really nicely.  Good luck with your tests!

[Deleted User]

Thanks gang. I'm going into Swim Camp, followed up back end of HIM plan leading to IM FL 70.3 April 12th.

So what I'll probably do is ...

End up rolling my own 10km test existing the OS, and based on this plus most recent 5km plus 13.1 last week, decide if I need to up my training zones or not.
Then 5 weeks later use the half mary as a run fitness check in, and plan FL70.3 race paces with that info in hand.

Always great to get some perspective to bounce these ideas around!
Thanks

zwuba

David - here in Austria it's almost impossible to find any race that early in the year ... most of the time the first races are popping up at beginning of April. Normally it's also pretty cold with snow around that time when we finish NOS.
I'm lucky to have a pretty good running-course that's normally not snow-covered and pretty flat right beside the river here where I can run almost any distance up to 40k if I would like to.
Last year I decided to do the mother of all LT-tests - a simply an plain 1 hour Give-it-all run and see how fast I can go there and I think I will do the same this year (or maybe run for 45-50' all-out so my legs are not completely trashed for 3 days).

For me running a 5k on the EN-plan will not show me any improvement as the training itself does not target on getting faster at that short distance especially if you are already on a descent high running-level. So the minimum test distance for me would be 10k.

Bill Manard

I got fortunate that there's a 9 mile trail/tarmac race right on Sunday #14 here in the chilly (not cold) climes of St. Louis. A little more than a 10K, less than a 13.1, but should give a chance to test out the new speed.

Scott Giljum

@Bill, are you doing the nippy Niner? I am signed up for that as well! I can tell you it has been cold in the past since it is right off the river. The trail parts make it not as easy to translate for a straight test, but it has worked well enough for me the past couple of years. If you are doing that race, see you there!

RachelB84

I'm very fortunate to have a lot of race options pretty much all year, at all distances. England seems to like running!
I found a 10k that was of interest to me that suit the schedule, but I'm not sure I'll see epic 10k times as the course is supposed to be a bit hilly. Hope it goes ok, but if not, I have a half marathon on 1 March.

Bill Manard

@Scott - Yes! I figured the trail sections would make it not as accurate as it could be, but, as you know, finding anything more than 5K around here this time of year is a challenge. I'd even considered leaving town to find a race, but I have an upcoming vacation in March that makes any other absence from the office more problematic right now. I also start the GF training plan after OS, so I'll probably look for something in week 8 of that as well; that means this won't be my final test before race prep.

kimmydct

FYI. San Diego 5k in early March is downhill so that will yield a nice PR.

Tony Puckett

Makes me feel better to see others waiting a few weeks for their run test.
I picked the half marathon at the Cowtown in Ft. Worth on March 1.
Closest and soonest half I could find.

bob hiller

Final Run Test in the books.  10K on A1A in Pompano Beach, FL.  Visiting dear ol' Mom.  50:10 (8:05/mi).  [slight improvement over T-day 10K of 51:06]   HR avg 143.  vDOT 39.  63 y/o, 5'10" 175. Now onto Hawaii 70.3 on May 30th!!