Should I race if I’ve not trained properly?
It’s ok, ask any runner and they’ve been there. Training hasn’t quite gone to plan and race day is looming. At some point or other you might ask yourself if you should skip the race and either defer entry to the next year (if that’s possible) or just give it a miss altogether.
Whilst good training in the weeks and months leading up to a race is of course preferable, it’s not always going to work that way. Unless the race is a distance you’ve never covered before or you’re injured, I’d generally say to go for it.
Don’t try and cram in last minute runs.
In the final week just take it easy. Don’t be tempted to try and gain a little extra fitness by squeezing in any long or particularly arduous training sessions, it’ll make things worse on race day.
Do 2 very gentle runs in the final 7 days, rest and stay mobile.
Run freely.
Don’t set yourself a time or placing target. Make completing the race your sole aim and you won’t be disappointed. I know from experience how crushing it can be. In 2017 I ran the Norwich half Marathon off the back of a few niggles which relented 1 week before the race, meaning preparation hadn’t been ideal to say the least. I still aimed at sub 1:30:00 regardless and as soon as I realised I’d reached mile 4 behind the time needed, the remaining 9 miles were torture.
You can absolutely still race, and put any frustration you have into knowing how good your next race will feel. This time just take it easy and enjoy the atmosphere.
Written by Kyle Brooks, Running Coach based in Norwich, Norfolk
