• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fitness Fatale

Fitness Fatale

Conquering Fitness Goals One at a Time

  • About
    • Press
  • Blog
    • Archives
    • Workout Program Options
      • 21 Day Fix Resources
      • P90X Resources
    • PRs & Race Reports
    • Pregnancy
      • Twin Pregnancy
    • Recipes
  • Run the World Coaching Mentorship
  • Join My Next Virtual Bootcamp Group
  • Show Search
Hide Search

The Value of Tune Up Races & Long Beach Marathon Free Race Entry Giveaway

medium-2014_LBMLogo_vF.jpg

A Tune-Up Race is a shorter race (or in some cases, a race of equal distance) leading up to your goal race. According to Runner’s World, no single workout better prepares us for a goal race than a tune-up race. While we can stimulate the physical demands of racing by running hard intervals or a time trail, that simulation is far removed from the experience of toeing the line.

If you’ve ever raced, you know that there is a lot more to a race than simply running hard. Racing before a big race gives you a chance to practice taper (even if it’s just a mini-one), your pre-race routine and nutrition, race fueling, and pacing. Although you might get a ltitle nervous before a time trial or tempo run, race-day nerves can’t be completely simulated. Tune Up Races also give you a chance to see what you’re made of. They can be huge confidence boosters if they give you do well and great learning experiences if you fall short of expectations.

Regina Joyce, former Olympian and current running coach, recommends the following tune -up race timeline for the marathon: “run a 10k early in your preparation, then a half marathon as far out as you can, maybe five to six weeks, and then after the taper, run a 5k one week to 10 days before the marathon”

Without even realizing it until now, I’m taking Regina’s advice. I’ve scheduled a 10k trail tune-up race for September which is 11 weeks from race day, a half marathon 8 weeks out, and a 5k on Thanksgiving Day which is 10 days before the marathon. The 10k and the 5k fall on Saturday and Thursday, respectively, which means that I can still get in my long run for the weekend. The half marathon will simply be a cut-back week with a very short taper.

The advice I took to heart most from the Runner’s World article is that you should NOT train harder or longer if your tune-up race is dissappointing. If anything, it probably means you needed to rest and recover more. You can take lessons from the race from nutrition or pacing mistakes and work on them, but adding more mileage or speed-work to your routine simply becuase you thought you could run a tune-up race a few minutes faster than you did is not smart. Trust in your plan (assuming you have one – if you didn’t maybe it’s time to get a plan!) and continue training.

Mike and Me After The Long Beach Half Marathon in 2011
Mike and Me After The Long Beach Half Marathon in 2011

The half marathon I’ve decided to run is the half at the Long Beach Marathon. I ran this race in 2011 as a tune-up race for the Surf City Marathon (ultimately I ended up dropping down to the half) and I really enjoyed the race and even scored a 30 second PR. The course is incredibly beautiful, quite flat/fast, and since it’s so close to my hometown of Huntington Beach, I have a place to stay and family to come cheer me on. This year I’ve tried to recruit family members to run the half or the 5k with me (I’ll let you know when they actually sign up as to how successful I’ve been but I’m hopeful my peer-pressure has been annoying enough!). The Long Beach Marathon or Half is one of the three races you must complete consequtively to earn the “Beach Cities Challenge” medal and considering that the other two races in the series (Surf City and OC) are also set on ocean-front property, it’s not a hard decision to register.

With My Massive Beach Cities Challenge Medal after Running the OC Marathon in 2012
With My Massive Beach Cities Challenge Medal after Running the OC Marathon in 2012

The makers of Florastor, a sponsor of the Long Beach Marathon reached out to me with a complimentary entry for any of the Long Beach Marathon events (marathon, half marathon, 5k) for me and a reader. I was not paid or asked to promote Florastor in exchange for the entry. Florastor is an all natural probiotic supplement which helps keep intestinal flora in balance, benefiting intestinal health by facilitating the absorption of nutritions and breaking down undigested carbohydrates. If you’d like to learn more about Florastor, this all natural, vegetarian, gentle, yeast-based priobiotic, visit www.florastor.com.

0070414200024_500X500

Free Long Beach Half Marathon Entry Contest

To enter the contest to win a FREE entry to either the half, full or 5k at the Long Beach Marathon, please complete one or both of the following by this Sunday, August 17th. The winner will be announced early next week on my blog so please check back to see if you have won!

1 Entry For Completion of Each (2 entries maximum):

1) Comment on this blog post with your desire to enter to the contest.

2)  Follow me on Twitter (FitnessFatale) if you don’t already and tweet/re-tweet the link to this blog post and mention my handle (so I know that you did it!)

May the odds ever be in your favor!

What lessons have you learned during a tune-up race?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

August 12, 2014 By fitnessfatale 12 Comments

Filed Under: Running, Uncategorized Tagged With: florastor, florastor sponsor long beach marathon, giveaway, long beach half marathon, long beach marathon promo code

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emily

    August 12, 2014 at 4:27 am

    I would LOVE to run LBC!!!

    Reply
  2. Sharilyn

    August 12, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    I’d like to enter, please! I’ve heard such good things about this race.

    Reply
  3. Clarinda @ Enjoying the Course

    August 12, 2014 at 9:23 pm

    Yes, please!!! I’d love to win this. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Jenny

    August 13, 2014 at 8:09 pm

    Hi! I am so glad a fellow bird tweeted this post from your blog. I literally tweeted about this race a few weeks ago using the #runchat hashtag and asked every person willing to listen if they knew anyone with a coupon code for this race as it’s rather pricey for a half. Then, I just gave up and figured it wasn’t meant to be UNTIL I saw your post! I would love to run the Long Beach Half!

    If someone else wins, I’ll be totally stoked for them too! I’m just happy for the opportunity to enter, thank you!

    Happy Running,
    -Jenny

    Reply
  5. Josue Diaz

    August 17, 2014 at 2:22 am

    I would love to run long beach marathon

    Reply
  6. Jazell

    August 18, 2014 at 5:54 am

    would love to enter to run LB if it isn’t to late!

    Reply
    • FitnessFatale

      August 18, 2014 at 2:18 pm

      It wasn’t too late!

      Reply
  7. Jazell

    August 18, 2014 at 5:55 am

    The time stamp on my last comment is marked for the 18th, though it’s 11pm in my time zone. Oh well, worth trying. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Rebecca Renn

    August 18, 2014 at 6:36 am

    Found your blog by way of your comment on another runner’s blog (willrunforglitter.com) and have been following faithfully ever since. Your athleticism, dedication, and positive attitude is awe-inspiring! I don’t get to race as often as I’d like, and in fact, have never done a “tune-up,” but I’d love to put the Long Beach Half on my racing calendar in preparation for CIM this year — BQ fingers (and toes) crossed!

    Reply
    • FitnessFatale

      August 18, 2014 at 3:13 pm

      Aw thank you!!

      Either way I hope to see you at CIM! Good luck with training!

      Reply
  9. Ramon

    August 20, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    I know it is late but will love to run LB 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 2014 Long Beach Half Marathon Race Report | Fitness Fatale says:
    October 13, 2014 at 5:07 am

    […] and coastal race. Thanks again to Florastor, one of the sponsors of the Long Beach Marathon, for the sponsored entry to the race as […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Building a Home Gym?

Free Gym Equipment Guide

Welcome to My Blog!

Nicole Dobransky

I’m Nicole. I’m a runner, mom to three girls (including twins!), and fitness lover who attempts to live a life of balance as a pizza, craft beer and coffee lover. I live and train near the ocean in San Diego and always keep it real here – there are lots of failures along with my successes in these pages, but what you’ll never see me do is give up!

I am a former accountant who started this blog from a place of absolute passion and love for health and fitness. I’ve now turned it into a way for me to reach and help more people as a health & fitness coach & it’s my mission to help as many women as possible achieve their own goals. I’ve brought hundreds of women into my community and helped them gain confidence and happiness through either my monthly accountability groups or by following their dreams as an online coach as well!

If you’d like to reach out to me for any reason, contact me at fitnessfataleblog at gmail dot com!

Let’s Get Stronger, Healthier & Faster Together!

I am a virtual health and fitness coach who specializes in working with runners and busy moms. While weight loss is a result of our programs, women in my groups often find that they have more energy, confidence and happiness after joining which is even better!!!

I help runners boost their run training and prevent injury with home strength training workouts and nutrition guidance.

Upcoming Accountability Groups:

March 1: 6 Week Run + Strength Race Training Group- Train for a virtual or in person 5K, 10K or Half Marathon with a professional running plan incorporating Beachbody workouts with a community of runners!!!

Ongoing: 9 Week Control Freak support group - start any Monday through Spring!

Team Run the World Beachbody Coach Business Mentorship: February 17th

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Fitness Fatale