Timing/sequence of multiple races

[Daddy-O]

So I was originally planning to enter 3 events at the Denver Indoor Championships, the 500m, 2000m and one longer event, probably the 60 minute race (which is held the day before the sprint events). I noticed there is another set of indoor races the week prior so now I'm leaning towards spliting up the events I want to do between the 2 events so I can be more rested for each.

Any opinions or experiences on recovery between multiple events? Would it make more sense to do the sprints or distance in the first week? With 3 days of racing total, I could go so far as to only do 1 event each day I suppose. Ultimately, I don't have enough experience to know how much doing a long event the night before sprints will affect me, or for that matter, doing both a 2k and a 500 in the same day, (but several hours apart).

[Daddy-O]

I'm overthinking things, aren't I?

[Quatroux]

I'd want as much time as possible between each race. A week is plenty of rest, but doing two events in one day wouldn't work for me. There's something about a 2k that makes it feel like it takes a full week to recover. I can bounce back from a PR 500m or 60' in less time, but still days and not hours. Unless you are going to reserve some strength for the last race, I would say that you are not going to be your best. However, it is possible that you are new enough to pull this off and still post a personal best in each event. Give it a try understading that your final race might leave you hating yourself.

I'd do the 2k the week before, the 60' the day before, and the 500m the final day. There's no good way to cut this up, but I'd want to be as rested as possible for a 2k. You could grunt your way through 500m. This isn't the worst idea ever, but you should be a wreck by the end of it.

[jamesg]

Do your best one fast and the others slow, but without worrying too much in the 500, it's not long enough to cause disasters the day after.

Somewhat in contradiction, but in the hour and the 2k, make sure your initial pace is slowish anyway, so that you can wind it up in the last quarter if you need to; at least you'll row past all those who fly and die.

My strategy would be to use the 500 to identify race paces (so this should be the first one), use the 60' as UT2, and do the 2k with attention to pacing as said, so that I could sprint the last 500 if needed.

[Daddy-O]

I like that plan, thanks! I think it makes sense to keep the 500 last because that's a record I think I can break on any given day I happen to be feeling pumped up. Using the adreneline of competition primarly for the 2k and distance event seems like the best choice since I'm less likely to do as good at those when on my own. I might even consider bumping up to the half marathon based on this theory. I do wish this event had a 10k to choose from, something about doing a timed event just isn't as appealing to me.

[hjs]

I like that plan, thanks! I think it makes sense to keep the 500 last because that's a record I think I can break on any given day I happen to be feeling pumped up. Using the adreneline of competition primarly for the 2k and distance event seems like the best choice since I'm less likely to do as good at those when on my own. I might even consider bumping up to the half marathon based on this theory. I do wish this event had a 10k to choose from, something about doing a timed event just isn't as appealing to me.

Focus on what you find the modt important. Every distance done at max will make a next one on the same less good. A full week recovery is plenty to be 100% again, unless you are a sprinter and a hard hour, that will kill your speed big time.