Training for a longer term goal like a running a half marathon or a marathon can sometimes feel like a long slog. If you’re used to the buzz of showing up to a weekly parkrun or local 10K, suddenly racing less often can feel like something’s missing.
That’s where B-races come in. Think of them as milestones along the way; they're chances to test yourself, break up the routine, and enjoy the race-day atmosphere while preparing your for your A-race.
What is a B-race?
Your A-race is the one that everything points towards: the marathon, half, or PR attempt you’ve been building up to for weeks. A B-race is a bonus stop along the way.
Maybe it’s jumping into a local 10K with friends, or signing up for a half marathon to practise pacing and fueling. You’re still racing, but the mindset is lighter: you’re there to learn, test, and enjoy.
Why Run More Races in Training?
Running is as much a mental sport as it is a physical one. And just like conditioning your muscles for training, it's helpful to practise getting in the race-day mindset. Simply put: race-day feels different from training.
The crowds, the course, the energy, it gives you something you just can’t replicate on your own. Slotting in a B-race is a great way to:
Break up those long training blocks so the end goal doesn’t feel so far away
Use the race environment to your advantage like aid stations, marshals, a marked course
Check in on your progress and adjust training if needed
Grab a sneaky PR along the way (nothing boosts confidence like that!)
Many runners like to use a half marathon as their longest marathon-paced run, or swap in a 5K race as a benchmark time trial. It makes the hard work feel less like a grind and more like a celebration of where your training has got you.
How to Choose a B-race
Consider these three factors when choosing a B-race to support your training:
Distance – Choosing a B-race that matches or is shorter in distance than your A-race is recommended to avoid disruption to your training.
Timing – We will guide you by providing an optimal time for your B-race.
Intensity – You can choose the approach you'd like to take and we will adjust your training accordingly.
We highly recommend pick something that supports your training rather than adds extra strain. For example, a half marathon about a month before your full marathon works well, just swap it in for a long run instead of stacking extra miles.
Avoid scheduling a race too close to your A-race so you can taper properly and hit your key sessions. Easier B-races are great for practising pacing, fueling, or simply getting comfortable with race-day routines like bag drops and pre-race nerves.
Think of B-races as supporting actors. They play an important role, but the spotlight still belongs to your A-race. Check out this guide to read more about the benefits of a B-race.
You can search for the perfect B-race for you using Races By Runna, where you can filter by location, distance, elevation, temperature and more!
Runna will guide you when you're scheduling a B-race by showing you the optimal time to complete the race, taking your A-race into consideration. Just go to the Manage Plan tab.
Example of Choosing a B-Race
A-Race | B-Race Options | Purpose |
Marathon (April) | 10K or Half Marathon (between end of Jan and Early March) | Benchmark speed, practice pacing, test race-day routine |
How to Add a B-race to Your Runna Plan
You can now add B-races directly in the app. Head to Manage Plan → Adapt Your Plan → Add a B-race, and we’ll do the hard work of reshuffling your training so you stay on track.
And if you’re ever unsure how a race fits into your plan, drop us a note through the Support. Our coaches are here to help make sure every race (A or B) moves you closer to your goals.
How Should You Approach a B-race?
Some runners like to treat it their B-race a proper test. Others go in with a “dress rehearsal” mindset. To mimic as much of the race day environment as possible, we recommend wearing the race shoes you plan on wearing for your A-race, practising gels, and sticking to a target pace. Both approaches work. The key is really knowing which one serves your bigger goal, and allowing yourself enough time to recover before your next effort.
Go hard if it’s replacing a workout and you want a benchmark. Go controlled if you want to practise pacing and routines. Either way, you’ll come out of it more confident for the big day.
When you add a B-race to your Runna plan, we will ask you whether you would like to run for fun, run strong and steady (around 70-80% effort), or go all out at maximum effort. Your training weeks will then adapt accordingly.
You will also get an estimated race time and pace targets for your B-race, depending on the effort level that you have chosen.
How Your Training Will Adapt
Once you've chosen your B-race and how you'd like to approach it, we will provide you with an adjustment overview. Adjustment insights will let you know if any changes have been made to your training the week before, of, and after, your B-race.
You may need to complete a small taper on the week of your race and reduce your mileage slightly. Because races replace key workouts and require some recovery, your total weekly mileage then may dip slightly. This is normal and ensures you don’t overload your body while still gaining the benefits of a tune-up race!
Your plan is personalized to you and your race choices, so the way your training adapts will depend on the distance, timing, and effort you select for each B-race. Whatever you choose, your plan will adjust to keep you progressing toward your A-race while still allowing you to enjoy the benefits of additional race experiences.