Is Two Too Many?
by Robert James Reese » March 9th, 2009 » 7 Comments
I got some great comments on my post about the Chicago Marathon. Thank you everyone for those (even you Josh, a.k.a Captain U-Haul, a.k.a. King Platypus, a.k.a. Nelson Mandela.) As I was typing out a response to Joe's argument against running two marathons back to back, I realized my comment was longer than the post itself and so decided to make it into a post of its own....
Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree... I see where you're coming from, but I feel that the benefits of having a second fall marathon outweigh the costs. You're absolutely right that one marathon should be "where all the marbles are" and that's how I'd run it; Chicago, being the first race, would be a 100% effort, holding nothing back for the second marathon. Assuming all goes well, I'll have the goal time out of the way and be able to run the second one just for the joy of running. But, if something does go wrong in Chicago (I make a pacing mistake, or the weather is too hot, or I cramp up, etc.) I won't have to wait another six months before I get a chance to come back and redeem myself. Physically, I think it's possible to run two marathons that close together and still give solid performances at each. There are ultra runners out there running the equivalent of 4 marathons in a single race, so I know that this is physically possible. And, mentally, having to deal with the disappointment from my poor finish in Philly last fall was very, very tough. I think I would have been better had I had a chance to run a follow up marathon sooner. So, I know it's probably not the traditional approach for a second-year runner, but it's what seems best to me. Then again, I've never been traditional when it comes to my running.
What does everyone else think? Is running two fall marathons too much? Not enough? Just right?
Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree... I see where you're coming from, but I feel that the benefits of having a second fall marathon outweigh the costs. You're absolutely right that one marathon should be "where all the marbles are" and that's how I'd run it; Chicago, being the first race, would be a 100% effort, holding nothing back for the second marathon. Assuming all goes well, I'll have the goal time out of the way and be able to run the second one just for the joy of running. But, if something does go wrong in Chicago (I make a pacing mistake, or the weather is too hot, or I cramp up, etc.) I won't have to wait another six months before I get a chance to come back and redeem myself. Physically, I think it's possible to run two marathons that close together and still give solid performances at each. There are ultra runners out there running the equivalent of 4 marathons in a single race, so I know that this is physically possible. And, mentally, having to deal with the disappointment from my poor finish in Philly last fall was very, very tough. I think I would have been better had I had a chance to run a follow up marathon sooner. So, I know it's probably not the traditional approach for a second-year runner, but it's what seems best to me. Then again, I've never been traditional when it comes to my running.
What does everyone else think? Is running two fall marathons too much? Not enough? Just right?
7 Comments
My advice is worth nada, but I think running two fall marathons would be just fine. You've got what sounds like a good strategy, so I say go for it.
http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/index.jsp?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3aRaces+and+PlacesForum%3a973106038Discussion%3aabdfaeaf-0d2d-40cb-bed8-3e4491bb353b&plckCategoryCurrentPage=0
That was just my experience. Other high-mileage runners might have no problems running 2 back-to-back, especially if not for time...I'm not a particularly high-mileage trainer and always try to run marathons or other races to the best of my ability, so in both cases, I'd fail miserably running back-to-back 26.2 races.
Good question though. I'm sure you will smoke whichever marathon(s) you sign up for!
"A. I think I learned after London last year that skimping on the break doesn't work for the body, so I'll definitely take a longer one . . . "
Running Times Shorts: Interview with Ryan Hall, April 2009
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