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?
Holy crap, you’ve only been running for two years?! God, you’re speedy.
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.
I couldn’t do it, but I don’t think it’s such a big deal and I definitely think you can do it. Also, 3 weeks is not back to back, and you wouldn’t be the only one doing that,
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From someone who was thinking about doing it last year. . . ( I was going to run the Mohawk Hudson Marathon and then 3 weeks later do the NYC if I got in.) I don’t see a prob with it HAHA! Only YOU know what kind of workout load you can handle. If you feel confident that you can, then why not?
Sorry I meant “work load” not “workout load” . Someone get me another cup of coffee already :P
I just don’t think anyone can put two solid performances that close together. There’s nothing wrong with doing marathons for the sake of doing marathons, witness Marathon Maniacs. But that’s a different, and perhaps cavalier, way of looking at the sport. If you race the first one, you need to recover.
Yeah, I toyed with the idea of doing Chicago/NY back to back, but I really want NY to my goal fall marathon and I don’t think I’ll recover well enough after Chicago to do well in NYC. I did NYC and Las Vegas last year and really felt out of it physically and mentally in LV. So I’ve learned my lesson and will not attempt to race 2 back-to-back marathons less than a month apart again!
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!
“Q. Have you made any plans for the rest of the year [after Boston]?
“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