Gap between Marathons

RedB

I've already signed up for the Connemarathon on April 11th and its just been announced that a marathon will take place 3 weeks later (May 2nd) in my hometown (Limerick). I'm tempted to do both and I know several people here have done various back to back marathons so I'm looking for advice. My goal time is sub 4:15 for Connemara given its hilly nature and my rookie-ness and I intend training to a suitable plan for it.

1) If I put Connemara as my priority run should I be able for a similar time in Limerick with regard to recovery, tapering etc?

2) If I put Limerick as my priority run would it be reasonable to approach Connemara as a long slow training run or could it wipe me out?

I'd ideally like to do Limerick sub 4 as it is flat and I'd have home town advantage:rolleyes: but if I did both sub 4:15 I'd be happier again (Greedy boy:D).

Any advice greatfully accepted.

Red

Krusty_Clown

I haven't done two marathons back to back like that (Berlin -> Dublin was 5 weeks or something similar) but from experience, it's best to aim to do your first marathon as the more competitive one, and do your second as the 'just get around' marathon (although others like Woddle have successfully PB'ed a number of marathons on the trot). My reasons for this are:
1) There is a risk of injury after the first marathon
2) Three weeks is not enough to recover from a marathon, so you will still have some level of minor injury/niggles/fatigue from the first marathon.
3) I you run Connemara as a long slow training run (as i did earlier this year) you can write off the last three weeks of 'proper' training program/taper for Limerick as you will be recovery running instead.

Even running 26.2 at a sub-optimal pace still takes it out of you, and needs to be respected. Don't learn the hard way, like I did! Hard run first!

NeedsTraining

Hi Red,

Will Connemara be you first marathon? If so, I would strongly recommend giving Limerick a miss 3 weeks later. Alternatively, why not defer Conn to 2011 and do your hometown marathon as your first?
I say this because fter your first, you don't know how your body is going to react.

If this is not your first marathon, you should know how your body reacts and gauge it that way. You don't want to risk injury that could put you out for a long time.

I am speaking from experience on that one. I ran Connemara this year and picked up a 'niggling' injury. I tried to shake it quickly so I could run London a few weeks later. Didn't shake the injury fully, but I put it down to a wee 'niggle' and ran London - BIG BIG mistake.
Here I am 7 months later after intensive physio (which only kept the pain at bay) and a knee op later, hoping to be back running in the new year.

In summary, make a calculated wise decision and if you are unsure don't do it. There are other marathons later in the year.

Best of luck whichever way you choose.

NT

Izoard

A few years ago I ran Connemara (3 45) and knocked out a PB (3 26) in London 3 weeks later.

Then pushed my luck by running Dublin (3 28) on a Monday, flying to NY and doing the NYC marathon on the Sunday. All was going well until the Queensboro Bridge (half way in 1 45), when the wheels came off, and limped home in 4 02.

Managed to get in ahead of P. Diddy though:)

In summary, at the 4 hours or so level, 3 weeks should be plenty of recovery.

RedB

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I did DCM this year in 4:50 but was seriously undertrained for it so I want to see what I can do with proper training . My training partner managed 4:08 in DCM with a bit more base miles and long runs so I feel I should be able for sub-4:15 in Connemara by following the plan. I hadn't gone much beyond 13m by Sept as DCM wasn't on the agenda and I just squeezed out a 16, 18 and 20 miler in the lead in to DCM with very little base miles or long runs .

I've taken it easy post DCM and only did a 13km run last weekend which is the longest since the big day. I wouldn't fancy another one right now but with proper training maybe I'd be ok if I did it as a 'just get around'? Injury would be a concern as I have other plans for the rest of the year and I'd definitely bail out of either if there were such issues.

I've already entered Connemara so I don't know if I can defer it at no cost.

DustyBin

RedB wrote: »

I've already entered Connemara so I don't know if I can defer it at no cost.

No bother deferring
AFAIK the deadline for deferrals or swapping between ultra / full / half is some time in March

Why not run the Connermara Half as prep for Limerick Full?

RedB

No bother deferring
AFAIK the deadline for deferrals or swapping between ultra / full / half is some time in March

Why not run the Connermara Half as prep for Limerick Full?

Interesting - will think it over and consult with training partner......Thanks

village runner

DustyBin wrote: »

No bother deferring
AFAIK the deadline for deferrals or swapping between ultra / full / half is some time in March

Why not run the Connermara Half as prep for Limerick Full?

Its exactly what i would do. I would even warm up for 3 miles and race the last 10. Depends on what oyu want. But it sounds as if oyu want va pb in Limerick.

metamorphosis

Hey RedB

Im the same as you. Im doing Rotterdam 11th April but cannot turn down Limerick - my own home turf so myself i am gonna do Rotterdam as the fast and just do limerick for fun and eat and rest plenty in between. Take a few days off and just do some maintenance runs in between so im fit enough for Limerick. Do not have a plan yet though as to how i will go about this.

ergo

I don't think it's a good idea to do both within such a short time frame - doing the Connemara half is probably a much better suggestion

I did 2 marathons, Berlin and then Dublin (5 weeks between them) last year -

I got greedy and felt alright so went flat out again in Dublin (as I had in Berlin) - I improved my time by a minute but have picked up (what I hope is just) a niggly injury but could have been (or could turn out to be) a stress fracture or something and I've not really been able to run properly since - am resting it a lot and don't think it's too serious but with hindsight I definitely don't think I should have gone at such pace in Dublin such a short time later (even if I do get away wth this injury as just a niggle).

Even just running the second one just to get around might be too much so soon after - then again there are those around running 7 marathons in 7 days :eek: so it all depends