Running Berlin and Dublin

Bluesquare

Somehow I seemed to have signed up for these two marathons . They are five weeks apart . Is anyone else doing this ? Any advice on what type of traing to do in bewteen / I was thinking a week rest with maybe 20k the weekend after , then a normal week training then taper again?

Why do I do this to myself !!!

adrian522

The Advanced Marathon book has plans on completing marathons close together, don't have it to hand but it covers from 4 to 8 weeks between marathons I think,

nhunter100

Bluesquare wrote:

Somehow I seemed to have signed up for these two marathons . They are five weeks apart . Is anyone else doing this ? Any advice on what type of traing to do in bewteen / I was thinking a week rest with maybe 20k the weekend after , then a normal week training then taper again?

Are you aiming for a time in both events or just participating?

Bluesquare

nhunter100 wrote: »

Are you aiming for a time in both events or just participating?

Berlin was supposed to be the big one , then signed up for Dublin and thought to treat it as a long run and really enjoy the atmosphere . Now the common thread of advice is to enjoy Berlin and use it as training for Dublin !

I was orginallly hoping to be fit enough for a sub four for Berlin but "A" goal is now 410. Because it's not sub four I am more relaxed if I am honest - this is my second marathon with the first one done 7 years ago so I can barely remember it ! Moral of the story is I am happy enough to finish as long as I beat that time

nhunter100

Bluesquare wrote:

Berlin was supposed to be the big one , then signed up for Dublin and thought to treat it as a long run and really enjoy the atmosphere . Now the common thread of advice is to enjoy Berlin and use it as training for Dublin !

Good advice run Berlin to give yourself a feel for Dublin. I wouldn't stress to much the weeks in between. If you have a good base just keep up your usual running but no need for excessive long runs you're up to distance anyway, more often than not its the head that needs convincing . Just save yourself the last week before Dublin. Enjoy Berlin, doing it myself. I'm one of the 3.45 Pacers. Have an entry for Dublin as well I paced it last year this year I get to race it.

RayCun

Bluesquare wrote: »

Berlin was supposed to be the big one , then signed up for Dublin and thought to treat it as a long run and really enjoy the atmosphere . Now the common thread of advice is to enjoy Berlin and use it as training for Dublin !

I'd go the other way around. Unless you're an experienced runner, a marathon is too long for a training run, and you're unlikely to be able to run it slow enough to avoid damage that will hurt your time in Dublin.

But if you race Berlin, that will slow you down in Dublin, and if you run a little bit too fast for effective recovery, at least you have no big upcoming races.

TFBubendorfer

Bluesquare wrote: »

Berlin was supposed to be the big one , then signed up for Dublin and thought to treat it as a long run and really enjoy the atmosphere . Now the common thread of advice is to enjoy Berlin and use it as training for Dublin !

I was orginallly hoping to be fit enough for a sub four for Berlin but "A" goal is now 410. Because it's not sub four I am more relaxed if I am honest - this is my second marsrhon with the first one done 7 years ago so I can barely remember it ! Moral of the story is I am happy enough to finish as long as I beat that time

5 weeks between marathons is perfectly doable.

It's unlikely that you will be able to race your best on both occasions so pick one as your "A" race and take the other as a training/fun run.

Whichever race you choose to race, it's critical to take recovery seriously between the 2 marathons. Don't try and train too much between the two races but don't completely fall off the wagon either.

loughie

Ran Berlin and Dublin in 2014, think it was 4 weeks apart so your getting an extra week recovery this year!

Berlin was sub3 attempt and ran 2:56:52......Dublin was 'give it another go at sub3' attempt. Finished in 3:02:26. Second half of Dublin was painful (very). For me recovery time and conditions played a part in the pain!

Regardless of what time your aiming for its relevant. Racing both marathons will be tough. Not getting caught up in race mode in Berlin will be very tough to do. Berlin is faster and flatter than Dublin and I would recommend that as your 'A' race and go out and try to enjoy Dublin. See you in Berlin this year!!

dcorcaigh

Bluesquare wrote: »

Somehow I seemed to have signed up for these two marathons . They are five weeks apart . Is anyone else doing this ? Any advice on what type of traing to do in bewteen / I was thinking a week rest with maybe 20k the weekend after , then a normal week training then taper again?

Why do I do this to myself !!!

I am also doing both this year. i am treating Berlin as my goal race and Dublin as a enjoy the atmosphere and afterwards type of race. i am working off the P&d book which has 4, 6 and 8 week to next marathon program, my plan is to use the 4 week one plus an extra week, 24miles (depending on state of my body) first week.

MacSwifty

I did this also last year! Ran great for me in Berlin 3.20 pb and went straight back into DCM training on the Tuesday with 18 LSR that weekend. Plan for DCM was Sub 3.30 did 3.31 but was really struggling for the last 4.
I am in for both again this year but even with the extra week I will be taking it very easy for the first two weeks post Berlin and will have a go in DCM but wont be trying anything too exciting!!

But thoroughly enjoyed both!!

BarneyJ

I was planning on running both this year but missed the entry for Dublin. Wasn't expecting it to sell out. Put my name on the waiting list for one of the 2,000 additional places but wasn't successful. So it's Berlin only! Hoping it's not too warm over there!

joesoap5

Reading your log, you haven't got many long runs under your belt. I would train for Dublin. You have a chance to get some decent long runs in for it. I'd go to Berlin and enjoy the break without doing the marathon and maybe get a long run in or possibly go to 20 miles in the marathon with some marathon paced miles thrown in. Then I'd come back and race Dublin.

I'd agree with you, follow 4.10 pacers.

uvox

It's all about training and pace. I ran Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin last year comfortably. It your long training wasn't enough, then give it your best shot based on pace. In terms of difficulty, Dublin is probably the most challenging IMO.

overpronator

Im hopefully doing the same double this year too. Plan is to race Berlin hard and jog around Dublin and just enjoy the occasion. Ive no interest in attempting to race both, even if Berlin turns out to be a disaster ill be going around Dublin at long run pace.

Bluesquare

joesoap5 wrote: »

Reading your log, you haven't got many long runs under your belt. I would train for Dublin. You have a chance to get some decent long runs in for it. I'd go to Berlin and enjoy the break without doing the marathon and maybe get a long run in or possibly go to 20 miles in the marathon with some marathon paced miles thrown in. Then I'd come back and race Dublin.

I'd agree with you, follow 4.10 pacers.

I followed the marathon training program as given to me by my clubs coach . We done 22, 25ks , a 28,29,and two 32s. Before this point I was running20k every weekend . I do feel like maybe we could have done another couple but curious to know what "enough" long runs are? He also as 26k on the schedule for next week which seems odd

Bluesquare

Thanks all! Great food for thought here .

joesoap5

Bluesquare wrote: »

I followed the marathon training program as given to me by my clubs coach . We done 22, 25ks , a 28,29,and two 32s. Before this point I was running20k every weekend . I do feel like maybe we could have done another couple but curious to know what "enough" long runs are? He also as 26k on the schedule for next week which seems odd

Hey Bluesquare, if you're following a coaches plan then you're in safe hands.

I've enjoyed reading your log, it has a bit of personality in it.

Good luck with your marathons.

BeepBeep67

Bluesquare wrote: »

Somehow I seemed to have signed up for these two marathons . They are five weeks apart . Is anyone else doing this ? Any advice on what type of traing to do in bewteen / I was thinking a week rest with maybe 20k the weekend after , then a normal week training then taper again?

Why do I do this to myself !!!

Just had a look there, I ran marathons 4 weeks apart earlier in the year.
Manchester which was a target marathon and Wings for Life for fun.

I had a reverse taper week after Manchester, just listening to my body, which is this case was giving positive recovery signals.
Increased the mileage again in week 2 before starting to come back down again.

My Manchester plan was endurance heavy so I only ran a 10 and a 12 in the intervening weeks as I felt endurance was fine.

I ran a couple of 100% effort 5ks to stay sharp, with no sessions apart a few strides here and there.

I would personally make the 1st one the target race as even if you use it as an LSR the risk is you'll could get dragged along as part of the race day excitement and probably end up with 2 suboptimal races.

Best of luck!

Mr Jinx

nhunter100 wrote: »

Good advice run Berlin to give yourself a feel for Dublin. I wouldn't stress to much the weeks in between. If you have a good base just keep up your usual running but no need for excessive long runs you're up to distance anyway, more often than not its the head that needs convincing . Just save yourself the last week before Dublin. Enjoy Berlin, doing it myself. I'm one of the 3.45 Pacers. Have an entry for Dublin as well I paced it last year this year I get to race it.

Any chance you could slow it down to 3.50!?😅

nhunter100

Mr Jinx wrote:

Any chance you could slow it down to 3.50!?😅

Don't jinx me, ; )