2 marathons in 1 week: training and preparation?

Run and Jump

Anyone have any advice on how to prepare for 2 marathons in a week - a PB effort marathon followed by a 'destination' non-PB marathon?

I've entered what I'll call my target marathon this autumn (Dublin)... and I've also found out I've got a place in a big city destination marathon (New York) a week later. I'm in two minds about whether I should do both - I've run plenty of marathons (11 so far) and I'm training and racing all year round, but haven't done anything like this before. Is it just a matter of recovering after the first, or should I be doing extra training to prepare for both?

I wouldn't be surprised if someone here has already done Dublin and NY together, so any advice is welcome!

BeepBeep67

Run and Jump wrote: »

Anyone have any advice on how to prepare for 2 marathons in a week - a PB effort marathon followed by a 'destination' non-PB marathon?

I've entered what I'll call my target marathon this autumn (Dublin)... and I've also found out I've got a place in a big city destination marathon (New York) a week later. I'm in two minds about whether I should do both - I've run plenty of marathons (11 so far) and I'm training and racing all year round, but haven't done anything like this before. Is it just a matter of recovering after the first, or should I be doing extra training to prepare for both?

I wouldn't be surprised if someone here has already done Dublin and NY together, so any advice is welcome!

Do the training you need to optimize your 1st (priority) marathon, eat, sleep and recover, easy jogs would be better than nothing and enjoy the 2nd one with no set expectations.

Run and Jump

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Do the training you need to optimize your 1st (priority) marathon, eat, sleep and recover, easy jogs would be better than nothing and enjoy the 2nd one with no set expectations.

Thanks - the 2nd one is definitely for the NY experience so no PB expectations or effort!

TFBubendorfer

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Do the training you need to optimize your 1st (priority) marathon, eat, sleep and recover, easy jogs would be better than nothing and enjoy the 2nd one with no set expectations.

I'd go further and say that no running for a week after Dublin would be better than tiring out your legs even further in a misguided attempt to train them.

In any case, completely ignore the fact that you're running a second marathon a week later when preparing and running Dublin. Just concentrate solely on that race.

In New York, be prepared for the fact that the first couple of miles are going to suck. Eventually your legs will loosen up and you're going to feel much better. Take it easy to ensure that the easy feeling will last - hopefully until the end.

Run and Jump

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I'd go further and say that no running for a week after Dublin would be better than tiring out your legs even further in a misguided attempt to train them.

In any case, completely ignore the fact that you're running a second marathon a week later when preparing and running Dublin. Just concentrate solely on that race.

In New York, be prepared for the fact that the first couple of miles are going to suck. Eventually your legs will loosen up and you're going to feel much better. Take it easy to ensure that the easy feeling will last - hopefully until the end.

Thanks, that sounds good. Definitely wasn't thinking of training between marathon 1 and 2: more like wondering if I needed to train extra ahead of marathon 1 to carry over to marathon 2 - but it seems not.

Coffee Fulled Runner

Run and Jump wrote: »

Thanks, that sounds good. Definitely wasn't thinking of training between marathon 1 and 2: more like wondering if I needed to train extra ahead of marathon 1 to carry over to marathon 2 - but it seems not.

What's your weekly mileage like? I'd be building up the easy miles now

TFBubendorfer

Run and Jump wrote: »

Thanks, that sounds good. Definitely wasn't thinking of training between marathon 1 and 2: more like wondering if I needed to train extra ahead of marathon 1 to carry over to marathon 2 - but it seems not.

No, just train for 1 marathon. You can't train for 2 different marathons at the same time, and there's no need to do so. The fitness gains from marathon #1 don't just disappear. The only thing you want to consider for marathon #2 is being recovered as much as possible.

I find that running daily for 30-40 minutes at a VERY VERY easy effort after a marathon leads to faster recovery than doing no running at all. However, no running at all still beats running too much hands down. You don't lose that much fitness in one week.

Itziger

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Run and Jump wrote: »

Thanks, that sounds good. Definitely wasn't thinking of training between marathon 1 and 2: more like wondering if I needed to train extra ahead of marathon 1 to carry over to marathon 2 - but it seems not.

No, just train for 1 marathon. You can't train for 2 different marathons at the same time, and there's no need to do so. The fitness gains from marathon #1 don't just disappear. The only thing you want to consider for marathon #2 is being recovered as much as possible.

I find that running daily for 30-40 minutes at a VERY VERY easy effort after a marathon leads to faster recovery than doing no running at all. However, no running at all still beats running too much hands down. You don't lose that much fitness in one week.

I'd be inclined to say you don't lose ANY fitness in a week. Not any that matters especially as number 2 is going to be a tourist one. My only worry for this plan is if OP puts in a major effort on number one then the legs won't be recovered and there's a chance of actually injuring yourself in the second. If it were me I'd take a few days off and then try one or two little jogs to see how they are and to get the stiffness out and the blood flowing.

28064212

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I'd go further and say that no running for a week after Dublin would be better than tiring out your legs even further in a misguided attempt to train them.

I would have said that a couple of easy runs during the week would be very beneficial. I know my own marathon recovery is greatly accelerated by getting out for, say, 3-5k the day after. I agree that attempting to "train" during the week is a bad idea, but some light running would be better for recovery. Personally, I'd be thinking of doing something like:

• Mon: 3-5k
• Tue: Rest
• Wed: 3-5k
• Thu: 5-9k
• Fri: Rest
• Sat: 2-4k or Rest (depending on what you normally do the day before a marathon)

All at a very easy pace

Of course, all this is asterisked with the proviso that I've never done (or planned to do) back-to-back marathons.

ISOP

I ran Dublin and New York last year, just take it nice and easy during the week

Calvin Johnson

Why are you running Dublin?

Would you not want to run a good time in possibly your only attempt to run New York?

You've done Dublin at least a few times and can do it anytime you want.

Run and Jump

Calvin Johnson wrote: »

Why are you running Dublin?

Would you not want to run a good time in possibly your only attempt to run New York?

You've done Dublin at least a few times and can do it anytime you want.

Because I want to run both of them! Also, I don't really care about running a PB or fast time in New York; I just want to soak in the experience without PB pressure.

TFBubendorfer

Calvin Johnson wrote: »

Why are you running Dublin?

Would you not want to run a good time in possibly your only attempt to run New York?

You've done Dublin at least a few times and can do it anytime you want.

New York isn't a course where you would be looking for a fast time.