Two Marathons Back To Back Questions

Do midgets have midget babies?

I've been running back 2 back marathons for years...the best results come with 4-6 weeks between them but I have done several only a week apart. You will get a terrific "training effect" from the 1st which will make the 2nd marathon faster..but ONLY if you have properly prepared for the 1st one...GOOD LUCK

twice is better wrote:

I've been running back 2 back marathons for years...the best results come with 4-6 weeks between them but I have done several only a week apart. You will get a terrific "training effect" from the 1st which will make the 2nd marathon faster..but ONLY if you have properly prepared for the 1st one...GOOD LUCK

How did you structure your training in between? All by feel, or did you follow some "plan". Any tips for these 4-6 weeks are greatly appreciated!

I have 6 weeks of 50-70 miles plus cross-training under my belt with 5 runs in the 18-23m range (so far), and a marathon on a flat course in 4 weeks. Another 5 weeks later a trail marathon, shooting for 3h in that one (approx. 10-15min slower than a fast course).

Did you "race" both with "only" 95%? Or more or less all-out? Or did you make the first a long-run type of workout?

With 5 weeks between, you shouldn't have to hold back anything.

Recovery after the first one will be important - obviously - and I'd suggest working up a convincing act to get yourself into the medical tent and get an IV. You will also need to get back out an active immediately even though that will be the very last thing you feel like doing.

I think In the middle weeks you should be doing respectable distances, but I'd tend more towards a two hour max with a slow pace. I would stay off the track or hills for 3 full weeks after the first marathon, and just do one or two workouts to shake things out after that. 5 weeks is actually a stretch, since the debate is whether too take it easy the whole time or try to work in some intense training.

I've done back to back weeks and 2 week gaps several times, and both are not sufficient recovery. One week is just a mess, and with 2 weeks you feel fine until you go to dig deep at 22 or beyond, and there's just nothing there to dig into.

If you back off 10% or even 5%, you honestly could tick them off every other week for about as long as you wanted, but in that you're never going to have the legs to really blow one out at 100%.