I have to travel for work and will be super bored on the weekend. There is a trail marathon run a couple hours away on Saturday, and a regular marathon on Sun.
I figured, why not? I like running and have nothing else to do. But, I have never ran a trail marathon and only a handful of marathons to date.
What should I know before doing these? Im not trying to PR or anything. Just doing them for fun and for Ultramarathon training.
What's the topography like for the courses, especially the trail marathon?
If it's hilly, you've gotta make sure to "bruise up your quads" and make sure they're prepared to handle the load over both days. Steep downhills can absolutely crush your quads, even if you're only hiking the trail marathon, so it's essential to make sure they're prepared.
Sounds like a fun project.
Expect for the the trail marathon a lot more time. Take it easy on day one.
You have a rough start on day two but it will get better after a mile or two.
Enjoy!
Trail run is hilly. The 2nd marathon is flat.
Prepare to feel relatively good after the trail marathon and then feeling like you got hit by a truck on the morning after the road marathon.
Running on trails, especially with hilly sections, takes such a less toll on your body that pounding the pavement.
Good luck!