I’ve done point to point marathons but never a marathon where you have to run the course twice. In combo races (half and full) I’ve done the half and was glad at the finish not to have to start the race again. I want to support some local marathons but the thought of grinding out another 13.1 on the same route has me concerned. Are this actually not as bad as I’m thinking?
It's pretty easy to tell this would be a big problem for you and no real issue for many others.
Fruit Loops wrote:
I’ve done point to point marathons but never a marathon where you have to run the course twice. In combo races (half and full) I’ve done the half and was glad at the finish not to have to start the race again. I want to support some local marathons but the thought of grinding out another 13.1 on the same route has me concerned. Are this actually not as bad as I’m thinking?
ive done one. it wasn't terrible. and i had one or two recons on the course previously. I mentally wander anyway. I listen to podcasts and zone out. I've run routes around my town dozens of times and noticed houses or other landmarks for the first time.
A good thing about two loopers is that it is much easier for your fans/supporters/friends/family to catch you multiple times for encouragement, or even to hop onto the course and clip off some miles with you! (i know this is BIGLY frowned upon by some)
I've done Erie which is a 2 loop race. I liked it for several reasons. As mentioned, my family was able to have more opportunity to catch me if they cared. I knew what lay ahead in the 2nd half of the race too.
Of the Erie race specifically, it's not too big or expensive or difficult to park/get to the start. And flat, flat, flat
I like some races with out and back features as well. I can see the faster runners that escape me from the start or figure out how far behind a target I am.
Eliud had to make multiple loops and almost broke 2
This site should ban junior HS students.
Not to mention sensitive midpackers.
Fruit Loops wrote:
I’ve done point to point marathons but never a marathon where you have to run the course twice. In combo races (half and full) I’ve done the half and was glad at the finish not to have to start the race again. I want to support some local marathons but the thought of grinding out another 13.1 on the same route has me concerned. Are this actually not as bad as I’m thinking?
This is an unbearably hobbyjogger question.
Marathons on the track are especially hard. 104 loops or so, I think, and then some
Fruit Loops wrote:
I’ve done point to point marathons but never a marathon where you have to run the course twice. In combo races (half and full) I’ve done the half and was glad at the finish not to have to start the race again. I want to support some local marathons but the thought of grinding out another 13.1 on the same route has me concerned. Are this actually not as bad as I’m thinking?
Only for the mental weak.
I set my PR on a two loop course.
Ran one of my best on an 8 loop course.
Junior loser wrote:
This site should ban junior HS students.
KTHXBAI wrote:
Not to mention sensitive midpackers.
+1
For logistics and TV purposes it is a strong possibility that all US Olympic trial marathon races from Birmingham forward will be multi-loop.
Congrats on finally breaking four hours.
I did a marathon a day on the prison track when and it was shorter than a normal track so I ran 210 loops just to be safe.
Got some strange looks but no one messed with me.
To answer your question: No.
KTHXBAI wrote:
Not to mention sensitive midpackers.
What is midpackers?
I don't recall ever running a two loop marathon. But I've done plenty of and three loop ones ones and there is that temptation at 17-18 miles to stop as you pass the start/finish line. But I liked them. I found it mentally easier to know the course the second and third times around, i.e, to know exactly how much more there was to run and what the terrain was like. I assume the same would be true on a two loop course. The logistics should be easier as well because the start and finish line are usually in the same place.
The point to point races always seemed more imposing mentally mostly, I think, because you were usually bussed to the start from somewhere near the finish. The ride seemed to go on forever and I often found myself thinking that I was going to have to run all that way.
HobbyJoggerSpotted wrote:
Fruit Loops wrote:
I’ve done point to point marathons but never a marathon where you have to run the course twice. In combo races (half and full) I’ve done the half and was glad at the finish not to have to start the race again. I want to support some local marathons but the thought of grinding out another 13.1 on the same route has me concerned. Are this actually not as bad as I’m thinking?
This is an unbearably hobbyjogger question.
^^^ This ^^^
Consider how a five loop hundred would be compared to a two loop marathon.
I ran one and really liked it. I liked knowing what was coming up.