My marathon plot thickens! (dun dun dunnnnnnnn)

[ktzmoh]

I'd probably go. Wouldn't you be tapering that week anyway?

But then again, in my field conferences are really important. And Im still young in my career so i wouldn't pass on many opportunities for that kind of exposure. I guess it depends on how important you think the conference is and how well you handle jet lag.

Plus you'd have a good story down the road and you'll make a memory . Hey, remember that time I flew home from Italy 12 hrs before running the Chicago marathon? Lol

When would you present? Could you potentially leave the conference a day early?

[mrshandy]

Can you pick another marathon around the same time? Maybe before so you could enjoy your trip and not have to worry about. If you could defer Chicago, then it would doubly sweet.

That's what I would do.

It's up to you and how much you want to run Chicago. It will be there next year and the year after that. Going to Italy for work sounds pretty awesome and I think that I would change marathons for that. Are they paying for you to go?

[hannahb]

How long would you be in Italy? If it's the week before, I would go and just not run. Huge taper. Eat pasta and drink wine. Carb load away. The travel 2 days before the marathon may be brutal and could be a concern.
If it's not feasible to go and marathon, I guess it depends on where you are in your career. If it was me at this stage of my life, I would skip the conference and focus on the marathon. 5 years ago I would pick the conference.

[jene]

Run a marathon in Italy

[clseale]

Look, for anyone else, I'd be all, "Go! Do both! You'll be fine!", yeah no, not you. LOL Sorry, cupcake. Your history with this suggests otherwise. If presenting the work doesn't have a huge advantage for the future of your career, and Chicago is the number one priority right now, I'm not sure I'd risk it. In reality, you'd probably be just fine, but I never would have expected the cluster you dealt with last year, so who knows.

If you're OK with a SMALL (because it is small) chance of missing Chicago, and you have MCM as a backup, I'd go.

ETA: I feel like this needs to be said for people who were not around last year, but might comment, SHE MISSED HER MARATHON IN FLORENCE LAST YEAR DUE TO A TRAVEL CLUSTER. It's not a taper/running issue, it's a getting stuck in the wrong country issue. Lol

[emilyinchile]

Jul 25, 2014 10:41:09 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Also, it stands to be mentioned that regardless of whether or not I am physically present, my work will still be presented- I'll be putting together the presentation/poster/whatever it is and at the very least my boss will be presenting it.

Oh, this is important. I thought that you had to go to be included at all, and to me that sounded like something that I wouldn't be able to turn down. But if your work is still going to be presented, maybe that's enough? Would your university/boss be ok with you just not going though? I get that you have a very important prior commitment, but I can also imagine plenty of bosses thinking "this person is turning down a great career opportunity for a jog?", and that might not be a good thing in terms of your career.

[gt7301b]

I'd go to Italy and defere Chicago till next year. This sounds liek a great opportunity career wise and I'm pretty sure the running Gods will try and fvck with you if you plan to run a marathon two days after you get back from Italy.

[Susie]

I would go to Italy, (probably) defer Chicago, and run MCM. For a few reasons, of varied weight/significance:

1. Chicago's not going anywhere. I know, I know, 2015 and 2016 are unknowns, but the odds of never being able to do it again seem low. Gaining entry to Chicago isn't quite like getting into Boston or Kona for Ironman; it doesn't rise to the level of once-in-a-lifetime (which even Boston isn't for some people, although for mere mortals, it may be.)

2. In contrast, who knows what kind of career opportunities could be furthered by a chance like this? Having my work presented by another partner would totally blow the benefit for me, because so much of career advancement is personal relationship development. Not to mention, ITALY.

3. You could do Italy and run Chicago anyway, but I don't think that'd be fun, at least for me. Travel really does a number on my body, and that's a lot of time zones to cross. A marathon would just be too much in that immediately post-trans-atlantic flight state.

4. I know how difficult it is to be objective and non-emotional about race decisions when you are already mid-training cycle, but a lot of those emotional reasons don't hold up when you get 6 months or a year out. I think 6 months to a year out the disappointment of deferring Chicago would weigh much less on me than the disappointment of missing this opportunity, assuming you have to choose.

5. MCM is no slouch of a race to change your focus to! We're not talking "no marathon" or "Jim Bob's Eastern Bumfuck Marathon" as the Plan B.

6.  If you want to do both, I would not let last year's Florence clusterfuck stop you.  One trip doesn't a pattern make.  You, marathons, and Italy are not cursed!  

[emilyj]

I'll give you the non-sport, academic viewpoint on this. And the not fun one. As someone who has been in grad school, got a PhD and is now out as a professor...my first thought is to say go to the conference. However, I'm basing that on my field, where getting an invite to present at a prestigious conference would be a BFD and not something to turn down. Plus, career, CV building, etc. etc.

However, you're in a completely different field than I am, and I don't know what your job search/career path looks like, so your field could be totally different.

Given that, I'd still have a really hard time justifying not going to the conference. Yes, your work will still be presented...but given that you are so early in your career, I (personally) think it's important that you get as much exposure as you possibly can and be the one presenting it.

I get it. I do. I know how important races are, and how much they mean. I am also a self-admitted workaholic, and my career is important. But if push came to shove between the two, my career would come first, even over my A race. But if I were you? I'd go to Italy and I'd be flying home to make Chicago...I just might be adjusting my expectations for Chicago a bit.

[runaways]

How important would this conference be for your work? That would be my deciding factor. If it's something that you won't get another chance to do and that would do a lot for your future, I'd probably try to defer Chicago, find another marathon around the same time, and go to the conference.

[jene]

Jul 25, 2014 10:43:57 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Jul 25, 2014 10:29:33 GMT -5 jene said:

Run a marathon in Italy

Ha! Sorry, too soon?

[runaways]

Oh I missed the bit about your work being presented regardless. If that's the case, I'd probably do the race and plan for a trip to Italy some other time.

[cinco]

I'd defer and go to the conference. Of course I've never been to Europe and I've run 9 marathons, so that could be impacting my answer. Oh, and my desire for any career at this point, hah. Susie 's answers are more thought out, so I'll just ditto her. I'll also add that I've missed 2 marathons due to factors out of my control (a stomach bug and a hurricane). Not quite as bad as your odds have been so far , but I'm hesitant to get too attached to one race for this reason.

[mrshandy]

Jul 25, 2014 10:41:09 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Jul 25, 2014 10:21:56 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

these are the most rational questions ever so I'll answer them

Can you pick another marathon around the same time?
I'm also signed up for MCM, 2 weeks later.
Maybe before so you could enjoy your trip and not have to worry about. If you could defer Chicago, then it would doubly sweet.
I can defer, but I don't get a refund, and would have to pay the fee again next year. I have until September 8th to decide.

That's what I would do. Chicago is by far my A race, for training schedule and personal reasons.

It's up to you and how much you want to run Chicago.
When I wake up every morning to run, I wake up to a picture of the Chicago Skyline that I took from the finish line. that's how badly I want to run Chicago.
It will be there next year and the year after that.
Yeah, but my legs may not be there the next year and the year after that. Plus I'll be out of grad school and in a new job and I have no idea what I'll be able to to, training-wise, for a while.

Going to Italy for work sounds pretty awesome
No shit, right?
and I think that I would change marathons for that. Are they paying for you to go?
The university and my PI would be partially paying for me to go. I've already looked up airfare for this whole craziness and I can get from here, to Rome, train it to Prato in time for the conference, leave Prato at 5:30am on the 10th and be in Chicago at 3pm local time. That will cost roughly $2075 for travel alone. It's steep. Plus I have exactly the opposite of good luck with Italy and marathons, so that's making my heart flutter a bit.

Also, it stands to be mentioned that regardless of whether or not I am physically present, my work will still be presented- I'll be putting together the presentation/poster/whatever it is and at the very least my boss will be presenting it.

Forgot you were running MCM too. With this update, it's a tough decision. You are going to be job hunting, right? So any chance this will be a good networking event?

I think I would go and defer Chicago. You will have another marathon.  I think MCM is pretty awesome. Chicago will be there next year. I wouldn't try to go to Italy and run the race. Jet lag will suck.

[ktzmoh]

It would make me crazy if I knew people were super interested in my work and I was not the one presenting it. I know PIs present the students work all the time- but there's no substitution for the FaceTime and schmooze time of those big conferences- esp if there is buzz about your work.

My choice would be to go. But only you know where you are in terms of going on the job market

[runblondie26]

I'd do both, and maybe adjust your expectations for Chicago. Definitely do not pass up the conference!

You may still be on your traveling adrenaline high. Normally, it's a few days after I get back from Europe that I crash and burn. You'll be tapering that week anyway, so no worries about getting serious training in.

What a wonderful dilemma to have

[jordylee]

I think everyone else covered the pros and cons, so I will be not so helpful and just add in the Italy would make for some delicious pre-race carb loading.

[runaways]

After reading your responses I'm going back to my original answer. Go to conference, consider deferring Chicago.

[emilyinchile]

Given all your updates, it sounds like you would really rather do Chicago and like you don't think that missing out on the conference is a big deal career-wise. I don't know that I would do the same - I think it's hard for me to wrap my head around something like that being ok to miss because it just wouldn't be in my position, plus I think I would feel guilty putting play over work - but that doesn't mean it's the wrong choice for you!

[hannahb]

If you're waking up every morning to the Chicago skyline then run Chicago.

[kams]

I think we all understand how much a marathon matters, and why specific ones can be so important. What many of us don't understand, particularly since most of us are not in your field, is the importance of this conference.

My first thought is to defer Chicago and run MCM. But, if your work will be presented anyway, I think you're the only who can really weigh Chicago vs physically being at the conference.

I am terrible with jet lag, so the thought of traveling home from Italy and running a marathon 2 days later makes me squirm. And I've run a marathon after 9 hours of racing.

This is a tough dilemma!

[thom]

Here are a few tidbits that come to mind for me.

Don't skip Italy!! Having been there once, I absolutely know I would jump at a chance to go back. (If your finances can handle it without too much trouble. Obviously you're spending a lot to race this fall, so I wouldn't go into serious debt over another trip.)

I know you said your research will still get presented and go on your CV, but.... ITALY!

That said, I get how important Chicago is for you. It's your A race and what you've been doing all this crazy scheduling, training, and work towards.

I would do both. From your timeline, it sounds like you would make it to Chicago at 3 pm two days before? Is that right? (If it's only one day before then I would be more anxious about travel delay, etc) Still -- it's October so a blizzard or weather problems shouldn't exist.

You may have to adjust expectations some, but here's my personal experience. You may remember I ran 2 marathons this spring. I did everything "right " with sleep, hydrating, eating, staying close to home for my first; and I still fell apart and missed my goal.

The second, Grandma's, I worked like a crazy person the week before, slept poorly, stressed that I wouldn't be able to run, then finally got into town at 9:30 on the night before to get my packet and sleep 6 hours. On a futon mattress on the floor. Somehow, I really pulled myself together mentally, seized the opportunity, and raced a better race to hit my 3:59. Obviously ideal physical prep is better, but I think you could still have a great Chicago post-Italy.

When do you have to decide to book the conference by? We will all support you either way. I think you've mainly got to listen to your heart on this one.

ETA: Ditto kams saying you're the only one who can weigh Chicago against physically being at the conference. Try to think about what will be the best decision years down the road. GL!

[foundmylazybum]

Jul 25, 2014 11:36:24 GMT -5 runblondie26 said:

I'd do both, and maybe adjust your expectations for Chicago. Definitely do not pass up the conference!

You may still be on your traveling adrenaline high. Normally, it's a few days after I get back from Europe that I crash and burn. You'll be tapering that week anyway, so no worries about getting serious training in.

What a wonderful dilemma to have

MCM is only two weeks later.  It's not actually that hard to shift it as your "A" race and you aren't "that far" in your training plan that this is impossible.

Use Chicago as lovely warm-up run.  Also, here is some perspective: people travel and run in different time zones like this all the time, and do fine. If you say it's a problem it will be a problem. If you act like it's fine--and DO the proper things: hydrate, eat properly, bring a sleep mask, sleep properly in Italy etc--then sleep well at home and tell yourself you are fine and you will race "to your abilities in the moment," you will do fine.

If you tell yourself you will suck, you will.  It's like a Jedi mind trick.

[tuggyruns]

Never, ever, skip an opportunity to go to Italy. Ever.

[ebeth]

I'm the asshole who didn't read the replies.

if this conference would give you a significant career boost then I would go. no question.

however, you are not going to get a great performance at chicago jet lagged. and I certainly wouldn't want 5 months of marathon training on the line for a race that I was running jet lagged. one of my slowest halfs to date is the one I tried to do 5 days after getting back from stockholm.

I'd also run chicago, but do it as a training run. easy run. LOTS of walking.

then, balls to wall at MCM.

[labbie]

I would defer Chicago, go to Italy and run Marine Corps.

[clseale]

Jul 25, 2014 12:15:08 GMT -5 emilyinchile said:

Given all your updates, it sounds like you would really rather do Chicago and like you don't think that missing out on the conference is a big deal career-wise. I don't know that I would do the same - I think it's hard for me to wrap my head around something like that being ok to miss because it just wouldn't be in my position, plus I think I would feel guilty putting play over work - but that doesn't mean it's the wrong choice for you!

Yeah, after reading all of the replies, this is where I'm at. It sounds like you want to run Chicago, and your mind is made up. There's nothing wrong with that. Who cares what we would do? All of our situations are completely different than yours. Hearing you talk about Chicago, it sounds like you would have more regrets over missing that, than you would over missing this conference. It also sounds like your DH fully supports that decision. You go do @vtcupcake, and rock your ass through 26.2 miles of Chi Town. No regrets. 

[Wines Not Whines]

I think it's a no-brainer to go to Italy and run MCM instead of Chicago in October. But I don't know if you have strong reasons for wanting to run the Chicago marathon in particular, as opposed to a different marathon. I'd see this as a sign -- you got into both race lotteries so you'd have a backup!

[ktzmoh]

Sucks that they wouldn't pick up reg fees for you. They are killers. Good luck finding funding, though it seems like either outcome will be a good one for you.

[clseale]

Just throwing this out there, but for your 2nd marathon, if you want to do well, run easy or not, there's no way I'd cover 26.2 miles two weeks before a marathon. Nope. No way. Take it from someone who was not tapered enough for Chicago, after a two week taper. My legs did not feel fresh. I would absolutely defer. runaways, get in here!

I know others on this board have done similar things (but maybe 3 weeks apart?), and with more marathon experience. Race 2 being your A race is tricky.



ETA: The good thing is that you have some time to figure it out. This could be a non-issue.