WinesNotWhines

[lb2006]

Wines Not Whines - last year when you ran your back-to-back marathons, were they exactly a month apart?  And - how do you feel about two marathons a month apart? 


Just wondering

[clseale]

Apr 30, 2014 10:42:14 GMT -5 lb2006 said:

Wines Not Whines - last year when you ran your back-to-back marathons, were they exactly a month apart?  And - how do you feel about two marathons a month apart? 


Just wondering

False!

I believe her 2nd was better than her first. There's a weird breed of bad ass around here. 

[kams]

Apr 30, 2014 11:05:18 GMT -5 clseale said:

Apr 30, 2014 10:42:14 GMT -5 lb2006 said:

Wines Not Whines - last year when you ran your back-to-back marathons, were they exactly a month apart?  And - how do you feel about two marathons a month apart? 


Just wondering

False!

I believe her 2nd was better than her first. There's a weird breed of bad ass around here. 

It's in the nuun.

[clseale]

Then there are the people who say they are going to run two 1 month apart...but then they run Chicago and are all "Ha! Totally joking. Savannah? Yeah...I'm going to run the half. Lets move that 2nd marathon back 12 weeks."  :^)

[Wines Not Whines]

This thread is hilarious. Yes, I ran two marathons three weeks apart. To be honest, after running the first one, I was not looking forward to the second one very much. I was tired and I wanted a break. I told myself I was going to take the second one easy, and just try enjoy the experience and have fun, and not worry about my pace. It was a destination race 3 hours away, so I figured I'd make a fun weekend out of it. It ended up being a really good experience, and I PRed by 3 or 4 minutes.

I think it helped that I didn't feel any pressure for that second race. I tend to get really anxious before marathons. Training is so arduous, and everything is riding on having a good day (really a good ~4 hours), so I feel a lot of pressure to make all of the training seem worth it. I think it helped a lot that I felt zero pressure for the second marathon. Some people are able to do that without running two races, but apparently I'm not.

I'm only planning to run one marathon this fall, but just in case, I already booked a hotel room for a second marathon 3 weeks later (the same one I ran last year). I can cancel it if I don't need it. But I like knowing there's the option for me to run a second race if the first one is a complete debacle (if I get sick, or if the weather is horrible, or whatever). So yes, I would consider doing it again. But then I would take a LONG break afterwards and not plan any more races (other than maybe some 5ks and 10ks) for a few months.

[skwcm80]

Apr 30, 2014 11:42:43 GMT -5 kams said:

Apr 30, 2014 11:05:18 GMT -5 clseale said:

False!

I believe her 2nd was better than her first. There's a weird breed of bad ass around here. 

It's in the nuun.

::puts nuun on shopping list::

[lb2006]

Apr 30, 2014 11:42:43 GMT -5 kams said:

Apr 30, 2014 11:05:18 GMT -5 clseale said:

False!

I believe her 2nd was better than her first. There's a weird breed of bad ass around here. 

It's in the nuun.

Damn it, then.  I don't like nuun

[Wines Not Whines]

Apr 30, 2014 12:47:02 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Apr 30, 2014 12:32:30 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

This thread is hilarious. Yes, I ran two marathons three weeks apart. To be honest, after running the first one, I was not looking forward to the second one very much. I was tired and I wanted a break. I told myself I was going to take the second one easy, and just try enjoy the experience and have fun, and not worry about my pace. It was a destination race 3 hours away, so I figured I'd make a fun weekend out of it. It ended up being a really good experience, and I PRed by 3 or 4 minutes.

I think it helped that I didn't feel any pressure for that second race. I tend to get really anxious before marathons. Training is so arduous, and everything is riding on having a good day (really a good ~4 hours), so I feel a lot of pressure to make all of the training seem worth it. I think it helped a lot that I felt zero pressure for the second marathon. Some people are able to do that without running two races, but apparently I'm not.

I'm only planning to run one marathon this fall, but just in case, I already booked a hotel room for a second marathon 3 weeks later (the same one I ran last year). I can cancel it if I don't need it. But I like knowing there's the option for me to run a second race if the first one is a complete debacle (if I get sick, or if the weather is horrible, or whatever). So yes, I would consider doing it again. But then I would take a LONG break afterwards and not plan any more races (other than maybe some 5ks and 10ks) for a few months.

I love all of this

I can definitely attest to that feeling for race #2, it's what I experienced this weekend with my back to back halfs. All through training I put zero pressure on myself to get through the miles on the second weekend day, and had the goal of just finishing "with a smile" for Nike on Sunday. I even turned my Garmin back to the clock so I wouldn't watch-watch and psyche myself out. Not even thinking about racing that second one and I almost PRed it. It's funny what our bodies let us do when we just let them do their thing. 

I did the same thing with my Garmin during marathon #2 last fall. I flipped it back to show my pace around mile 20, and I was truly shocked that I was ahead of my time from marathon #1.

I also think it's possible I didn't taper enough for marathon #1. I did a traditional 3 week taper, and I was following a good training plan, but I increased my mileage a lot during that training cycle, and I may have needed a longer or more tapery taper. I ran very little between marathons 1 and 2, and I felt better rested for it. I was worried I was *too* rested, but maybe I have no idea what it feels like to be well-rested!

[lb2006]

Apr 30, 2014 12:59:58 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Apr 30, 2014 12:47:02 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

I love all of this

I can definitely attest to that feeling for race #2, it's what I experienced this weekend with my back to back halfs. All through training I put zero pressure on myself to get through the miles on the second weekend day, and had the goal of just finishing "with a smile" for Nike on Sunday. I even turned my Garmin back to the clock so I wouldn't watch-watch and psyche myself out. Not even thinking about racing that second one and I almost PRed it. It's funny what our bodies let us do when we just let them do their thing. 

I did the same thing with my Garmin during marathon #2 last fall. I flipped it back to show my pace around mile 20, and I was truly shocked that I was ahead of my time from marathon #1.

I also think it's possible I didn't taper enough for marathon #1. I did a traditional 3 week taper, and I was following a good training plan, but I increased my mileage a lot during that training cycle, and I may have needed a longer or more tapery taper. I ran very little between marathons 1 and 2, and I felt better rested for it. I was worried I was *too* rested, but maybe I have no idea what it feels like to be well-rested!

I'm going to think on this......you did Pfitz, right?

[cinco]

Apr 30, 2014 12:32:30 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

This thread is hilarious. Yes, I ran two marathons three weeks apart. To be honest, after running the first one, I was not looking forward to the second one very much. I was tired and I wanted a break. I told myself I was going to take the second one easy, and just try enjoy the experience and have fun, and not worry about my pace. It was a destination race 3 hours away, so I figured I'd make a fun weekend out of it. It ended up being a really good experience, and I PRed by 3 or 4 minutes.

I think it helped that I didn't feel any pressure for that second race. I tend to get really anxious before marathons. Training is so arduous, and everything is riding on having a good day (really a good ~4 hours), so I feel a lot of pressure to make all of the training seem worth it. I think it helped a lot that I felt zero pressure for the second marathon. Some people are able to do that without running two races, but apparently I'm not.

I'm only planning to run one marathon this fall, but just in case, I already booked a hotel room for a second marathon 3 weeks later (the same one I ran last year). I can cancel it if I don't need it. But I like knowing there's the option for me to run a second race if the first one is a complete debacle (if I get sick, or if the weather is horrible, or whatever). So yes, I would consider doing it again. But then I would take a LONG break afterwards and not plan any more races (other than maybe some 5ks and 10ks) for a few months.

I felt the same way about MCM. It was just going to be my fun bonus race, but I ended up having the most even split I've ever had in a marathon. I thought I was done by mile 11, but the atmosphere was so positive and my legs just kept doing their thing. During training I wanted to get used to running on tired legs, so I would run 10 miles the day before a long run. I also did heavy leg workouts followed by a double digit the next day, or spin followed by a one hour run. Basically the things our ultra ladies and bad ass tri ladies do on the regular. 

I did say I'd probably never do it again, but I still find myself getting sucked into wanting to do Freedom's Run again. This time there is a 3 week difference though! I will say I did not do much running for the next 2 months, so it does suck your motivation. Also, my stomach was destroyed for days after MCM and I felt faint after. I think it was my body telling me it wasn't the best plan. No regrets though b/c it was a good time.

[Wines Not Whines]

Apr 30, 2014 13:06:05 GMT -5 lb2006 said:

Apr 30, 2014 12:59:58 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

I did the same thing with my Garmin during marathon #2 last fall. I flipped it back to show my pace around mile 20, and I was truly shocked that I was ahead of my time from marathon #1.

I also think it's possible I didn't taper enough for marathon #1. I did a traditional 3 week taper, and I was following a good training plan, but I increased my mileage a lot during that training cycle, and I may have needed a longer or more tapery taper. I ran very little between marathons 1 and 2, and I felt better rested for it. I was worried I was *too* rested, but maybe I have no idea what it feels like to be well-rested!

I'm going to think on this......you did Pfitz, right?

Yes, I did a modified version of Pfitz 18/55. It was more like 16/55 because I started 17 weeks out and then took a week off for travel.

[psyri]

I ran 2 marathons 4 weeks (technically 27 days) apart back in 2012. Not sure I would do it again, but it worked at the time. The second marathon was by qualification only, so I didn't know I was going to do it until I had my qualification in hand at the first marathon. I was ready to sign up for the second marathon literally on crossing the finish line of the first. Crazy lady.

[shellfish26]

Apr 30, 2014 12:39:29 GMT -5 lb2006 said:

Apr 30, 2014 11:42:43 GMT -5 kams said:

It's in the nuun.

Damn it, then.  I don't like nuun

Does anyone?? 

[Wines Not Whines]

Apr 30, 2014 14:06:26 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Apr 30, 2014 13:11:45 GMT -5 cinco said:

I felt the same way about MCM. It was just going to be my fun bonus race, but I ended up having the most even split I've ever had in a marathon. I thought I was done by mile 11, but the atmosphere was so positive and my legs just kept doing their thing. During training I wanted to get used to running on tired legs, so I would run 10 miles the day before a long run. I also did heavy leg workouts followed by a double digit the next day, or spin followed by a one hour run. Basically the things our ultra ladies and bad ass tri ladies do on the regular. 

I did say I'd probably never do it again, but I still find myself getting sucked into wanting to do Freedom's Run again. This time there is a 3 week difference though! I will say I did not do much running for the next 2 months, so it does suck your motivation. Also, my stomach was destroyed for days after MCM and I felt faint after. I think it was my body telling me it wasn't the best plan. No regrets though b/c it was a good time.

Do you and Wines Not Whines think that the extra week in between makes a huge difference as compared to two weeks apart? WnW where were you and how were you feeling two weeks out from MCM?

I think the extra week makes a difference, because you're more rested and recovered from the first race. It might be comparable to doing a 2-week taper vs a 3-week taper after a long marathon training cycle. I probably could have run a marathon 2 weeks after MCM, but my legs would've been more tired. 

Are you considering doing both Chicago and MCM? I would play it by ear. Set up all of your plans for both races, including (refundable!) hotel rooms, and then if you're really not feeling it, you can bail.

[lb2006]

Apr 30, 2014 14:30:22 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Apr 30, 2014 14:06:26 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Do you and Wines Not Whines think that the extra week in between makes a huge difference as compared to two weeks apart? WnW where were you and how were you feeling two weeks out from MCM?

I think the extra week makes a difference, because you're more rested and recovered from the first race. It might be comparable to doing a 2-week taper vs a 3-week taper after a long marathon training cycle. I probably could have run a marathon 2 weeks after MCM, but my legs would've been more tired. 

Are you considering doing both Chicago and MCM? I would play it by ear. Set up all of your plans for both races, including (refundable!) hotel rooms, and then if you're really not feeling it, you can bail.

I'm just thinking out loud, but would have three weekends between both fulls.  I typically fully rest most of the week and may do a shake-out around the end of the week.  How did you do your recovery week after MCM?

[cinco]

I think my legs would have felt better 3w out vs. 2, but I would have also had an extra week to think, "Why in the hell am I doing this?" I ran very little in those two weeks, all 3-4's with one 8 miler a week out.

[lb2006]

Apr 30, 2014 14:57:10 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Apr 30, 2014 14:53:46 GMT -5 cinco said:

I think my legs would have felt better 3w out vs. 2, but I would have also had an extra week to think, "Why in the hell am I doing this?" I ran very little in those two weeks, all 3-4's with one 8 miler a week out.

So I looked at MCM's deferral plan and it's only open for the month of August. I thought I would have had longer to decide! But it's good to know that it's doable (and probably better that way with less time to think!) if not completely mental

and if you considered selling vs deferral, PM me!

[Wines Not Whines]

I didn't run very much the week after MCM. I think I ran 3 miles Wed and Fri, and then 5-6 miles on Saturday. On Week 2 I ran some 5 milers during the week, and I think my long run was 8 miles. The third week I think I ran 5, 4, and 3 on Mon, Wed, and Thurs, and the weekend was the second marathon.