Too many races, too little time
dorianaldyn
Posts: 611 Member
I keep finding races that I want to do. For example, just heard about a marathon up in NorCal that sounds perfect for me AND it's only $55 (cheap for a marathon!). The problem? It's on 10/20 and I've already signed up for a marathon on 9/29 and a half marathon a week later, on 10/5. Doing another marathon 10/20 just seems like it'll be too much. I know the smart thing would be to just keep it in mind for next year, but darnit! I want to do it NOW!
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I'm jealous of there being so many great races for you to choose from! As great as our running community is here it goes dead between Nov-April, with good reason, this year I may do the hypothermic half. During winter is when I do a lot more strength training and try to maintain my endurance running 3 days per week, while hibernating... If I lived where it didn't snow so much I'd be a total race junkie.0
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A month is fine. Bail on the half.
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DO IT0
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I would race every weekend if I had the money...of course the ones I'm looking to do are only between 10 miles and about 17-18, so it's not as hard on my body as a full marathon...
But I'm sure once I start doing marathons I'll be in the same boat...I love racing!0 -
I'm jealous of there being so many great races for you to choose from! As great as our running community is here it goes dead between Nov-April, with good reason, this year I may do the hypothermic half. During winter is when I do a lot more strength training and try to maintain my endurance running 3 days per week, while hibernating... If I lived where it didn't snow so much I'd be a total race junkie.
We're just getting geared up for race season down here. I wouldn't think of running anything May to September. I almost died of heatstroke on the race I did in April.0 -
My $.02 - approach with caution. I'm not sure how many marathons you have under your belt, but it took me quite a few before I was ready to run them close to one another.
It also depends whether or not your racing at your LSD pace or chasing a PR/BQ every time out. If you recover well from your 20+ milers, then you can use the first race as a 26.2 mile training run.0 -
There is no way I would run more than 3 marathons a year. 2 is probably optimal. To this point, I've never run more than one marathon a year.0
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Find a third a month later and you can be a bronze (the lowest level) level marathon maniac.
But "run" vs. "race" is quite different. I've done 20+ mile runs for the past three weeks as long runs, but I sure wasn't racing! I was planning to do Marine Corps a month before the JFK50, but I plan to "race" JFK and I know I would be gunning for a faster time for my marathon, so I'm doing a solo "easy" 50k 6 weeks before instead rather than set myself up for disappointment in the 50. It all depends on your approach. Carson probably leaves it all out there in a way I could only dream of doing (or could only do after years of high volume training.)
With my goal of 100 miles by next year (just under 4 marathons in a day :laugh: ) I'm probably not the one to ask if doing two a month apart is "okay."0 -
Im skeered to do a marathon 9 weeks apart from another. I don't think my joints could handle it. I know what you mean though. Hard to work them in where you want to. I am going conservative this year because i tried to race too much last year and bonked a 14 mile long at 4 miles. I just wasnt recovering. Thi year picked and spread them out through my marathon training plan and gave myself 12 weeks before the marathon with no racing. Im hoping that will work out better.0
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I was able to recover from my 20 mile training run before my first marathon no problem, but I swear I could feel the fatigue in my muscles after the marathon for a month or so after. So, I know it just wouldn't be a wise decision for me. I just wish I was younger/stronger/better/etc., so that I could handle that running load! I'll keep this particular race in mind for next year and with all this lead time, we can plan the trip right... maybe rent an RV and make a fun little family vacation out of it. Gives me some time to save up for a good wide angle lens to shoot all those giant redwoods where the race is held (photography is my other love).
See all the talking points I'm telling myself to convince myself that waiting a year makes the most sense?! ha ha.0 -
I think it depends on how you approach them - are you running all out trying to get PRs? Or are you just going to run some of them for fun and take it easy?
I do way shorter races than you, but I go all out at them so I limit myself to one a month. For marathons, I can only imagine you should give yourself a couple months between each one if you're really putting it all out there. Unless in you're in peak shape and have been doing this for years...0 -
My thought is, if I'm just going to run 26.2 miles to "have fun" and not race it, I can do that for free. If I'm going to spend money (and some of these races are outrageous), then you bet your compression socks that I'm going to race it.
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Wi Fi High Five.My thought is, if I'm just going to run 26.2 miles to "have fun" and not race it, I can do that for free. If I'm going to spend money (and some of these races are outrageous), then you bet your compression socks that I'm going to race it.0 -
I know a guy here in town who is 75. Last year his goal, and he hit it, was to do as many races as his age. Now, he is not doing anything longer than a 10k save for one half he does. But still!0
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I'm jealous of there being so many great races for you to choose from! As great as our running community is here it goes dead between Nov-April, with good reason, this year I may do the hypothermic half. During winter is when I do a lot more strength training and try to maintain my endurance running 3 days per week, while hibernating... If I lived where it didn't snow so much I'd be a total race junkie.
We're just getting geared up for race season down here. I wouldn't think of running anything May to September. I almost died of heatstroke on the race I did in April.
I am signed up for the Hottest Half at Whiterock next weekend. I am hoping this slightly cooler weather hangs around until then. 0 -
I'm jealous of there being so many great races for you to choose from! As great as our running community is here it goes dead between Nov-April, with good reason, this year I may do the hypothermic half. During winter is when I do a lot more strength training and try to maintain my endurance running 3 days per week, while hibernating... If I lived where it didn't snow so much I'd be a total race junkie.
We're just getting geared up for race season down here. I wouldn't think of running anything May to September. I almost died of heatstroke on the race I did in April.
I am signed up for the Hottest Half at Whiterock next weekend. I am hoping this slightly cooler weather hangs around until then.
You are brave!!!0 -
There is no way I would run more than 3 marathons a year. 2 is probably optimal. To this point, I've never run more than one marathon a year.
Lelisa Desisa's last 8 months:
2:04:45 1st in Dubai in debut
2:10:22 1st in Boston
2:10:12 2nd at World Champs0 -
My thought is, if I'm just going to run 26.2 miles to "have fun" and not race it, I can do that for free. If I'm going to spend money (and some of these races are outrageous), then you bet your compression socks that I'm going to race it.
Exactly. This is why I only race Half marathons and above. Doing 5K and 10Ks are something that if I want them to be relatively accurate, I could just do a tempo run.0 -
There is no way I would run more than 3 marathons a year. 2 is probably optimal. To this point, I've never run more than one marathon a year.
Lelisa Desisa's last 8 months:
2:04:45 1st in Dubai in debut
2:10:22 1st in Boston
2:10:12 2nd at World Champs
Ian Sharman just WON the Leadville 100 in a field that included ultra legend Scott Jurek. It was his third 100 miler since June 29. He's hoping to break the Grand Slam Record of 74:54 for four 100 milers (Western States, Vermont, Leadville, Wasatch) that take place between June 29 and September 6. He's currently at 48:47 and change- looks like the record is on target to be crushed this year.0 -
There is no way I would run more than 3 marathons a year. 2 is probably optimal. To this point, I've never run more than one marathon a year.
Lelisa Desisa's last 8 months:
2:04:45 1st in Dubai in debut
2:10:22 1st in Boston
2:10:12 2nd at World Champs
Notice I said "I" wouldn't run more than 3. I know my body and mind better than anyone. Are there people that can run more and perform well? Sure, just not this guy.0
