Q+A: Marathons: How far apart should they be?

I completed the London Marathon 2006 having done all the recommended training and have the Edinburgh Marathon approaching on 11th June.

However, since London I had 10 days rest only to come doen with a chest infection and have only managed a few small runs and 2.5 hours on cross trainer.

I'm hoping chest infection totally clears this week leaving me to be able to run 20 miles on Sunday and do a few 5 and 7 miles runs prior to the second marathon.

Will this be sufficient??
Posted: 21/05/2006 at 16:38

I'm doing Edinburgh after doing Lochaber (on the same day as London) with only one long run in between (done today) so hopefully yes!
Posted: 21/05/2006 at 20:17

What sort of marathon times are you achieving?

I did London in 3 hours 42 which is my best to date.

How long was your long run yesterday then and have you done any shorter runs in between?

I'm wanting to do one 20 mile run and a few 5 and 7 milers. Do you think that will enable me to achieve a similar time to London?
Posted: 22/05/2006 at 19:35

Lochaber was a PB at 3 hours 52. Yesterday was about 15 miles. Ideally I'd like to do another long run this weekend but I'm doing a 10k. Hoping for a PB at Edinburgh but not expecting a big leap forward. I'll be trying to stick to 8 minute miles because at Lochaber I went off a bit quicker than that and ended up doing a couple of 13s at the end!
Posted: 22/05/2006 at 20:51

talk to Shades or Plodding Hippo - they run marathons almost every weekend!
Posted: 23/05/2006 at 07:01

I did London Marathon then Halstead 2 weeks after. I just did a 9 mile effort one week and a 5 mile pub run the next week. This seemed to get me round ok albeit slowly.
Posted: 23/05/2006 at 10:10

I have run the last two New York marathons (4.49 and 4.14) but decided to do Dublin this year, instead of New York (Dublin takes place six days before NY). Having sigend up for Dublin, I'm getting withdrawal symptoms about NY and quite fancy doing NY as well - just for the buzz, not for a decent time - am I mad or...?
Posted: 07/03/2007 at 08:04

not mad at all
enjoy
Posted: 07/03/2007 at 08:06

I am doing london on the 22.4 and stockholm on the 9.6, how should i prepare for stockholm? I am hoping for 3.10 in london, if not i will be trying in stockholm.
Posted: 28/03/2007 at 01:02

I did the West Highland Way as 3 1/2 marathons on consecutive days. Must say I was pretty knacked as I was running carring all my camping gear.

Felt humbled at the un-Grizzly when I met some chap who at done the WHW in 22.5 hours in the annual WHW race.

Anyway its on to run 2 in 7 weeks, if you are ready to try it.
Posted: 28/03/2007 at 19:48

Tore
then do London as a slow run, and go for it in Stockholm
Posted: 28/03/2007 at 19:53

evening hippo
im doing lochaber 22/4 and blackpool 3/6 any tips for training in between the 2?
how you keeping?
just been looking at the con thread and see your doing 2 maras this week end your mad!
what you got planned beyond that?
sng
Posted: 28/03/2007 at 20:03

hi sng

erm
been horribly injured
-still am really
flm
stratty
tipton
edinburgh(if mr hippo lets me)
south downs
50 mile thingy in july

a bit less than usual

thats quite a gap

I feel dafy giving advice cos i dont train

but id go for your time at Lochaber
blackpool will be hot wont it

gentle tick over runs for a week or tow after lochaber, then maybe 3 long runs and a cut back wek for blackie
Posted: 28/03/2007 at 20:07

sounds like a plan hipps
less then usual ?? seems quite busy to me!

also thinking robin hood and abingdon have ya done these ?
Posted: 28/03/2007 at 20:11

I have had to cut back
no shorter ones, cos they are faster and 2 weks ago, i could not walk without limping

abingon is BRILLIANT

Never done robin hood
tho mablethorpe is on the same day-and thats a great one
Posted: 28/03/2007 at 20:12

mmm mablethorpe is nearer so thats an option
does abingdon fill up quick?
take care hips
how many maras now?
Posted: 28/03/2007 at 20:14

I have found that "each to their own" - I did London in 2002 and did Belfast 3 weeks later - my body was really struggling at the 24 mile marker in belfast.... but, that was because my body was recovering from London.... in 2006 I decided on 2 marathons in a week to mark my dad's 20th anniversary - Dublin and NYC as Dublin is run on the bank holiday Monday I had 5 days between them... in Dublin I knocked 20 mins from my previous pb, 5 days later knocked a further 30 mins from the pb I set earlier in the week.. but... I had put in the training - each weekend I was 30- 35 miles over the 2 days... I broke up the mileage as well... as I'm a "plodder" time is not an issue - so did a 7 mile route early am, did a few things round the house and garden, then lunch time did another 5 miler, home again, late afternoon another  3 miler and in the late evening another 6 miles or so... therefore the mileage was in my legs - I did a route of 27 miles point to point 5 weeks before Dublin(walking), following week did 18 miles hike in the mountains, next week the 27 miler again.. then broke up the distances again.. it worked for me.. it may not work for somebody else.. this year I'm aiming to do 3 maras in a month and my training so far is going well - might even knock my pb again!   and doing the same type of training - I'm slow so maybe that's why I can do this (6 hours -6 1/2 hours) somebody doing a 4 hour mara may not be able to do it.... so, as I said at the beginning "each to their own" I am the only expert of my body and mind.... and i think that each marathoner or half marathoner is like that too... yes we can take on board what others say... but 2 very similar people in build, speed, stamina etc can have a very different mind set... we are all individuals and we should all acknowledge that!!! 
Posted: 08/02/2008 at 11:57

My sister, having run single marathons before, is going to attempt to do the marathons on Lewis and Harris in May with a day in between. Has anyone out there done something similar and have you got any good training advice or other tips which might help her to achieve this.  I am going along to support her and would like to be able to give her as much help as possible but, as I have only just started runnning myself, this is way beyond my experience!

Thanks

Liz 

Posted: 09/03/2008 at 16:09

Yes, it is achiveable PROVIDED that she doesn't "go wild" and do too much the fiirst day - as in speed.. I have found that to use the mental approach of the first marathon is only half way there, the finish will be in Harris... I am also quite positive that there will be a good number of people who will be doing both - can I suggest you contact the 100 marathon club, specifically those training for the Marathon de Sables I have found they are very approachable and as they do marathons as a "hobby" they might be able to steer your friend in the right direction!!!! On my various hiking holidays i have done 27 miles 2 days running......
Posted: 10/03/2008 at 09:18

Evelyn

 I read you bit with interest. I am doing the London Marthon 26th April 2009. My fist marathon was the Dublin marathon 27 October this year 2008 time 5.55. so I am also at this time a plodder but saying that I plan to do a better time in London. I have been thinking of doing the Edinburgh marathon 31 May but not sure if I am able to take part in that. I thought it would be good to do Ireland England and Scotland marathons. I will not see 56 again.

I am training now and have just bought a heart rate monitor, hope to able to understand how to use it soon as I have heard it could improve my training times.

Mature mum Sheila

Posted: 21/11/2008 at 20:52

Hi Sheila!

London and Edinburgh are a nice combination and should be well within your capabilities!! However, if you feel the time in between is too short and are looking at Scotland could I suggest another one for you to look at.. The Loch Ness one which is held in September.. they encourage all standards which means us plodders are welcome, and even though I've yet to do it.. I haven't heard a bad word said about Ness, equally I haven't heard anything bad about the new Edinburgh route which is apparently a much faster route than London... my only advice is to "pretend" that London is a pracrise for Edinbugh.. a long slow run.. it may happen to be a marathon, but don't go out pushing yourself to the limit.. enjoy the day and experience!! 

I use the same training as what I used ofr my horse when we competed in the endurance discipline, I mainly competed over the 25 - 40 mile distance.. there are very strict vetinary controls before, during and after the race.. and if the horse crossed the line and "wasn't able to go on" they failed and you were eliminated.. that's the same way as I work!! It may seem funny that I should swap over ideas from horses to people but it really has worked for me... Good luck and contact me if you need further advice.. however Plodding Hippo, Shades, and others on here are incredibly helpful too, and they have far more marathon experience than I have.. don't be afraid to contact them as they are incredibly encouraging to EVERYBODY!!!

Best wishes

Evelyn 

   

Posted: 24/11/2008 at 09:12

Cheers Evelyn

 I'm doing the Loch ness marthon 4th October, decided against the Edinburgh marathon after the FLM.

I'm going the FLM in Fancy a Honey Bee, I watch to dress different than out on the roads as I train. I'm not looking forward to mile 19 onwards.

 Did some cross training today Cardio. Treadmill 21 mins which included some fast work. Four minutes running stead and three lots of 2 minutes fast at speed 9. I want to do more work in the gym as my right knee is slightly tender. I always train on the country roads where I live in Suffolk.

I do hope to get a better time than 5.55 in London. Ideally I'd really like to do a sub 5!!!

Looking forward to 26 April thirteen days after my 58th birthday.

Kind Regards

Sheila

Posted: 24/02/2009 at 20:11

Wonderful news Sheila!!

You will really enjoy Ness!  After London and the city streets the rural route that Ness takes you on will give you a different experience and I hope one that you will enjoy!!!!   Taking my home one out (Dublin) my 2 favourite marathons are as diverse as NYC amongst skyscrapers and a major city with 42,000 others plodding away the other? Newry last May which spent 2 miles along streets and 24.2 miles along country roads and laneways with skylarks and farm animals the only sign of life as there were 350 competitors!! Hope all goes well for you!! Hey... why not Wales too? There are a number of really nice marathons in Wales.. a tough one is the Snowdonia marathon which does have a bit off road at the end of October!!!!

 best wishes

Evelyn  

Posted: 25/02/2009 at 09:48