Back-to-Back Marathons
November 6, 2007 by Maggie Mason
Since I didn’t–couldn’t!–run hard in Twin Cities (with the exception of the first 15 and last 5 minutes), I decided to go after my PR in Sacramento on December 2. That gives me 8 weeks between marathons. Running back-to-back marathons is tricky, because you have to recover enough to train at a high level again, but not so much that you lose your fitness.
I ran two marathons 6 weeks apart in 2002, with very good results. Los Angeles in March was hot and hard, and I still managed a 3:25 finish. So I wasn’t expecting a fast April race in Boston, and went out with the sole purpose of enjoying myself. I did all the things you don’t do when you’re serious about racing: chatted with other runners, waved to good-looking men on the sidelines, blew kisses to the Wellesley girls, high-fived toddlers and other assorted tots, smiled a lot, and only glanced at my watch as a sort of amusing reference. When I reached the halfway point, I still felt good, and expected things to go downhill as the course went uphill. Instead, I felt better and better. At mile 22, I realized I was on pace for a PR, and turned on the jets to run a negative split 3:23–a PR for me at the time.
I don’t think I’ve ever run a more enjoyable race. I savored every minute, AND kicked heiney. Something in me knows I probably under-ran the race, that if I was capable of negative splitting and walking away from the finish line feeling steady and almost bouncy, I left a faster race in my legs. But I prefer to think I ran so well because I was relaxed and flexible. Joy helps, too.
The experience left me with a respect for the notion of running back-to-back marathons. I’m going to give it another try in a little over three weeks. I’ve got my plane ticket, but I’m waiting to register until the day before the race. I’m through with extreme-weather marathons. If there’s a heavy storm on the way, or predicted gale force headwinds, I’ll just cheer on my friends and sneak into Arizona in January.
OK, if there are gale force winds, and snow, I may join you and Dianna in Arizona.
I don’t care how bad the weather is, I still won’t join you and Dianna in Arizona. I can cheer from here and the comfort of my HALF-marathons. I’m uberglad you’re feeling good enough to get in that great race you’re so ready for (or should I write “for which you’re so ready” so you don’t attack my poor grammar? wink, wink.) Now, YOU BE CAREFUL! And kick some heiney.