Half Marathons on consecutive weekends?

[lil mermaid]

What do you think? Would you do it? I am registered for the WDW half, which as y'all know is January 9, 2010.

A couple of my good friends here in Houston have started running and have signed up for USAfit and will be running the Houston Half Marathon, which is January 17, 2010. In addition, most of the ladies in my running group, who I have been running with for about a year and a half now, are planning to do the Houston half as well. I don't want to miss out on the fun!

I haven't done a half before, at least not officially. I was supposed to do one in early May, but it was cancelled at the last minute due to the weather (rain - and part of the course was completely underwater.) The following weekend, though, my friends and I staged our own unofficial half. We had our families do water stations, etc. It was kind of a disaster for me, as I had some kind of stomach bug and had bad cramps during the last five or so miles. Also - there really wasn't that race adrenaline thing happening. Still, I finished in about 2:36. So I have run that distance, though only once.

I don't plan on doing any other half marathons before January, although I am planning on doing a ten mile race in early October.

So - would you do it? Two half marathons in eight days? If you would, would you try to do your best on the first one, and then take it easy a bit on the second if necessary, or vice versa?

I don't want to ask my running coach, because I know he will yell at me, LOL.....

 

[thndrmatt]

I'm not gonna say that I did the DW full and the Houston full back to back last year but well... If DW is your "A" race then just plan on enjoying Houston, and vice versa. Treat it like a recovery run, or a long taper run, depending on which you're doing.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at DW "taking it easy" so to speak while encouraging dozens of WISHers, and then still managed to PR in Houston although it wasn't pretty.

It all depends on your priorities...

Why do long runs by yourself when you can do races?!?

 

[tiberius]

I don't want to ask my running coach, because I know he will yell at me, LOL.....

Then don't ask him if you know we'll give you the answer you want.

Are you running Woodlands Fit? I did that group for the last couple of years, lots of good people there. I don't see why not, as long as you don't go full race pace for Disney and leave yourself unable to really do even OK at Houston the next week.
BTW, I'll be at all those races you mention so I'll say "Hi" if I can pick out a fellow local DIS WISHer out of the crowd.

 

[FireDancer]

I think it is possible but it all depends on your running base. In a couple weeks I will be up to the point where my long run each week will be at least half marathon distance because I am training for a full in October. If you have the ability to run 13 miles per week in a single run I don't see why you couldn't get the miles in at a race.

Just keep in mind that if you push for a PR at the first one you may not have time to recover for the second.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I agree that it depends on your base. I did 2 50K mountain trail runs 6 days apart before. The first went well but I felt it 6 days later in the mountains of Lake Tahoe!

Good luck!

 

[Duanerice]

Go for it! Just get a good base. Heck many of us do a 5K, half and full in the same weekend . Just need to get the miles in ahead of time.

Maybe just have fun at Disney so you can keep up with your friends in Houston.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I see no reason for you to deny yourself these two events. If you continue your training, you definitely have the time limit in the bag for both, you could slow down and enjoy a bit or do as you desire. Only thing is you may have to pick one to blow it all out. DW is a tough one for that PR kind of thing I would say. Have all kinds of fun at DW, take pics enjoy and do what you are able in Houston. That's what I'd be doing. Whatever you decide, I know you can do it.

 

[Creativebeth]

I ran 3 1/2 marathons last September.....2 of them were back to back weekends. I ran to run......didn't try to PR any of them. I ran to finsh. Depends on what your priority is. I certainly wouldn't try to run both full out. Figure out what you want to get done, which race means more, and back off the other and run to finish.

Beth

 

[lil mermaid]

Thanks everyone for your opinions. I sort of like the idea of treating the first race as a (very large) group training run, and the second as the real thing.

Oh, and thanks for not telling me I am crazy, even if you secretly think it, LOL.

 

[lil mermaid]

Then don't ask him if you know we'll give you the answer you want.

Are you running Woodlands Fit? I did that group for the last couple of years, lots of good people there. I don't see why not, as long as you don't go full race pace for Disney and leave yourself unable to really do even OK at Houston the next week.
BTW, I'll be at all those races you mention so I'll say "Hi" if I can pick out a fellow local DIS WISHer out of the crowd.

You are right, Richard - I figured I would be more likely to get the answer I wanted here, LOL.

I am not doing Woodlands Fit, but I have a couple of friends who are. I have another group that I run with regularly, and several are planning to do the Houston half. I am thinking of maybe doing the Houston Full marathon in 2011 and will probably do Woodlands fit for that.

Loved your blog! I volunteered at the CB&I Tri and thought it was really an awesome event! I have decided I want to do some sort of tri next year, but am really lacking in the swimming area. I just started swimming a couple of weeks ago with that in mind.

I am sure that I will run into you one of these days! Are you planning to do the Ten for Texas?

 

[geaux_half]

Did you end up registering for the Houston 1/2? Registration opened at 12:01 am and the half closed at 8:45 pm the same day (Friday July 17th). I hear there are about 1,000 marathon entries still available.

 

[tiberius]

You are right, Richard - I figured I would be more likely to get the answer I wanted here, LOL.

I am not doing Woodlands Fit, but I have a couple of friends who are. I have another group that I run with regularly, and several are planning to do the Houston half. I am thinking of maybe doing the Houston Full marathon in 2011 and will probably do Woodlands fit for that.

Loved your blog! I volunteered at the CB&I Tri and thought it was really an awesome event! I have decided I want to do some sort of tri next year, but am really lacking in the swimming area. I just started swimming a couple of weeks ago with that in mind.

I am sure that I will run into you one of these days! Are you planning to do the Ten for Texas?

Thanks!

I will be running the Ten for Texas. I'll try to wear my WISH visor so you can find me.
I voilunteered at CB&I last year before I ended up doing it this year. I know you'll have a blast, and don't let the swim intimidate you. PM me if you'd like to talk about it at some time.

 

[tiberius]

Pat - I saw that about the Houston Marathon too. They added several thousand spots this year and it's filling so much faster every year.

 

[lil mermaid]

Thanks!

I will be running the Ten for Texas. I'll try to wear my WISH visor so you can find me.
I voilunteered at CB&I last year before I ended up doing it this year. I know you'll have a blast, and don't let the swim intimidate you. PM me if you'd like to talk about it at some time.

Thanks! I plan to work on my swimming for the next several months. I will use that as my main form of cross training for the half (s).

I;ll look for you at the Ten for TExas!