Two half marathons in 2 weeks?

[JCH]

I may have had a moment of crazy and signed up for 2 half marathons back to back. The first is A1A on Feb 17th, and the second is the Princess. I had already planned on using the Higdon Intermediate plan to get ready for the Princess as it's my 5th half and I want to break 3 hours (yeah, I'm slow!). My previous PR is 3:06. Since there is a 12 mile run the week before, it seemed logical to go ahead and do a half.

Should this be a problem? A1A has a time limit of 6 hours, so I can do it as a super slow training run and then race the Princess. Or would it be a better idea to train up to the A1A and then take the Princess nice and slow? Advice?

 

[steph0808]

I did two half marathons back to back during this marathon training cycle. I subbed them in for an 11-miler and a 12-miler. I ended up racing the first one and just doing the second one as a training run.

So I would do whichever you are more comfortable with. If you are going to do photo stops during the Princess and are going to be slower anyway, then I would race the A1A and run the Princess at a training pace.

If you want to try and set your PR at the Princess and won't be stopping for pictures, etc., then I would run the A1A at a slow training pace and race the Princess.

 

[cewait]

Go for it. Though i would not run either slower than your training pace. Injuries can occur if you try to go much slower than where you normally train.

 

[Reep]

Just pick which one you want to race, and do the other one at training pace. Totally up to you. Princess may be a bit more congested though.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

My strategy has been to give my all with the first one, and just rely on how I feel for the second one. I don't think it is ever possible to speed up for the second one, but I am sure some are able to. The key to surviving that is all in your recovery. I have always stuck to CW-X compression tights and added Endurox R4 recovery drink (I prefer the chocolate) and I just have a bottle with the powder that I mix with water as soon as I finish.

I will say that once you start doing races close together, it is the most empowering feeling. Somewhat exhausting as well.

 

[FFigawi]

If you want your PR to occur at the Princess, then I'd treat the first one as a training run and run at your normal training pace, being careful not to get caught up in the excitement of the race and end up running too fast. If it were me, I'd go for my PR at the first one and then spend the Princess enjoying myself and taking pictures at all of the character stops along the way. To me, that's what Disney races are all about. Other races are for PRs.

 

[JCH]

Okay, so it seems the consensus is to race A1A and then take my time with Princess. In that case, should I start with Week 2 of the Higdon plan so that I have finished it before A1A and then just do a short recovery run or two in between that and the Princess? I just did a half marathon on Sunday, took Monday/Tuesday off from running (just did some Pilates for stretching), so will start up running again today.