Training & Nutrition - Question for long distance endurance athletes.

Hey has anyone ever trained for a marathon and a century at the same time? I want to do several centuries in September and October, and I also want to do a Marathon during the first weekend of October(first one).

I decided that I'm going to run the Portland Marathon over the first weekend in October cause A) I want to say that I've run the 26.2 miles B) I want to see how fast I can run it.

Do you guys think it's possible to balance the training so that both can be done? Do you think the cross training will hinder the cycling? Does anyone know of a good resource that might help me plan the training to do this?

Any advice would be appreciated,

Jay

Jay,

I haven't trained for both, but I have trained for duathlons and triathlons so I've had to train for both events at the same time. You can balance the training you'll need to complete both events. Basically you want to do an ironman tri, but one separate days and without the running :)

Take a look at some of the ironman training schedules on the net to get an idea of the training required. One term you may see is brick - this is typically a bike ride followed by a run. In your case I think a reverse brick may be beneficial. Try running followed by a bike ride.

Just be careful with your training you don't want to get injured.

Good Luck!

Zack

Jay -

I've just come thru London marathon, in the middle of a 300k and 400k ride.

ie:
6th April 300k ride
13th April London marathon
26th April 400k ride

I don't know if I have any great advice to give because a hip injury (pulled piriformis & gluteous medius muscles) put paid to my running training about 8 weeks before race day. I'd only just got in the first 20 mile training run and was doing about 40 miles per week running.

Cycling training was limited to daily commute & 200k ride every fortnight.

Luckily the sore hip didn't prevent me cycling, and in fact the rest from running got tme to the marathon startline, albeit woefully undertrained. I achieved a personal worst of 4:20 (pb is 3:21)

So the upshot is: it can be done, but getting the best out of training and avoiding overtraining and injury is a tricky balance

Stew

I run a marathon each October myself. I won't be doing any organized centuries this year, but I do plan some "pedal-camp-pedal" trips to the State Parks around my area. These would be about 80-90 mile days back to back.

I would view this as a scheduling problem. I wouldn't want to ride a century while tapering for the marathon for example.

For my marathon training last year, I peaked at about 80-90 miles per week and maintained that about 6-8 weeks before a two week taper. This was mostly off of singles, but there were a few doubles thrown in as commutes to and from work. The taper was 75%/mpw the first week and 50%/mpw the second week, dropping the volume but keeping the intensity up. Last year I did no speedwork beyond the occasional fartlek during a tempo run or LSD (just for fun with no plan at all).

Given that it is possible to run an enjoyable marathon with half that amount of running (35-45mpw), you should be able to train for a century at the same time.

IMHO the key will be getting your long runs in regularly. I would want to get in at least 2 twenty milers in the last month before the taper. You could substitute your long cycling days for your "shorter" LSD runs (15-20miles).

Given that this your first marathon, I would dump the speedwork altogether. Interval running work is too punishing to do whle trying to train for long distance cycling at the same time. It also doesn't matter that much as the tempo runs or LSD for someone running a first marathon.

good luck

Dan

Japple: Don't skimp on the LSDs, especially the 18-24 milers at the peak of your training. You can probably substitute a 30-40 mile ride for a 7-10 mile run once or twice a week, though.

I hear Portland is a great marathon. I may have to try that one myself. And you've got the MCM right in your hometown, a wonderful first-timer's marathon.

Good luck!

Hey Guys, thanks for your suggestions, encouragment and the sharing of your experiences. It's certainly a good idea to train intelligently, and not over do it.

Well, I've started my running, and boy is it tough!! I mean, I can ride my bike 100 miles and be ready to ride the next day without any problems, but I'm sore as hell from running just 3 miles. Rome certainly wasn't built in a day. LOL!!! I guess this running thing takes patience.

What I think I'll do, is really focus on cycling for the first half of the summer, as I have 130 mile bike rides planned for the next 6 weekends, and then transition from biking to running in July. This will allow to slowly build up for the run and, completely recover from the long distance cycling.

Ok, I know this is my first marathon, but I totally want to break 3:20. I know speed work, and strength training is crucial to good cycling, and I'm assuming it's the same for running. Perhaps, the intervals I'm doing on the bike will pay off big dividends on the run...... We'll see.

If anyone is interested in doing a marathon in October, and comparing training
notes, let me know.

Jason

Jason: I am doing a marathon in November... is that close enough?

3:20 is an incredibly fast first marathon..... GOOD LUCK!!!

well Jason, i don't know how much this will help, but...

in 1999 i was mostly cycling, but also doing some triathlons and adventure racing and i decided to also do the Portland Marathon.

anyway, my mix of training was about like that for triathletes except the cycling doubled and the swimming halved, plus a bunch of long runs.

i was shooting for a first Marathon ever of 3:30 or less and i was right on track to do it (i did a 20-miler at what would have been a 3:05 marathon pace)

the bad news is that this is right around the time when i developed simulteneously trouble with my right knee and my lower back - both from the punishment of running and repetitive motion, so i decided to skip the marathon (i had a personally more important adventure race 3 weeks later - we finished 17th in the national championships of the Hi Tech Adventure Race). these days i only run occasionally and put all my time into cycling b/c it's nicer to my body and i will probably never do a marathon.

but (aside from injury or overuse danger) doing a 3:20 first marathon and lots of centuries during the same time should be totally doable (if my stupid joints would have cooperated i would have) - your plan about concentrating on cycling the first half seems fine, but just remember to continue running SOME during this time and then to ramp up your running slowing --- from the cycling you should be fit, but your joints and muscles will not be conditioned to running, so it increases your injury potential (i.e. you CAN run 50 miles a week after not having run for weeks if you are in shape from cycling, but you SHOULD NOT - ramp up to it)

anyhow, good luck.

yes, i am currently training for a 125km run.. and have never run one marathon....yet. :) it is the canadian death race in the rockies, i have been training for just over a year albeit a few mishaps in between. there is a run first weekend in august, the ride is first weekend in sept. and the snowshoe is in january tba.
i won't make the snowshoe but i am doing both bike and foot races.
i started out winter with a lot of running, indoor and out, training became longer as the weather improved.. i average 240 miles per week at the moment cycling, 40 miles for running.
bricks are a great training tool..
i am doing my first half marathon this weekend :) low back injury included.. but half is only about 1.35...hopefully.
doing a 3.20 is amazing..lol i get 24 hours to do my race ... and if the grizzlies come out again.. i am sure i can run a little faster ..lol.
like everyone said.. be careful of injuries, don't push too hard, if you are tired that day, listen to your body and do an easy run, or cycle flats..
just be careful and remember, in a race.. someone has to come in second :)
good luck!

125km RUN!!!!?????????

yes:)
http://www.canadiandeathrace.com

oln finally aired it last summer.. what a hoot! oh yeah.. only 5 stations and you have to carry what you need to eat, drink, wear etc.. usually starts off warm/rainy, and 12 hours later on the last mtn a lot of ppl get hyperthermia if not prepared.
fun eh?