Another Marathon...opinons...

[turd ferguson]

It can be done but the real question would be why. You can run a marathon in three weeks by recovering rather than running between now and then but it may be hard and perhaps disappointing if you want to truly race it. Ottawa in six weeks gives you more a shot at racing it but I understand you can't do. I would also say although Ottawa has been ocassionally been hot, I can't remember Boston hot and with the 7am start provides at least a couple of hours of cool running even on the hot days. Think you are better to look at a June (Calgary??) or July (San Francisco) marathon. In my mind, a little more time is always good unless you are goal is to be Andy. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Calgary is the same weekend as Ottawa, its likely to be much cooler but running at 1100m of elevation could be an issue if you've been training at sea level.

[Irongirl]

It can be done but the real question would be why. You can run a marathon in three weeks by recovering rather than running between now and then but it may be hard and perhaps disappointing if you want to truly race it. Ottawa in six weeks gives you more a shot at racing it but I understand you can't do. I would also say although Ottawa has been ocassionally been hot, I can't remember Boston hot and with the 7am start provides at least a couple of hours of cool running even on the hot days. Think you are better to look at a June (Calgary??) or July (San Francisco) marathon. In my mind, a little more time is always good unless your goal is to be Andy. And there is nothing wrong with that.

well, there's the perfect reason to do it!

[HCcD]

It can be done but the real question would be why. You can run a marathon in three weeks by recovering rather than running between now and then but it may be hard and perhaps disappointing if you want to truly race it. Ottawa in six weeks gives you more a shot at racing it but I understand you can't do. I would also say although Ottawa has been ocassionally been hot, I can't remember Boston hot and with the 7am start provides at least a couple of hours of cool running even on the hot days. Think you are better to look at a June (Calgary??) or July (San Francisco) marathon. In my mind, a little more time is always good unless you are goal is to be Andy. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Calgary is the same weekend as Ottawa, its likely to be much cooler but running at 1100m of elevation could be an issue if you've been training at sea level.

There is always the marathon at the Niagara ultra marathon, in June, assuming that it is a BQ certified course ..

http://welovetorun.com/events/niagaraultra.html

[Robinandamelia]

It can be done but the real question would be why. You can run a marathon in three weeks by recovering rather than running between now and then but it may be hard and perhaps disappointing if you want to truly race it. Ottawa in six weeks gives you more a shot at racing it but I understand you can't do. I would also say although Ottawa has been ocassionally been hot, I can't remember Boston hot and with the 7am start provides at least a couple of hours of cool running even on the hot days. Think you are better to look at a June (Calgary??) or July (San Francisco) marathon. In my mind, a little more time is always good unless you are goal is to be Andy. And there is nothing wrong with that.

The reasoning behind the "why" was that I wasn't "sure" I was going to run a fall marathon this year, and/or keep up the level of training for a marathon so I figured do it again, while I'm trained vs. potentially having to start over and/or continue training too much longer.... Also travelling and the cost associated with it, especially after the funds I spent on Boston, isn't really an option this year. So I figured since it was so close, that Boston would work as the last "long run" before the next one...but if I wait too much longer, then that wouldn't hold out....

[HCcD]

If I understand correctly, your goal is to PB, which also would be a BQ and, not necessarily to run Boston in 2013 ??

Is trading off the women's half marathon in favour of racing the Ottawa Marathon, even a remote option on the table??

[Spirit Unleashed]

Look at all the calendars for your area. If there is a race your higher self wants to go to, it will leap out at you and you'll click submit quickly. Otherwise, your higher self doesn't really want to do it but your ego does and you are in conflict (which is why you are asking us).

[Jwolf]

Look at all the calendars for your area. If there is a race your higher self wants to go to, it will leap out at you and you'll click submit quickly. Otherwise, your higher self doesn't really want to do it but your ego does and you are in conflict (which is why you are asking us).

I didn't think that was why Robin is asking us.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, Robin, but I think you really want to do this but your cautious and want opinions from people that have done it. That's a good thing and doesn't mean your ego is in conflict with your spirit. There's also the brain in there somewhere.

As you know I've never done it, and you've gotten great advice here from those with lots of marathon experience. I've followed your experience and training closely for the past couple years, and I think you can handle this is well as anyone else I've seen who has done similar things. You are also very in tune with your body and recovery and I think you'll know based on how you feel after another week or so whether it's a reasonable thing to be able to do. (If you decide to do it, I also like the advice about not going in with a PB or bust attitude, because you don't know exactly what the next marathon day will bring or how your body will respond to this.)

[Robinandamelia]

If I understand correctly, your goal is to PB, which also would be a BQ and, not necessarily to run Boston in 2013 ??

Is trading off the women's half marathon in favour of racing the Ottawa Marathon, even a remote option on the table??

Yeah that's it....

I really want to do the Women's Half so Ottawa not on the table this year...I also have a couple of friends running the Women's 5K (new runners) so need to be there for that.

[Robinandamelia]

Look at all the calendars for your area. If there is a race your higher self wants to go to, it will leap out at you and you'll click submit quickly. Otherwise, your higher self doesn't really want to do it but your ego does and you are in conflict (which is why you are asking us).

I didn't think that was why Robin is asking us.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, Robin, but I think you really want to do this but your cautious and want opinions from people that have done it. That's a good thing and doesn't mean your ego is in conflict with your spirit. There's also the brain in there somewhere.

As you know I've never done it, and you've gotten great advice here from those with lots of marathon experience. I've followed your experience and training closely for the past couple years, and I think you can handle this is well as anyone else I've seen who has done similar things. You are also very in tune with your body and recovery and I think you'll know based on how you feel after another week or so whether it's a reasonable thing to be able to do. (If you decide to do it, I also like the advice about not going in with a PB or bust attitude, because you don't know exactly what the next marathon day will bring or how your body will respond to this.)

Yes, this exactly....

I think that's the plan... I was leaning more towards doing it then not when I initially posted and wanted to make sure I wasn't completely out to lunch. As far as the ego thing goes, the PB for me is not a huge leap or goal, as I ran 3:55 in Toronto after having to stop in the bushes, and with a really strong headwind in the last 6K, so I think under normal circumstances it was doable. I sort of felt that I trained so hard for Boston (more than I usually do) and wasn't able to see if it would have payed off....so I guess if that's ego, then perhaps.... or just really wanting to not wonder what if...

[Spirit Unleashed]

The point is that if you know from your heart that a race is right for you, you'll KNOW it. You'll just know it. Feeling confused about timing etc is an inner conflict.

Just search the calendar, suddenly you'll know: YES, this is it! Thats the one. Click submit.

[DJHL]

Interesting discussion with lots of valid points. If I were able to run ok, I would also be tempted to have another go at the full distance though would probably lean towards Ottawa rather than Toronto / Mississauga. The later option is just to get in a bit more recovery time and also to fit in one or two longer runs to see how things were going. Mind you, never having done two marathons so close to each other, I admit it is all theoretical.

If you feel up to to the challenge, I would definitely go for it.

[Spirit Unleashed]

A PB starts at the intuitive level and its purpose is not some number goal but joy. The outcome of the performance is a creation of thoughts of joy. Therefore all aspects of the creation are guided by intuition. The intuition will lead you on the path of joy. PB equals joy. So, listen to spirit when picking the race and you'll get the day and conditions where "the moons lineup." No other way are stellar performances created.

[canalrunner]

Avoiding discussions of celestial plains, for what it is worth I also ran a hot, slow but satisfying Boston (probably 30-35 minutes slow) and contemplated running Goodlife as I ran, especially since it is a fast course and because my training was the best it had been in awhile---I thought I had a PB in me. I decided not to run Goodlife was because my calculation was that 3 weeks was too short a recovery time to give a PB a legitimate shot and I didn't want to run "just another marathon". I have paced marathons, three weeks before racing a marathon but Boston was different even if the time was around what I would normally pace. I will take a PB shot when the stars are better aligned.

[HCcD]

Avoiding discussions of celestial plains, for what it is worth I also ran a hot, slow but satisfying Boston (probably 30-35 minutes slow) and contemplated running Goodlife as I ran, especially since it is a fast course and because my training was the best it had been in awhile---I thought I had a PB in me. I decided not to run Goodlife was because my calculation was that 3 weeks was too short a recovery time to give a PB a legitimate shot and I didn't want to run "just another marathon". I have paced marathons, three weeks before racing a marathon but Boston was different even if the time was around what I would normally pace. I will take a PB shot when the stars are better aligned.

Good decision, Mark, especially if you are already planning to be a pacer in Ottawa, anyways ... You will now just have to contact the Bunny Master to bump you to the 3 hour Pacer ....

eta: Noticed that you are also running Montreal Rock'n'Roll Marathon, but it is the same day as Army Run this year !!!

[kaybee]

Hi Robin:

I don't post often but am on the forum a lot and have followed your training. I completely understand where you are at. In 2009 I ran my first Boston and it was not what I wanted it to be, but for a different reason. I decided to run with a friend who was really struggling. Not too long after it was over I regretted that I did not put my training to the full test. I felt that I had been the best trained ever for a marathon and that I had wasted that.

I decided to run Ottawa 5 weeks later. I did re-BQ but did not PB. But I felt much better. I followed Hal Higdon's plan for close-together marathons. Having said that I am a little concerned that Toronto/Mississauga is only three weeks after Boston. Still, I would go for it. Give it a little bit more before you register just to be sure, but I think you won't be happy unless you try. Just remember what Ian said, which I think is great advice. Another alternative, which will give you a week more, is Sudbury on May 13 (Mother's Day though). I am running that. I did so in 2007 and liked it a lot, but I am also from there. It is small and low-key but may be another option for you. http://www.sudburyrocksmarathon.com/

Good luck!
Karen

[Double Bellybuster]

Double Bellybuster was in the same boat as me and he's doing TO.

I'd say get yourself recovered and in shape to race something and then decide late what race(s) to do.

And remember what you disliked about Boston (heat.)

A while after Fort Lauderdale (like Boston, a record high for that day of 31 C), I decided I would have my do-over Waterloo April 29 or Toronto May 6 and decide late which one based on weather forecast.

But then I forgot my plan. I registered for Toronto about a week ago just prior to cutoff to get some piece of flair or something like that. And now I see a high of 7 C forecasted for Waterloo race day and 22 C for Toronto race day.

I should have remembered my #1 priority was avoiding heat. And that would be my suggestion - wait for last minute registration and ensure you avoid repeated inoptimal and discouraging conditions.

[Robinandamelia]

Double Bellybuster was in the same boat as me and he's doing TO.

I'd say get yourself recovered and in shape to race something and then decide late what race(s) to do.

And remember what you disliked about Boston (heat.)

A while after Fort Lauderdale (like Boston, a record high for that day of 31 C), I decided I would have my do-over Waterloo April 29 or Toronto May 6 and decide late which one based on weather forecast.

But then I forgot my plan. I registered for Toronto about a week ago just prior to cutoff to get some piece of flair or something like that. And now I see a high of 7 C forecasted for Waterloo race day and 22 C for Toronto race day.

I should have remembered my #1 priority was avoiding heat. And that would be my suggestion - wait for last minute registration and ensure you avoid repeated inoptimal and discouraging conditions.

Great idea...registration closes May 2 so I'll decide closer to that day!

[Miss*Smiles]

Double Bellybuster was in the same boat as me and he's doing TO.

I'd say get yourself recovered and in shape to race something and then decide late what race(s) to do.

And remember what you disliked about Boston (heat.)

A while after Fort Lauderdale (like Boston, a record high for that day of 31 C), I decided I would have my do-over Waterloo April 29 or Toronto May 6 and decide late which one based on weather forecast.

But then I forgot my plan. I registered for Toronto about a week ago just prior to cutoff to get some piece of flair or something like that. And now I see a high of 7 C forecasted for Waterloo race day and 22 C for Toronto race day.

I should have remembered my #1 priority was avoiding heat. And that would be my suggestion - wait for last minute registration and ensure you avoid repeated inoptimal and discouraging conditions.

Great idea...registration closes May 2 so I'll decide closer to that day!

I'm so curious to know what you have decided to do

[Double Bellybuster]

I'm so curious to know what you have decided to do

You must be in! Sunny with a high of just 13 for the day with an 18 kph tailwind!

[Robinandamelia]

I haven't registered yet, tomorrow is the cut off for online registration....I'm leaning towards doing it. Still just watching the weather though....

[canalrunner]

:D I haven't registered yet, tomorrow is the cut off for online registration....I'm leaning towards doing it. Still just watching the weather though....

I wouldn't do it, but good luck in whatever you decide. The course is good and forecast is growingly positive so I can understand the temptation.

[Double Bellybuster]

I wouldn't do it, but good luck in whatever you decide.

Grump.

[canalrunner]

I wouldn't do it, but good luck in whatever you decide.

Grump.

Ya, maybe.

[Miss*Smiles]

I wouldn't do it, but good luck in whatever you decide.

Grump.

[Sustain26]

I'm a long distance newbie but this video blew me away - and it deals with both women and men -

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/marathon-challenge.html

and the home page (more info!) is

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/search/results/?q=marathon&x=0&y=0

We might need to bookmark this - moderator?

Have a great day!
Sustain