Running a marathon is an incredible achievement, one that requires dedication, perseverance, and a relentless drive to push your limits. However, taking on the challenge of running multiple marathons in a single year is a feat that demands even more commitment, strategic planning, impeccable timing, and a clear understanding of your personal goals as a runner. In this blog post, I will delve into the importance of these key elements in successfully conquering the year of marathons. I will also share my why’s and how’s of the multiple marathons. It is very important to remember that running ONE marathon is a high stress activity for your body, please be careful, listen to your body, and consult your doctor and/or PT if you are considering running more than one race a year.
I never not ran multiple marathons a year. It started that way for me. I think the intention was to do 2 a year, 2022 quickly jumped to 4, 2023 I am looking at 5. At this point I will take anything life and marathon lotteries throw at me. But I want to do it smart. Trust me I have definitely done it NOT so smart. So I want to share my mistakes and my tips and hopefully you find something interesting and learn along the way.
2021 was my first marathon year. I signed up for LA - a spring marathon and Chicago - a fall marathon. Pretty smart, right? Due to Covid, LA was rescheduled first to May, then to November. I quickly went from a smart plan to 2 fall marathons 4 weeks apart. For a newbie, I executed beautifully, if I say so myself. A 3:23 on a hot and humid day in Chicago and a 3:21 on a hilly LA course got me confident and excited for what was to come.
2022 was lining up beautifully, I had a BQ and my road to Boston was shaping nicely, I got into Berlin via lottery, signed up for Chicago via time qualifier, and got into NYC the same way! However, my 2022 winter training for Boston was very intense, and my body gave out in early March. A PT got me to the starting line and I somehow managed to run/walk my first Boston marathon in 4:11. It was a learning, humbling experience and my first ever running injury. I took 4 weeks off after the race, started working with a qualified PT and began preparing for the fall marathons. Berlin came so quickly, I was definitely nervous, second guessing whether my body could perform or not. I also had a goal to run a sub 3:15 marathon. Thanks to my training, my PT, and pacers, I ran a 3:14:48. I finished that race knowing there is a faster marathon in me. Two weeks later I ran 3:20 in Chicago (slower time due to sickness and a bathroom break at mile 14). I beat my Chicago time from the prior year by over 3 minutes and took it as a win. New York came next. It was a hot one and reminded me of 2021 Chicago. Humidity, later start and Queensboro bridge got me. I finished in 3:33 and had the best time! NYC was the very first marathon I spectated when I lived on the Upper West Side in 2009. The whole race is incredibly special, electric and, well, very New York!
Now that we are more than halfway through 2023, with a 3:36 Boston and a 4:07 Big Sur behind me, I am gearing up for my fall races and this is my to do list for myself and advice for you:
Plan for Success
To undertake multiple marathons in a year, meticulous planning is essential. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to approach it:
Choose Your Races Wisely. Start by researching and selecting the marathons that align with your schedule and goals. Consider factors like location, terrain, climate, and course difficulty. Try your best to plan for the races that can be hard to plan for, like the World Majors that you may or may not get into via lottery.
Create a Training Calendar: Develop a training plan that spans the entire year, with each marathon's date as a milestone. Include rest weeks, long runs, speed work, and cross-training to keep your body balanced and injury-free. More on different training plans below.
Nutrition and Recovery: Pay attention to your diet, sleep, and recovery routines. Consult a nutritionist to ensure you're fueling your body adequately for the long haul. Find a great PT and walk them through your marathon goals. Be ready to invest time and money into recovery tools, massages and other types of runner therapy, like CRYO, red light, and others.
Budgeting: Marathon running can be expensive, so create a budget that accounts for race fees, travel, accommodation, and gear.
Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt your plan if unexpected circumstances arise, such as injuries or life events.
Timing is Everything
Timing plays a pivotal role in running multiple marathons in a year. Here are some crucial considerations:
Recovery Time: Give your body ample time to recover between marathons. Most experts recommend a minimum of 4-6 weeks between races.
Peak Performance: Schedule your goal races strategically. Aim for peak performance during specific marathons while treating others as training or fun runs.
Weather Awareness: Research the climate of the locations where your races are held. Be careful as some marathons may have extreme weather conditions that may hinder your performance.
Tapering: Incorporate tapering periods into your training plan before each marathon to ensure your body is fresh and ready for race day.
Setting up Personal Goals as a Runner
Your personal goals are at the heart of your marathon journey. Consider these aspects:
Setting Realistic Goals: Define what success means to you. Whether it's achieving a personal best time, completing your first marathon, or simply enjoying the experience, set realistic goals for each race.
Tracking Progress: Keep a training journal to monitor your progress, both physically and mentally. Celebrate your achievements along the way.
Adaptability: Be prepared to adjust your goals based on your training and how you're feeling. Sometimes, the best goal is to finish strong and injury-free.
Enjoyment: Remember why you started running marathons in the first place – the joy of the journey. Embrace the process and relish every step of the way.
The Training Plans:
There are several ways to approaching training for multiple marathons. Let's use my 2021 experience as an example: I had 2 fall marathons - Chicago in October and LA in November - 4 weeks apart. I had my coach write a training plan for the Chicago marathon, the 4 weeks between Chicago and LA were essentially a reverse taper and came as a separate plan. This type of approach/plan adds more weeks to your plan, so you end up training/running for 20-22 miles if your original plan was 16-18 weeks long. You can see my in between plan below.
Now you can do it differently and make the later race your goal race, then the marathon(s) leading up to it become assisted long runs. So you can run the 20-24 miles of the marathon leading up to your goal race, and walk the rest, get the medal, take full advantage of on the course support and essentially have a dress rehearsal for the final marathon. This method also saves you time, as you are still looking at a standard 16-18 week plan.
Feel free to use my plan from 2021 above (it is more of an Intermediate 1 level and not too intense, as you need to allow for your body to heal between the races.
Another good resource is Hal Higdon's Multiple Marathons Program that can be found here. The link includes plans anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks between marathons.
Running multiple marathons in a single year is a remarkable endeavor that can push you to new heights as a runner. It's a journey that requires careful planning, precise timing, and a deep understanding of your personal goals. By approaching each race with dedication and a strategic mindset, you can conquer the year of marathons and emerge as a stronger, more accomplished runner. Remember, the key to success lies not only in the finish line but in the fulfillment of your personal aspirations. I will see you on the course!
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