Never in my life did I think I would run a marathon…it is close and barring any injury (knock on wood), I am going to mark a marathon off the list of “to do’s” in March. I recently bought a tri bike…swimming gear…signed up for a few sprint tri’s and one olympic tri this summer. Eyes set on Agusta 70.3 IM in September…I actually already paid and committed myself.
Here is the question. How hard is 26.2 vs a Half Ironman? I know you can’t give me a number…looking for your thoughts/opinions.
See…I am actually thinking there will not be pain with my Marathon. Soreness…yeah…some. But I am running 20 miles now and seem to be ok. Now…I am not breaking a land speed record…I am just getting it done. Now…on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being hard. Where is a marathon, where is a half IM…and if a difference…why?
The pain of the marathon, if you run it to your capability (i.e., not out for a lazy Sunday run), starts at mile 20 and ends a week later.
I don’t have pain doing HIM. I get exhaustion during the race and a some soreness the day after, but the soreness is no where near the level of the marathon.
I’ve yet to meet a person who has completed a marathon who has stated what you’ve stated in the bold below. The marathon will be a lot more painful than a HIM, mostly because you are using the same muscles for a lot longer. The HIM, you are out on the course longer, but you are using different muscles for the s/b/r.
See…I am actually thinking there will not be pain with my Marathon. Soreness…yeah…some. But I am running 20 miles now and seem to be ok. Now…I am not breaking a land speed record…I am just getting it done. Now…on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being hard. Where is a marathon, where is a half IM…and if a difference…why?
I did my first of both last year. I feel they were similar in degree of effort, but the edge in misery goes to the marathon. I think this is just because you are doing the same thing without a break for so long. In the half you pretty much always have something to look forward to, and you aren’t beating your feet to death for as long.
But if you have the mental fortitude for one, you can do the other just fine (with appropriate training).
Don’t look past those last 6.2 miles; they kicked my ass, and it’s a common story.
// I made the mistake of betting on an airplane for a long flight right after the marathon. Middle seat. My legs were agony.
Marathon is much harder than a half marathon. In fact I think it is harder than an IM. 20 mile training runs are great but that only gets you to the halfway mark of the marathon.
I found a full marathon much harder than a half ironman, even though it didn’t take as long.
I’ve only done one stand alone full marathon, and perhaps 10 - 12 half ironman distance races. The bone-tiredness, mental fatigue, and pain that started at around 35 km or approx 23 miles was much worse than anything I’ve felt at a half IM race.
My PR for HIM is 4:59, for marathon it is 3:58, the marathon hurt way more.
Although there were other factors slowing me in the marathon, the 9min ave pace was much more painfull than the 8:30 pace during the HIM.
After the HIM I was more exhausted, but as others have said, the bounce back in the following days was quicker than from marathon.
they are very different races with very different challenges.
Thanks…but looking for a little more insight than that.
Given you’ve provided little information regarding your training plan, training history, racing history what type of insight were you looking for?
Both races are hard … Your 20 mile training run means little in a vacuum. What are your long swims and long bikes like? What’s your mileage per week on the run - 40, 60, 70? Details would help …
they are very different races with very different challenges.
Thanks…but looking for a little more insight than that.
I dont know what to tell you…they are both very difficult if you are not prepared. they have completely different strategies. they have completely different requirements for training. they have completely different nutrition requirements…they are apples and oranges.
if your goal is to perform to the best of your abilities and you have trained sufficiently for both events, then in my experience the marathon is a more elusive and challenging thing. you cannot improve your equipment and go faster, you cannot focus on the weak link of the triathlon to improve like you can in triathlon. In a marathon all you have is your legs and your desire.
now if you are happy with a 4 hour marathon but wish to do a HIM in 4hours…then the HIM will be more difficult.
Assuming equal training for both events, and that you try to go as fast as you can, no comparison. You will endure significantly more misery in the marathon. You will also be much more sore, and take significantly longer to recover after a marathon.
I started 2011 having never done either distance. I finished 2011 with 2x26.2 (<3:10) run to my potential, 2x70.3 (<5hrs) raced to my potential, and a 140.6 with a goal of completion.
Hard is difficult to quantify. But, training challenge goes to the 70.3 & 140.6. I found a raced 70.3 tougher than a completed 140.6. Neither of which remotely compared to a race worthy effort 26.2. Post-op, it took a lot longer to recover from the raced 70.3s.
Marathon is much harder than a half marathon. In fact I think it is harder than an IM. 20 mile training runs are great but that only gets you to the halfway mark of the marathon.
How can that possibly be? I thought the IM ends with a marathon
Having done both now, and being well trained for both and taking both to my limits.
Marathon is tougher. More painful. More excruciating. Mentally more difficult.
If could truly remember how much pain I was in during my last marathon- I wouldn’t be doing another in 7 days.
An HIM, even if you are going for time… is fun. A hoot. The training, while more time consuming, is less painful and I think easier on your body as well.
they’re both rewarding.
Post back again in September after you’ve done both and let us know how you feel about yours. Of course, the pain of the marathon won’t be as fresh.
Marathon is much harder than a half marathon. In fact I think it is harder than an IM. 20 mile training runs are great but that only gets you to the halfway mark of the marathon.
How can that possibly be? I thought the IM ends with a marathon
If you’re a random AG type, running a high 4 or low 5 hour marathon (or longer if you’re mid-pack or slower), that marathon is nothing like a stand alone. One you run, the other you survive.