I badly want to do both of these events. But they are very close eight weeks to be exact and I’d like to be able to do well in both. Is it possible to focus completely on marathon and rest one week with swim only then jam a 7 week training of mostly bike swim and short runs before the half. Or should I just suck it up an chose the MAry and another 1/2?
Doing well as in what times? Have you ever done either a marathon or HIM before?
Guess I should have included that. Have done a Mary and look to be around 3:20-3:25. No half iron
I would think training for the marathon is going to be good training for your half run but if you neglect your bike UNTIL 7 weeks before the HIM, i bet you are going to suffer on the bike. Depends on when these events are, and where you are at now with your bike.
I would maybe try to still bike and swim 1 day a week during marathon training.
OK. Do you have a solid base on the bike from years of biking? I’m going to guess you’d like to be around or under 5 hours for the HIM. That would mean you would have to have a solid bike and still have fresh enough legs to run well. If you already have a good base on the bike you can likely ramp up fairly quickly after the marathon and be in decent shape for the HIM. If you don’t have the base you would have to ride lots of miles and that may prove difficult if you’re starting from scratch.
Agreed, I feel I have a fairly solid bike. My run is much stronger and obviously will be strong coming off the mary. I’m thinking the general consensus is that I should Do my mary training and bike one good long ride each week for cross training and on off days get a 1-1.5mile swim.
Does that sound doable?
Yes, it’s doable. Good luck!
Very do-able if you have the base endurance built up. I ran a 2:59 marathon PR in Eugene on May 3rd then just missed a PR at Boise 70.3 with a 5:23 on June 13th. That is only six weeks between the two. I started my training cycle with the marathon focus but still got in some swims and weekend long-rides, took a couple of days off after Eugene then focused on HIM training for five weeks.
You can do it.
-Steven
You’re going to be fine. Go hard!
Hiya,
Big challenges coming up…cool!
Let’s fix the approach first…you’re asking for alternatives before choosing/declaring your criteria for success–classic Fortune 500 business problem as well. So, what are your criteria? Then we can help with the alternatives.
–What are your strengths and weaknesses in prep so far? Ideally across all elements contributing to your success.
–What are your target/success factors? (if you don’t know, how did you plan your training?)
If you were new to either sport, I would say it might not be good. However, from the experience you have, I doubt it should be a problem. 2 weeks would be a problem. 4 weeks could be a problem. 6 weeks for someone with less endurance stuff than you- maybe a problem. 8 weeks, you are fine.
Go get 'em
If you were new to either sport, I would say it might not be good. However, from the experience you have, I doubt it should be a problem.
I agree, but with one caveat. Base your decision on how well you generally recover from a marathon. If you are the type to get antsy and go for a run two days afterward, I’d go for it. Just do bike rides instead. If you are the type who needs to take a week of sitting in ice baths and drinking beer I would think twice.
Personally, I would have an easier time going from 1/2 IM to Marathon than the other way around. But my background is as a cyclist. A marathon definitely destroys me more than a 1/2 IM.
Yes, it’s doable.
Sure it’s doable, but is it optimal?
The OP has to first decide if they want to do really well in either the Marathon or the HIM. If they want to muddle through both, in particular the HIM, then do both. If they have high performance goals for either, then they need to eliminate one.
Just my personal thoughts.
I agree the only way to do this is to say the marathon is the “A” race and the HIM is what it is. 8 weeks is a good time after the marathon to really put that awesome base to use and PR a bunch of shorter runs. Problem is 8 weeks only for swimming and biking seems plus considering the rest you’ll need after the marathon. It will be tough.
I agree the only way to do this is to say the marathon is the “A” race and the HIM is what it is. 8 weeks is a good time after the marathon to really put that awesome base to use and PR a bunch of shorter runs.
Triathletes frequently go about this in the less than optimal way. Not sure why that is. They always seem to go for the longer race first then try and work back-wards from that. The better course of action would be to focus on the shorter races first then go longer. For example, if the OP was really serious about the HIM, the better target, would be to run their absolute best 10K, 8 weeks out from the HIM. That would set them up nicely to potentially run well in the HIM run leg.
As always your mileage may vary.
I plan on doing 3 Ultras (50 mi, 50k, and 100k), running a marathon and doing 1/2 Ironman between now and December. Other than the 50 mi ultra I will be treating them all as A races.
Yes, it’s doable.
Sure it’s doable, but is it optimal?
I didn’t indicate it would be optimal, just doable. He can have a decent HIM if he already has a good biking base, can ramp up quickly after the marathon, and recovers quickly from the marathon. If those things aren’t true then the HIM will end up being a less than stellar race. And that’s OK. Since it’s his first HIM it will be somewhat of a learning experience anyway.
In my opinion, no, you cannot do well in both.
But with that said, the HIM is your first, so as long as you finish you will set a PR! 
I’ve done a marathon 8 weeks before a half IM and I’ve run one (and even got a BQ time out of it) 3 weeks before a full IM. Ideal? No, but still finished them all well enough.