I just did my first iron distance race on Sept. 3 and feel surprisingly spry. Rather than waste all this fitness I was thinking of doing a marathon on Oct.18. Is this too soon? I am pretty much taking this week off and was planning on getting back into things next week and build up to maybe a couple three hour runs over the next month. I’m hoping that my ironman race and training has given me enough base so that I can do the marathon without too much huge volume. Anyone done this?
Questions as to how you finished your IM.
Did you run the entire time? What was your final time? How much walking was thrown into the mix? Did you fuel right the whole day?
It can take upwards of 8 weeks to fully recover from an IM, so be careful.
Be careful - both times I’ve done the IM distance, I’ve felt pretty good for a few days afterwards only to feel like death for the next two weeks. It seems to me that IM takes more out of you than you expect. Don’t make yourself ill by pushing too hard - it’s difficult to make yourself rest when you’re feeling ok, but it’s worth it. There will be other marathons.
ouch. be very careful! I usually start to feel the effects of my IM around the third week after. The first two weeks, I’m on top of the world! 
I definitely would not suggest a “couple three hour runs”, as this will definitely bury you!! You already have the base!!
Good question. I was planning to roll out of IMFL into a Boston Qualifier marathon, maybe in February or March. I plan on a good 2-3 week recovery befor jumping in. I think you’ll need a few weeks rest; fight that urge to maintain & enjoy what you’ve accomplished.
Steve,
In 1991, I did my first Ironman at IMC during the last weekend in August. Then I took 14 days pretty well off, doing some hikes in Banff and Jasper and then some bike commuting when I get home. Three weeks after IMC, I did a 100K week of running. 4 weekends later, I ran the old Toronto Marathon (finish in Varsity Stadium). I did my second fastest all time marathon in 2:51.
It was also the Olympic trials race for Barcelona, so I told my friends that my only goal was to get on the live CBC coverage by pacing the lead women. I broke wind for them for 25K coming through the half in 1:19. Having accomplished my goal of mega air time, I then hung on in dear survival mode and ran a 1:32 second half.
Please note that this was when I was a young 25 year old with sub 34 min 10 K speed and mega recovery ability. I can’t run that fast anymore and I can’t recover from running that quick. I would say Oct 18th will give you time to do a solid 3 week marathon block of training once you are recovered and a 1 week taper. But before you commit to the marathon, give yourself 3 weeks to unwind and then reassess. You are likely on a high from doing your Ironman that will rub off in 2-3 weeks. At that time, you’ll be in a better mode to make a good assessment of what you really want to do.
Dev
Sounds like good advice. All of the things everyone has described are happening. I’m stoked after my race last week and can’t wait to get bck into some sort of routine. During the run in my Ironman I did a fair share of walking but that was only due to an upset stomach (six hours of Perpetuem will do that). After downing the portable pharmacy I had on my fuel belt and my stomach settled I was running the last stretch at a decent clip (for me) and feeling strong. My legs never felt trashed.I gues I’ll wait and see.
I will be doing Montreal Marathon this coming weekend after I done Ironman Lake Placid in July (7 weeks in between). I took 9 straight days off without doing nothing. My longest run since IMLP was 2h10 for 19mi, I wouldn’t recommend running more then 2h15-2h30, since you already did all those long runs during the build up for your Ironman. The only thing I did during those weeks was just running no bike, no swim.
Good Luck.
Week 1 - 0mi
Week 2 - 24mi (no speed workout)
Week 3 - 40mi
Week 4 - 56mi
Week 5 - 52mi (longest run 19mi)
Week 6 - 49mi
Week 7 - 25mi + Marathon (My goal 2h59)
-Alex
I broke wind for them for 25K coming through the half in 1:19. Having accomplished my goal of mega air time, I then hung on in dear survival mode and ran a 1:32 second half.
Some might consider that a dangerous level of flatulence 