Any suggestions on doing both. Is it too much too close together?
Thanks,
depends on your fitness and training program.
for some athletes, a half three weeks before an ironman is excellent preparation.
Bump
Anyone else thinking of doing this for 2008? For 2007 they were 3 weeks apart but for 2008 they’re only 2 weeks apart. Is it too close for a tune up?
Me and several friends are doing both. We’re just going to be careful not to go all out at Ralphs, and treat it more as a training event.
It can be ok if you don’t fully rest for the half ironman. Most athletes are so fit from training for IM, that when they rest hard for the half…they CRUSH themselves and are unable to recover for the IM. If you go into the half a bit tired, it acts a governer on your body and keeps you from completely shelling yourself.
If you look at the athletes that do both, there are usually those that crush the half and do ok in the IM…and then those that do OK in the half and very well at the IM. My buddy chris mcdonald does this. For the Ralph’s/AZ double, take a look at Michael Lovato’s results.
BB
Bad idea…no further comments or discussion is needed.
Would I do it…NO. Have others successfully…yes.
Bad idea if you expect IM AZ to be your A race.
I know a few who did it (including myself) in 2006, when the races were three weeks apart. That worked quite well, three weeks out should be your last hard weekend before an IM anyway. Now that the races are only two weeks apart, I think they may be a bit to close.
If you are going to do it, I’d say put in a hard swim, and do half the bike at IM pace, then shut it down for the rest of the bike and the run. Of course it all depends on how quickly you generally recovery from halves.
-C
It’s the run that will kill you…
It’s all about your personal recovery time. If you recover well, go for it. 2 weeks is perfect in my opinion.