???
I am training for my first marathon, a couples weeks back I went to the Ralph’s half, after watching the race. I knew for sure that the training that they did was way harder than the 3 days of short to med runs and the 1 long run schedule that I am on. I am going from couch potato to marathon in 18 weeks. And starting to look at IM Japan next year. Good luck in your event whatever you choose.
JD
More difficult in what way?
I hurt about the same after each, which is much more than after an IM. The last few miles of all my marathons have been more difficult than the end of a 1/2. The training is completely different - tri requires building up in 3 disciplines and requires more time. To be a good marathoner, you have to pile on the miles, and they need to be quality, so managing injuries becomes a huge concern.
Apples and oranges. Make me vote and I’ll say marathoning (real marathoning, not training just to finish but to race) is harder.
Marathon takes a lot longer to recover than HIM, if you race both hard.
IMHO it takes more time to train for a HIM than a marathon. Don’t confuse time spent with difficulty of training. For example, I find it much harder to run for 2 hours than to bike for 3 hours, so even though the long workout for HIM takes more time, it is easier (an I like to run).
I just did a 2:59 marathon at Boston and spent about 8-9 hours in my longest weeks of training. I would do about 5 hours in a HIM on similar training hours.
Having done both, I would say that the Marathon is a much tougher event. I had ITB Syndrome for two months following my 2002 marathon. I felt fantastic after last years Ralphs Half. 3:44 of running vs 5:45 of Half IM and the running beat the snot out of me. By the way it was also way more emotional finishing the Marathon than the Half. Maybe because it was my first endurance race and the family was at the line.
The reason I ask is that I am planning on doing my first 1/2 and first marathon this season. I tried to do a progressive training/racing schedule with the 1/2 scheduled before the marathon, thinking that the marathon was going to be more difficult than the half.
I would have guessed the marathon too. Something about doing the same thing for sooo long that could be draining on the spirit and body. Cool to hear from all you guys/gals. Thanks.
Marathon, definitely.
it seems very strange to me that a 6 hour race is so much easier than a 3.5/4 hour race
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marathon definitely. you are going hard in the same discipline, running, for 2.5-3-however many hours. At least in a half ironman you get to switch off disciplines and it’s running and the impact that really kicks your ass recovery wise.
In my limited experience a marathon for sure. Having just completed my first marathon I can honestly say I was unprepared for the discomfort of the last 4 miles. HIM on the other hand was far less of an issue. I just don’t think it is as hard on your body.
I think that the reason why a marathon is more demanding for most of us is that in a 1/2IM we don’t “race” all of it. For example, I have yet to learn how to “race” the swim - not even close. In a marathon, I do the whole thing hard. My best marathon, late as a 54-year old, was 3:29; my best 1/2IM, a few months after I turned 55, was 5:09. Even though there is only a hundred minute difference between those two times, the effect the marathon had on me as opposed to that of the 1/2IM was significant.
Maybe another way to look at this question is to address the injury aspect. How many people have come out of a marathon with an injury, or even D.O.M.S…and how does this compare to post-1/2IM problems? I’ve done 6 marathons (one as part of IMLP), all culminating with at least some problem (just D.O.M.S. in three of them). I’ve done ten 1/2IMS, and all of them have been pain-free after the fact. I average about 5:30 for the 1/2s and finish in the top quarter of the a.g.; for marathons I’m not too close to top quarter a.g., and yet feel the effects much more acutely. And this is coming from someone who considers himself a runner first and foremost! For any of the posters who are stongest in the swim or on the bike, the problem might be more pronounced…unless they don’t do the marathon as hard as they might, similarly to how I don’t do the swim as hard as I might.
a half IM is way harder, IMO.
Another vote for the marathon. Another reason might be that I can eat on the bike and continue to take in calories and - I think this is the case - glycogen depletion isn’t as much as a factor. I have a hard time taking in calories on the run…stomach just doesn’t want them. So, if I am running a 1:50 split in a half, I should just be coming into glycogen debt at the end (assuming I eat as much as I spend on the bike, which is a BIG assumption). However, with my 3:55 marathon time, I spend at least the last hour in debt (assuming I am able to replace half of the calories for the first half before my stomach completely shuts down).
Lots of assumptions and probably some errors in calculation, but I think the idea is about right. Oh yeah, I agree with what everyone else said about easier training with three disciplines (I really enjoy the bike but not the run) and fewer injury concerns.
Sounds like apples to oranges to me. it all depends on course, weather, duration, race tactics etc. The only difference may be the recovery time required but even thats a bit cloudy…
in the 6 hr race you’re sitting down for half of it and laying down for another 1/2 hr or so … the HIM is pretty much all done in a relaxed posture, with a jog at the end. the marathon is a looooong day on your feet.
Marathon, no question - both physically and mentally
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For me it would be a marathon. For this 41 year old, it is the physical pounding that tends to wear me out. A HIM is must easier on my joints.