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As above: I'm on for London but fancy Strathpuffer as a pair, 12 weeks before.
While I want to do well in the mara, I won't follow my training programme religiously etc (tho I'd love to go under 3:00, my current best is 3:12 this year in hilly Belfast and Loch Ness), is the 24hr likely to have a big impact on mara training/result?
I'd plan to beast myself on the bike to mid Dec (1 month prior to Puffer) then focus on running, ease off before and after Puffer then get back into it.
You'll be ok so long as you wear a wig 😉
3 months? That's loads of time, no problem. Just treat the week after as a low milage week.
If you had never run a marathon before possibly but all training is good training.
Saying "no" is becoming more difficult.
FWIW I am 45, it takes me more than a week to get over a 12 hour event, as my Ironman taught me.
Yeah, but an Ironman includes running a marathon, and running is a lot harder on the body than riding a bike (even for 12hrs+).
but all training is good training.
Thats not quite true, optimum training should be event specific however there is some benefit to cross training/swimming/biking etc and if you are in good running shape now and you do a lot of cycling you wont lose much fitness and you aren't talking of a sub 2:30 so it should be fine IMO as long as you have the 3 months to dedicate to running prior to the race.
3 months? That's loads of time, no problem. Just treat the week after as a low milage week.
That sounds simple, but in reality the week after should be a no mileage week, with a light 20 min spin and a couple of longish walks. Nutrition should be the absolute no 1 priority though, dont underestimate how much a 24hr race takes out of you. Carb up!
How long would you normally train for a mara for? The usual 16 week prog? With one or two easy weeks after the puffer (assuming you are racing to win it) plus a taper, you'd be eating into your running specific training quite a bit.
Don't under-estimate the time needed to recover from travel either - puffer might not be that far away, but it'll add to the fatigue/recovery time.
Getting nutrition/hydration and sleeping right would be key which i think you might struggle with 😛 btw, after months of badgering by my coach, i gave in and now use protein shakes for recovery - i'm amazed at the difference in my recovery and muscle tone. i'd recommend upping your protein especially after running to help with recovery, and have one before bed too. A good base (z2) should also speed up recovery time between races (that's my experience anyway!)
Thanks C - you have probbers hit the nail on the head. I will try out some shakes.
I won't be able to focus bike training enough to do that well in the Puffer, so won't be riding to win, but would give it full beans on the day.