Marathon v Ironman

[Des]

Im interested in hearing your thoughts:

I did an IM in June...felt absolutely fine at the end of it, obviously knew Id done something, but wasnt really stiff and sore ( I enjoy the IMs rather than race them ie my self preservation instincts are stronger than my race instincts )

Yesterday I did the towpath marathon and when I got to mile 20-21 my legs had really had enough and today Im stiff.......felt the same after Akron......yet never felt like this on either of my IMs

Any thoughts?? Is running a marathon harder on the body than an IM because of the pressure to not walk in a marathon; yet its acceptable to walk periodically in an IM marathon?

[Aussie Rob]

It's a subjective question really. I'd say Ironmans hurt more for people that keep the impetus on the marathon and refuse to walk. I'd say those people hurt a lot more.

As an aside, it's acceptable to walk whenever anyone happens to feel like it in my book. Sometimes running really, really, sucks.

[jimdehner]

Des -
I think you're right - the IM run does hurt but you can walk and still make the finish deadline - in a Mary there is a lot more pressure to race -
also the Towpath is so flaaaaaat you never get to stretch out you legs on a hill

[ebanks2]

Des,

Marathon recovery is generally longer than IM recovery. Marathons are hard on your body besause you are running hard and long. In general, your IM marathon pace is about 1 minute per mile slower than your open marathon pace...and often people mix in more walking at IM. So the IM day is long, but at a much lower intensity where as the intensity of the open mary is much higher