first marathon before first IM?

Having been shutout of IMLP 2007 the one thing that is keeping me from being totally bummed is that I've never done a Marry. Registered for my first, Marine Corps, in Oct. Personally I'd like to get it done just so I know I can. Now I gotta stop reading those damn IMLP RR's cuz they ARE bumming me out

p.s. I voted yes but but that's more a personal feeling than anything else.

If you want to do one I think doing one a year in advance is fine. You have time to train for the marathon and not get injured and plenty of time to recover. However its not necessary and they are completely different races.

Mentally it can go several ways:
1. off the bike and you think 'Crap I've got to run a marathon and I've never done one."
2. "I've done this before, piece of cake."
3. "How the f*%$ am I going to do this?!?!"

If you want to do one next year to say you have then fine, you know you can cover the distance which is what you may or may not need to get you moving off the bike.

**are you going to have another baby? When and why are you planning to do this if you are?

I'll be doing my first IM this November and have run 2 marathons.  When I ran the marathons I wasn't into triathlons so I didn't know that I'd ever be doing an IM.  Anyhow, I'm glad that I've run 2.  I wanted to run my 3rd this past Feb. to have another one under my belt for the IM but wasn't able to run it due to an injury. I'm still bummed about it.  But I personally would want to run a marathon before an IM.  I think it's good to have that running base.  I wouldn't try to run one and cram one in just to run one before your IM.  But if you have plenty of time to train for one and properly recover I'd say go for it!

 I wouldn't say a mary is a MUST before an IM, but it's defintely "a-nice-to-have".

This doesn't make any sense to me, but I haven't done an IM yet. 

Personally, I am glad that I will have a marathon base before I attempt IMCDA next year.  Before IMCDA I will have completed 6 marys over the course of 2006 - 2007.  My hope is I get off the bike and have sense of what lies in front of me because I've been there before.  I highly doubt I will have the 'piece of cake' opinion as Comet mentioned some people have, but at least I know I will have the confidence that I can run a marathon. 

Having never done a century bike ride, you bet I will have a few under my belt before I attempt the IM - same thing in my opinion.  I am guessing confidence that you can complete the individual distances is huge on race day, but as I said I've yet to walk the walk......

I have heard the same advice about not doing a mary prior to your IM, but am instead going Janelle's route for three reasons:

1) I think the running base going into winter training. CdA training starts October 1st (9 month plan that allegedly focuses a lot on base training), so there is going to be some overlap with the October 29th MCM.  It is this base that I plan to build upon during the winter months ... and fall back at T2 next June.

2) Mentally I do not think that I could get off a 112 mi bike ride and enter T2 knowing that when I exit I would be embarking upon my first marathon. Like Janelle, I want to be able to tell myself during each stage that I have done these distances before (albeit separately) to help dispell any doubts that try to creep in.

3) Test drive marathon nutrition (more of a factor for teh second part of the race as the first part of the IM marathon would be dictated by the nutrition taken on the bike) and get a better feeling for the lows that I hear typically come between mile 16 - mile 22.

My two biggest mistakes that plagued me at the Gulf Coast HIM last May was not doing long runs prior to event (due to efforts to stave off a nagging injury) and goofing up my nutrition on the bike.  Call doing a marathon prior to an IM overcompensation, as it probably is ...

You can do one if you think it will help you mentally, but DON'T need to run one to be ready to tackle an IM at all. Adequate training, smart pacing, nutrition and getting to the starting line prepared and recover are far more important than how many marathons you had run before your 1^st IM

Having done A marathon isn't what keeps you from worrying about the IM run.  It's the 10 since 1998 and, more importantly, all the base you have from running for at least the last 9 years.  Running a single marathon is not likely to imbue a lesser-runner with the same level of confidence.  (Just ask me. )

I think better than running a marathon would be to train like you were going to run one, but just run a 1/2.  That is, do the miles, the long runs, build your frequency, establish that base.  Use the strength you develop so set some PBs in 5k and 10k races.  Focus on running for 6 months and just do maintainance on your swim & bike.  Then pick up with IM training.

I'll let you know how this works next year.

Hasn't stopped me from dispensing advice either.

Lot of good advice and discussion here, I have nothing to add, but did want to say that if you find us bears a place to stay we'll join you at Grandma's, whatever year you decide to do it.

Let me know if/when ya'll do Grandma's Marathon.  I've read really good things about it and hope to run it!

I'm with Tom on this one.  I was glad that my IM marathon was my first...I will freely admit that I walked a large portion of it, but it wasn't due to a lack of marathon training. 

My goals may change over time, but for now, I do not see myself running a full mary unless it is after a 2.4 mile swim and a 112 mile bike.

I think a good, solid runnign base, combined with some half marys, or at least similar length runs, are sufficient to train for the IM marathon. 

autumn - 2006-07-26 12:22 PM maybe my parents would be willing to let us establish 'camp bt' on the lawn in the backyard next year! hotel rooms are $400+ that weekend. not sure how many folks my parents would be willing to put up, but i might have a better idea after they have the bt crew over for dinner next weekend before the brewhouse.

Oh my gosh- that's crazy!!!