To race or just run Chicago Marathon

Bill Bejin

I am heading to Chicago for the marathon.  All the training data has been great.  Current plan is to run 3:20 - a BQ by 5 min.  Weather looks like it is not going to be ideal - a little on the warm side.  I am also registered to run the full in Detroit next weekend.  Long story.

Question is, mail it in this weekend in Chicago and go for the BQ in Detroit or Give it a go in Chicago and shut it down if it looks like it won't happen and then try again in Detroit.  Only worry with that plan is the fatigue of the full, full on consecutive Sundays.

Thanks for your feedback.

Francis Picard

I would go with racing Chicago since you're probably at the best of your fitness. If you decide to run it, you might still have fatigue next week and not be able to achieve your BQ goal.

Enjoy this marathon, I did it last year and was awesome, got a spot in the lottery this year but decided not to do it.

Robert Sabo

Unless you've been training for an Ultra, "running" Chicago and racing Detroit will be difficult as it is not the ideal taper for a BQ attempt. So I would favor racing Chicago. You could shut it down and DNF if you make the call by about 10 miles and still race the next weekend. 10-13miles at race pace the weekend before shouldn't harm you but I would stop by 13 and definitely not run the whole thing if you are going to race Detroit.

Scott Giljum

I agree with the other folks that you should race Chicago as even treating it like a training run is going to leave a pretty decent fatigue hole to dig out of. I don't know about Detroit, but I do hear that Chicago is pretty flat a good course for BQ.

MattAaronson

I agree with Robert. The temps won't be all that warm...if you are running a 3:20 you'll be done nice and early before the sun gets really high. If you run more than 10-12 miles at MP you won't be in great form for Detroit. Also the Chicago course is faster for sure.