Let’s talk two-a-days, doing doubles, or whatever you wanna call them!
I was supposed to run with a running group last night but the person I was going to meet couldn’t make it. I know from last week’s run that they only do about 4 miles and it’s at a slower pace. I was prepared this week to add an additional AM run to get more miles in. Both of these runs being easy, of course. I ended up doing 4 miles at night on my own (it was ungodly hot), bringing yesterday’s total to 11. I’m not a fan of two-a-days – I don’t think they are necessary.
Here’s what Advanced Marathoning has to say about two-a-days:
- As you increase your mileage in preparation for a marathon, you should resist the urge to switch from single to double runs.
- Marathon training focuses on endurance-based adaptions such as depleting your glycogen reserves to provide a stimulus for your body to store more glycogen and training your muscles to ulitize more fat at a given speed. You’ll provide a greater stimulus for these adaptions through a single 12-mile run, rather than a 7-miler and a 5-miler done at the same pace.
I wasn’t even going to paraphrase because it was so well said! I 100% agree with Pete Pfitzinger. Imagine splitting your 20-mile long run into 10 and 10?! Bottom line: It’s not the same and you will not reap the same benefits!
Another reason to forego two-a-days? Double the number of showers and gross, sweaty laundry!
While I would have preferred to run 11 miles (at once) yesterday morning, I made the best of the situation. This running group isn’t permanent and, as long as the two-a-day is 2 easy runs, I’m OK with it for the short term.
Have you ever done two-a-days when training for a race? Like ’em or hate ’em?
I’ve only done double runs when I’ve really had to – like when I knew I couldn’t fit in the following day’s run. I completely echo your thoughts – if I were an elite athlete, it would be a different story perhaps, but unfortunately I am not! 🙂
I do them because it’s unavoidable with a baby involved. I may not get the same benefits, but it’s better than just not getting in the miles. 🙂
i like two-a-days when it’s something like a run and a yoga class but i do not like doing two runs in one day. i always find that the second just isn’t as good as the first…that might be a mental hurdle though! 😉 i think it’s okay when necessary but not something to make a habit of.
Agreed! Running and yoga/strength training are fine in the same day.
I don’t think the second run is a mental thing. I think it’s your body’s way of telling you to back off!!
The heat is crazy! I am amazed that you are getting your runs in, and double runs at that.
Last fall I would do two-a-days. One in the morning and one during my lunch break. Only for one reason, though. There’s a long street by my job that is hilly and 2-miles one way. So I would cover a good hill workout during lunch. Unfortunately, this was last summer and it was HOT… Oh, and I sweat pretty badly — w/ no shower at work. LOL How offensive. But… I can’t bring myself to run at night. I have no energy. I’m just a morning person.
Running at night is the worst! I’m a total early bird too!