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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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==The Challenges==
There are several difficulties in running marathons on consecutive days.
* [[Glycogen]] Depletion. [[Glycogen]] is the stored in the [[Muscle|muscles ]] as a fuel for running, and the lack of [[Glycogen]] is a primary limiting factor in marathon running.
* [[Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness]]. While the pain of DOMS is normally noticed 24-48 hours after exercise, the weakness is immediate.
* Muscular Soreness. This refers to non-DOMS [[Muscle|muscle ]] soreness and generally responds to different treatments. With DOMS the muscles are tender to the touch and often have pronounced weakness. With non-DOMS soreness, [[Massage]] can feel painful but good.
* Lack of Sleep. After a race, it can be hard to sleep, making subsequent events tougher.
==Possible Mitigations==
* The optimum mitigation is to train specifically for back to back marathons. Doing [[Long Run|long runs ]] on consecutive days is ideal for this. Getting used to the feeling of running long on tired legs helps prepare physically and mentally for the challenge.
* Taking on extra carbohydrate in the race can help preserve muscle [[Glycogen]] and provide fuel for running. I would recommend 4-8 Gels plus one taken 5 minutes before the start of the race. Extra carbohydrate may also reduce muscle damage. See [[When to eat Energy Gels in the Marathon]].
* Post race nutrition is critical to replace used [[Glycogen]] so following [[Nutrient Timing]] may make a significant difference to recovery. You can work out the calories required to run the race and add in the calories for your [http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html Basal Metabolic Rate]. This will give you an idea of the number of calories you need to consume to be in balance. In practice, it may be tricky to consume sufficient calories, but following [[Nutrient Timing]] will help. For a rough estimate, assume around 2,600 Calories for the race and 2,400 for BMR, giving a total of 5,000 Calories required.
