Today’s question comes from another one of our international Comrades Marathon runners, Abby Adekanmbi. Abby said she is interested in returning for the Comrades Marathon up run next year, she is also interested in running the Great Wall Marathon which is 2 weeks before the 2015 Comrades Marathon.

She wants to know if it is possible to train to run both successfully. She has done 2 marathons 6 days apart in the past before – Boston Marathon and London Marathon in 2013, Boston Marathon and Big Sur 2014. If it is possible what does she need to do to make sure she is in the best possible shape?

Brad Brown: Today’s question comes from another one of our international Comrades Marathon runners, Abby Adekanmbi. Abby said she is interested in returning for the Comrades Marathon up run next year, she is also interested in running the Great Wall Marathon which is 2 weeks before the 2015 Comrades Marathon.

She wants to know if it is possible to train to run both successfully. She has done 2 marathons 6 days apart in the past before – Boston Marathon and London Marathon in 2013, Boston Marathon and Big Sur 2014. If it is possible what does she need to do to make sure she is in the best possible shape?

Lindsey Parry: It is possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s advisable. Again, with all these kinds of projects I just have to ask people what is the point or what is the goal that you are trying to achieve?

Running the Comrades Marathon and anything else is tough

If it is to do The Great Wall and to run the Comrades Marathon 2 weeks apart and just get a finishers medal, then absolutely. I know a couple of people that have run The Great Wall, and with the sheer number of steps you have to go up and most importantly go down – the risk of quad damage and ITB is pretty high.

So again, it is definitely possible. I would work on having nice strong quads – get into the gym, do a lot of stair work. You do an ENORMOUS amount of stairs as you go up and down, up and down as you go along the wall. And then after The Great Wall I would do as little running as possible before the Comrades Marathon.

You must understand though that by doing that there is no way that you’re going to do your best Comrades. Again, if you are a borderline Comrades Marathon runner, if you’re an 11.30 to 12 hour Comrades runner as it stands, then doing something like that could well jeopardise your chance of finishing. If you are a 10 -10.30 hour Comrades runner then go for it and you will probably just become an 11:15 / 11:30 Comrades Marathon runner and you will get 2 medals.