In the simplest terms, marathon training is about maintaining a balance between hard workouts and recovery. A successful build-up depends on managing those two ends of the spectrum. But getting it right can be tricky. While a 22-mile progression run is a marathon training staple, few if any coaches would recommend racing a full marathon as a way of preparing for another. So where is that magic threshold that separates a hard-yet-beneficial long run from the kind of effort that does more harm than good? At what point does sheer physical attrition outweigh any fitness gains?
There are no one-size-fits-all answers to these questions. Occasionally, though, we witness athletic feats that fly in the face of conventional wisdom. Case in point: this fall, Maegan Krifchin, a 34-year-old occupational therapist who also competes professionally for the Atlanta Track Club, ran three marathons in one month. After being dissatisfied with her race at the New York City Marathon on November 6, where she ran 2:40:52 in miserably warm conditions, Krifchin doubled back to run the Philadelphia Marathon two weeks later. In Philly, she missed out on the win by a mere six seconds, clocking 2:31:42 for second place. After a performance like that, most…
