Recovery rates all depend on the individual and how they adapted to their training. If you have trained well (not over trained) things should be ok. Peak for the first,recover well for the second (no long workouts between the two) you might be alright. It will depend, too, on how fast you go through PC. If you Nail PC, you may suffer at LS. If you take it easy in your first (my advice) go harder in your second....Really it's shooting craps...Maybe you can nail both...or both might suck...one will and the other won't. Push yourself and see what happens. I use an HIM as my last long event about three weeks before an IM and by race day I feel great.

I've done two HIM's 3 weeks apart. It really depends on what you are going after in each race. Whether being competitive (going hard) or using it as a long training day. Also a lot depends on what your fitness level is. Since the first one sounds to be your primary race - can you wait on signing up for the second race until after the first and see how the body feels and then decide?

RV and Anton have covered the salient points that should be considered. I've done iron distance races 28 and 13 days apart with better results on the second race but I was younger and stronger. My wife, who is way faster, was hurt for a year and half after the 13 day lapse in judgement.
It's a crap shoot. Are you feeling lucky?

I would be super careful in doing the second one, especially since that is your first HIM. I ran a marathon 3 weeks after my first half IM, thinking that I've done marathons almost 2 weeks apart before, so I'd be fine. I just don't think I was ready for the overall tired I was and how quickly I didn't fully recover afterwards. My suggestion is maybe put the second one off, since the first one is your A race, you'll want a fully recovery and if it is your first one, I think you'd rather be so excited for your next one afterwards than cursing every minute of that second race. If it's in your neighborhood, you could always volunteer for it and get to see the race for the following year.

Toni--I am in the same boat--I am probably going to do both.

In 2004 and 2005 I did a HIM and then the Chicago mary 2 weeks later. Both marathon's were tough as I don't think 2 weeks was enough recovery for me at that time. This year I did a HIM and the the KC marathon 3 weeks later and set a marathon PR and felt great. Was it the extra week of recovery? Or was I just in better shape this year to handle it? Probably a bit of both. I'd probably do both HIM's since your A race is the first one. Then do the second for fun.

If the first is your A race and the second for fun, just race them that way. Go for the first and go hard and push yourself, but be ready to take it easy (long training day) in the second one. A local and fun one would be too hard to skip for me :)

I think you can do it!

I know a guy that did the Gran Jaguar 1/2 IM distance this year and exactly 1 week later was doing Ironman Cancun 70.3

So..........it al depends on how you aproach each race and maybe the level of experience you´ve got.

[QUOTE=kyillee;57761]If the first is your A race and the second for fun, just race them that way. Go for the first and go hard and push yourself, but be ready to take it easy (long training day) in the second one. A local and fun one would be too hard to skip for me :)[/QUOTE]

Agreed. Pick one to be your A race, preferrably the first one. Then have fun in the 2nd one. After my 1st HIM earlier this year I was still pretty cooked the next weeked (not a lot of power in my legs) and slowly got it back, but it took 2-3 more weeks. This is also your 1st half, so keep that in mind.

Bottom line, Do it and have fun while you're at it!

Like has already been said, a lot of what will happen is a crap shoot. I did both PC HIM and Lake Stevens this last summer when they were four weeks apart, and still felt the effects at LS. I'm of the opinion that Pacific Crest does not contribute to racing long course well soon after simply because of the conditions it often experiences. The altitude combined with temperatures that are usually 90-100 degrees can take a lot out of you. If you plan to push at either of these races, just do one.

If PC is the harder course and you train to do well at that race (ie: if PC is hilly then ride lots of hills) than the flatter course, LS, will be easier.

On the flip side, if LS is flat and fast and you train on the flats and build your "big gear/flat terrain" speed, than you would potentially suffer at a hilly course such as PC.

Make sense? hope so.

[QUOTE=toni;57792]Thanks for the input all.

Sgeddes has a good point. PC is a hard course from what I've heard.

I want to add a what if to the equation.

What if I went home took a day off from work to sleep, eat and recoup after PC? Would that give me a jump start on getting past the fatigue of race 1 to do race 2 leisurely?

I think if I follow a good training plan closely and avoid over training, I might be able to do it. But I think I'll hold off on signing up for it until I've started my training plan.

The other side to this is that PC has a huge elevation gain in the bike portion. I'm unsure of the elevation variances of LS. I can't see it being as severe as PC. LS shouldn't be too bad as long as I train sufficiently for the large elevation gain at PC. Right?

Sgeddes - can you remember how different LS, is compared to PC?[/QUOTE]

Toni- registration will still be open until the expo for LS-- they should have spaces. You would pay a bit more, but then you at least know if you want/can do it.

PC has some long climbs at an already high elevation. LS is a rather hilly course as well, there is not flat on the bike, but the climbs compared to PC are rather easy. They can be steep but they're all short and everything is easier at the lower altitude. Both run courses are mostly flat, but the altitude at PC makes it significantly harder.

[QUOTE=sgeddes;57781]The altitude combined with temperatures that are usually 90-100 degrees can take a lot out of you. If you plan to push at either of these races, just do one.[/QUOTE]

i did the oly last year at PC and did not perform as well as expected...feeling pretty good going into it, I think it was ultimately because of the elevation. i know the HIM folks really suffered in the sun because of a late start that day...