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| picking marathon pace (Read 613 times) |
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posted: 4/4/2008 at 2:45 PM |
The idea of running by feel is a good one, but I think it's hard to understand the distance until you've done it. It's difficult to have a feel for something you've never done, especially in the case of the marathon. Bad things happen above 20 miles. Things that make people never run again.
You should probably go out at least with the 4:00 group (perhaps slower) if only to keep your speed down in the first 10 miles, but not worry about them too much. After the taper it's pretty easy to feel like you're good to go for a new US record. I agree with other people, if you feel good at 18 - 20 miles, perhaps then refocus on bringing it home in a particular time.
Also, be aware that the fast pace groups (may include 4:00) often will not really slow at water stops. If you plan to run with them, check their plans for this before the race. You will either need to get good at taking in water on the run, or run ahead of the group to get a little more time. Nothing will kill the last part of your marathon faster than dehydration.
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| view log Go speedy quick! |
posted: 4/4/2008 at 3:28 PM |
| Good point... excellent advice about asking about the water stops... |
Reach Goals:
- Win my age group at 1/2 marathon
- Go sub 1:31:45
- Super Reach: 2000 mile for the year
50k of Thankfulness
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mb1973 |
posted: 4/4/2008 at 4:33 PM |
My first marathon was a lousy experience....Oh yes, it started off great then started to fall about around 17-18.....Then it was a sort of hobble/walk/shuffle/limp/semi-jog the rest of the way to the finish...I puked up all my fluids in a back alley an hour after the finish...My IT Band was shot and I couldn't run consistently for four months...
I plan on my second one being much more enjoyable...
DO NOT GO OUT TOO FAST!!!! Go out slow...You can always speed up!!! |
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posted: 4/4/2008 at 7:39 PM |
I ran the youngstown half (my 4rth) which is a very hilly course and ran a pr at 1:48:-- chip time but it was really somewhere around 1:47:20 by my watch. Chip time was gun to finish.. my watch was starting line to finish line..
I love the fact that this bothers you. I'm with you. We train too damn hard and nobody is going to steal 00:00:40 from us! |
| I ran. I ran until my muscles burned and my veins pumped battery acid. Then I ran some more. |
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| view log Beware of powerlines! |
posted: 4/4/2008 at 8:14 PM
modified: 4/4/2008 at 8:16 PM |
I think you're totally going to be able to do it!
I dont' know your plan, nor am I by any means a running expert, but make sure you be careful with your long run days! Don't get too ambitious and run a lot of 20+ mile runs in back to back weeks. Make sure you take an "easy" week every 3 weeks or so. Your long runs for the last 3 weeks have totalled ~50% of your weekly mileage. Looking back at my first marathon in October, I see now that I was probably doing too long of long runs (20-23mi) relative to my weekly milage, and I would have been more efficient in my training had I upped the mileage of my mid-week training instead of the long runs. While I didn't get injured, I often felt like I was on the brink. You don't want to get hurt!
My 2 cents. Perhaps some more running educated people can weight in on this?
Again, and for what its worth, I totally think you're going to break the 4hr mark! |
Fortitudine Vincimus (by Endurance We Conquer)
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| view log Go speedy quick! |
posted: 4/5/2008 at 9:44 PM |
| Quote from mikeymike on 4/3/2008 at 11:50 PM: Having a goal is one thing. Picking a marathon pace is quite another.
You don't pick a marathon pace. It picks you. If you you've run enough miles and have enough race experience then you may have a decent idea what it is before you do it, but you don't "select" it.
ok... since I am new and don't know if my marathon pace picked me or I am wrapped up in the excitement of it all... I will go out easy by feel. I will line up behind the 4 hour team. I will not let myself pass them until I get past x ? but will let them pull away from me without worrying about it.
I didn't think asking the question would give me so much information. I also assumed more people would tell me 4 hours was crazy and if I try for it I am just setting myself up for disaster. So if there are folks out there who think that, I wouldn't mind hearing it.
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Reach Goals:
- Win my age group at 1/2 marathon
- Go sub 1:31:45
- Super Reach: 2000 mile for the year
50k of Thankfulness
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posted: 4/5/2008 at 10:04 PM |
I ran my first marathon last month, without a time goal, and I enjoyed it a lot. After chatting with some people in the first several miles, I wound up picking a running partner to stay with for the next 15 miles, who was going a slow/easy/disciplined pace, and I enjoyed it. Then about mile 22, I decided my feet were starting to hurt and I didn't want to stop to walk the water breaks anymore, so I cordially said goodbye to my erstwhile running partner, and sped up the remainder, to finish "fast" (maybe about 8min/mi, but it felt fast, and was fun  )
I was happy to have a slow first marathon, because I wanted to be comfortable, and to have a pace that I could comfortably improve the next time, and I think I'll probably improve it by 30min when it comes around next year.
(However, I still don't know what the "wall" is like.) |
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