First marathon target time?

Running Bing

I started training for my first marathon just over a month back.

Now I am not a big runner and have'nt really ran consistently. Having said that I am young and of pretty fit, so I started out with a target of about 4 hours for the marathon.

Im now realising that that target may not be very realistic.

Im doing 3 mile runs at 9 minute a mile pace but anything over 4 miles is between 10.00-10.40. None of these runs are what I would call easy.

So my question is at this rate what do people think a realistic goal for the marathon is? As its my first marathon and Im not a big runner my main goal is just to finish...I would be happy with that but at the same time I want to challenge myself a bit and want to run it to the best of my ability rather than just strolling through it.(I know nobody strolls through 26 miles;))


So what do people reckon a realistic goal is?

Krusty_Clown

I'm in the same boat as you, with my first marathon coming up in 5 weeks, but based on the experience I have so far, if you're only doing 3-4 mile runs at this stage you have a long way to go in your training, and your pace will increase over the rest of your training cycle.

BTW: Based on you current time for 3 miles 9 min/mile), you're looking at a 4:33 marathon. But like I said, your pace will improve with your mileage. Don't get disheartened now. You will improve. My goal is first to finish, then worry about my time. Why not set yourself a goal of 4:30, and adjust downwards as your pace picks up while you go through your training?

Wally Runs

Babybing,

Remember this is your first marathon and you really should set out to enojy it in full. While everybody will have an opinion on how quick you could cover the distance and if you should race it or just run it etc. My advice is to aim to just finish it on the day and have a great day.

The challenge is not just the 26.2 miles on the day (I think that is the easy bit) but all the training you have to put in up to that point. If you add the pressure of trying to beat a time you may well miss out on the fun element (yeah none of this makes sense now, but it will in time).

My point is if you enjoy this challenge you will set down a benchmark for further races and go on and on with running. If you take the fun out of it you risk that.

shels4ever

You will find with your training once you get upto 8-10 mile that you will know yoru pace better. At that stage I would suggest that you have a look at

http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/mcmillanrunningcalculator.htm

Stick in a time for a recent race and this will give you a target time.

I find it good.

Peckham

Wally Runs wrote: »

The challenge is not just the 26.2 miles on the day (I think that is the easy bit) but all the training you have to put in up to that point. If you add the pressure of trying to beat a time you may well miss out on the fun element (yeah none of this makes sense now, but it will in time).

+1 to this

I set myself an overly-ambitious target for my first marathon, which I didn't achieve (and almost didn't finish at all because I pushed myself to make that target). When I finished the race I was quite disappointed that I didn't achieve my target, and didn't really get to enjoy the achievement of having finished a marathon.

Your target first time out should be to cross the finish line....worry about your time the second time out!

After all, marathon finish times only mean something to those who have run a marathon (who will respect you for having put in the training). Most non-runners wouldn't know how good/average a 3.30hr or 4.30hr marathon is. So, time doesn't really matter in that regard.

(In fact, a lot of runners don't even know what a marathon is - i.e. the number of conversations people have had trying to explain the difference between the Womens' Mini Marathon and the Dublin Marathon......but that's a whole different story! :mad: )

hunnymonster

My uncle who has run hundreds of marathons and ultramarathons gave me a piece of advice years ago (long before I started distance running).

"You only ever have one first marathon, make sure you enjoy it."

If you don't enjoy it, you won't come back and the marathon is a lovely distance, just long enough to be an achievement in itself, but short enough to be a race. Time enough to worry about times for Dublin 09.

Running Bing

Alright lads, those replies have actually been very helpful.

Im gonna just concentrate on getting the training in and finishing this one and I'll start thinking about times for 2009 all going well.

Peckham wrote: »

(In fact, a lot of runners don't even know what a marathon is - i.e. the number of conversations people have had trying to explain the difference between the Womens' Mini Marathon and the Dublin Marathon......but that's a whole different story! :mad: )

Very true, I have a mate whose brother ran a 10K and he's always telling people he ran a marathon (not understanding the difference). I dont want to be a pr1ck and correct him but at the same time it p1sses me off:D

hunnymonster

Babybing wrote: »

Very true, I have a mate whose brother ran a 10K and he's always telling people he ran a marathon (not understanding the difference). I dont want to be a pr1ck and correct him but at the same time it p1sses me off:D

I am the pr1ck that would correct him

How Strange

hunnymonster wrote: »

I am the pr1ck that would correct him

Yep annoys me too when you say you're training for a marathon and some woman says 'oh I did one of those too in June, how long is it?' :mad:

I don't want to detract from the womens 10k day out as it raises a lot of money for charity but it isn't even a mini marathon.