Dublin Marathon 09 goal time

antigone87

Hi guys,

Just wondering if any seasoned marathon runners can help me decide what to put down as my predicted time for the Dublin Marathon in October. It will be my first marathon and I don't really know what to expect. I'm a 5'3 woman, so I have shortish legs but am fairly light, 56 kgs. At the moment I can run 10 km in just over an hour. I'm wondering if I should put myself into the 3.30 - 4.15 category, or if I should err on the side of caution and go for the over 4.15 group. I'm worried that if I go for the latter, that I will be stuck among walkers and will take ages to get into the pace that I want to run.
I'm using the beginner's plan from the Dublin Marathon website (the 'get you around' plan) so I'm happy enough that it's from a good source.

Thanks a million!

christeb

It actually doesn't matter what you put down on the entry ( I assume this is to what you're referring?), it's not like they put you in a bigt group with similar placed people around. I think it's merely for statistical purposes so they have an idea of what the field will be like.

That said, it's best to be optimistic, 3.30-4.15

Krusty_Clown

For a 10km time = 1 hour, Mcmillan suggests that your marathon time would be 4:41. So I would go for the 4:15+ category. There's no point in going into the 3:30-4:15 pen if your finish time will be 4:30+, as it is more likely that you will get your pace wrong by starting in a pen that includes people who will be finishing more than an hour before you.

Mcmillan pace calculator across distances is not an exact science, but is a handy guideline. A marathon is 4 x10km + 2km, so if you ran at your 10km pace for the distance (which nobody can do), you would still finish in around 4:20. I'm not trying to be negative, just trying to set realistic expectations. Maybe you'll go through some fantastic training and see huge improvements, but if you're human like the rest of us, you should set a realistic time goal and then adjust as you go along.

rainbow kirby

I'm in a similar position to you (58 minute 10k, 2:17 HM) and I entered as 4:15+. I'm hoping for a 4:30 finishing time, and there's really no point in trying to pretend otherwise just to dodge a few walkers at the start.

Hard Worker

Just on a point of information:
There will be three colour codes for the race number this year based on your predicted time. There will be three different entry points into the start area and you will have to go to the colour start area relating to your coloured number. Therefore, you should use a reasonable prediction for your finish time.

antigone87

Thanks guys.

Krusty Clown, I didn't read that as negative at all - I really don't know what to expect, nd I would rather be realistic than end up dissappointed/injured.

I suppose I was kind of hoping that my time would miraculously get better over the next few months, but if that's unlikely I might just put down the 4.15 plus. That way, if I do finish in under my expected time, it will be a plus - seeing everyone else in the group speed off could be really disheartening and could possibly do me damage. (Sorry, thinking out loud...) My goal is to run/jog the whole thing without stopping to walk unless it is absolutely necessary. So 4.15 plus it is.

Thanks a million!

plodder

Even if you start too far back, it won't take long (1km or so) for the crowds to clear out a bit.

Krusty_Clown

antigone87 wrote: »

I suppose I was kind of hoping that my time would miraculously get better over the next few months, but if that's unlikely I might just put down the 4.15 plus. That way, if I do finish in under my expected time, it will be a plus - seeing everyone else in the group speed off could be really disheartening and could possibly do me damage. (Sorry, thinking out loud...) My goal is to run/jog the whole thing without stopping to walk unless it is absolutely necessary. So 4.15 plus it is.

With a good training program, I'm absolutely certain your times will come down, and it will also have a really positive impact on your 10k times (it certainly did for mine last year).

By the way, almost exactly half of the Dublin marathon finishers last year finished under 4:15, and the other half finished in 4:15+.
Sub 4:15 : 4,685 finishers
4:15 plus: 4,682 finishers

savaloy

I've just entered this on the back of afternoon in good company and a supply of vitamin G(uiness). It'll be my first marathon. I'll have 6 weeks to train for it off the back of a season of triathlon. I'll be hoping to get round in about 3hrs. Won't be dissapointed if I miss 3hrs as i'll be hoping to run faster at London in April 2010 after a dedicated run programme