squinn2912 wrote: » Would you really think it easier to do the sub3 in London? I've never run it. Winter training and crowded route would be against you.
zulutango wrote: » Those of you who are in or about the three hour mark for your marathon, what are your half marathon times? I ask because it's starting to dawn on me that maybe 3 hours is within my grasp. Not straight away or anything, but I pulled a 1:25 HM out of the bag at the weekend. Preparation was not great and I feel I could do a 1:22 or 1:23 if I tweaked a few things in training. Just wondering if that would be the right kind of ballpark to have a good bash at a 3 hour marathon. Thinking of Seville in February.
noelearly wrote: » 1 23. 37 in clonmel this August before Berlin. Had the company of an auld fella which helped. I was probably at my limit the auld fella was like Justin Gatlin at the end of it.
Itziger wrote: » Reported!!!!!!!! You need to read the charter on dr*g speculation. Clonmel was strange though. There's a photo of me chatting to that "lovely guy" who pipped me to 2nd auld fella 50 euro prize afterwards and you'd think we were just after a 12k Easy jog. Chatting away with big smiles on us. It was only a Half, but still, given my less than ideal prep for it I should have been on me hands and knees
Bittertown wrote: » Hi everyone, Sorry in advance for the very long post. Basically I'm running my first marathon race in Dublin in 10 days, I have the unrealistic goal of running 2:59. I don't mind failing, I just really want to try. I have some questions since this thread seems to have a lot of knowledgable runners, but first a bit of context: I started running more seriously early May, training and running my first races. I was fit and in shape before that, I would run 5k here and there, do hill sprints sessions, some bodyweight workouts etc. Never ran more than 10K before May. For the record I ran a marathon by myself at the end of May (so with very low training) in Phoenix Park, and while my time was obviously not very good (3:47) the distance is not really scaring me, but obviously the pace for 2:59 is. I've been running about 50 miles on average over the last 4 months. Peaked the last 4 weeks with 65-70 miles per week, with long runs between 18 and 22 miles. I ran 4 races between June and August, three 5K (19:00, 19:03, 18:53) and one 10K (39:29 in August)I have done several long-ish MP runs usually mid-week, most notably two 16 miles runs with the last 13 miles at MP (last 13.1 miles in 1:29:15 and then 1:28:45). Those two runs were in the middle of my 70 miles weeks. - Based on all that, do you think I have a small shot at a sub 3h Marathon in 10 days? I know this is very unlikely but I would like your opinion on it. - Any race strategy based around the 3h pace group? It's my first Dublin marathon so I'm not sure if these guys are reliable? I really don't want to reach the half faster than 1:29. I looked at last year's videos and it seems like this 3h pace group is extremely crowded for the first part of the race, but I don't think I'd be able to pace myself really well. I imagine just following this group would be easier for me? Any comments/opinions on this would be very appreciated! Thanks!
ger664 wrote: » @bittertown You are kinda like one of those improving 3 year old horses. Your lack of running and training with your recent races times suggest you should not get near it but those MP runs suggest you would. This will either go two ways. You break 3 or you sufferfest home in 3:30+. If you are happy to risk the later happening then go with the 3 hour pacers. If not go out 3:20 pacers and pick it up if you can for the last 6 miles.
fletch wrote: » ger664 wrote: » @bittertown You are kinda like one of those improving 3 year old horses. Your lack of running and training with your recent races times suggest you should not get near it but those MP runs suggest you would. This will either go two ways. You break 3 or you sufferfest home in 3:30+. If you are happy to risk the later happening then go with the 3 hour pacers. If not go out 3:20 pacers and pick it up if you can for the last 6 miles. He'll be hitting the 20 mile mark about 2:32:30 if he sits with the 3:20 pacers....no way he's going to pull a 28 min 10k out of the bag at the end though to come in under 3 or am I missing something?
fletch wrote: » He'll be hitting the 20 mile mark about 2:32:30 if he sits with the 3:20 pacers....no way he's going to pull a 28 min 10k out of the bag at the end though to come in under 3 or am I missing something?
Enduro wrote: » My first running race was DCM, and I found myself with a similar choice, but with no metrics to go on, just a really strong last long run. In the end I went for it, with a very definite plan of running an even paced marathon. In the end I was able to accelerate the last mile or two to come in around 2:57. So it can work, but its definitely a big gamble. So in the end it comes down to whether you think the risk of a blow-out is worth the reward of a sub 3. Only you can decide that for yourself. One downside of running sub 3 on your first go is that you knock out the big classic target, which can leave follow-up marathons a bit underwhelming, relatively speaking.I never got the same kick out of hitting any other marathon time targets (but got my rewards in the marathon by targeting more interesting and difficult courses instead).
squinn2912 wrote: » On my successful days I let the pacers go I think they're terrible.
squinn2912 wrote: » Someone suggested they turn up hungover. I've never seen that and wouldn't be impressed.
squinn2912 wrote: » Well that's not great form if they do. If they're volunteering to provide a service then that's wonderful but that doesn't mean they are above criticism. I've unofficially paced people, paying the entry fee, and when I did that I planned to run at an even pace throughout. My advice from the 4 DCMs I have done is to let them go because they go out harder than you need to. Every running world record broken was achieved by running evenly. If the elite follow that then there's a lesson there.
Bittertown wrote: » I've been running about 50 miles on average over the last 4 months. Peaked the last 4 weeks with 65-70 miles per week, with long runs between 18 and 22 miles. I ran 4 races between June and August, three 5K (19:00, 19:03, 18:53) and one 10K (39:29 in August) I have done several long-ish MP runs usually mid-week, most notably two 16 miles runs with the last 13 miles at MP (last 13.1 miles in 1:29:15 and then 1:28:45). Those two runs were in the middle of my 70 miles weeks.
