I'm just curious, what's a good age to start training for the marathon? We see a lot of pros now wait til about 30. But some successful Kenyans start sooner. And then guys like Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter started in their mid 20s.
I obviously want to spend a few more years honing my speed before moving up, but what is the ideal time to move up in distance?
I think 30 is a good age. You have built a big base at that stage and your speed might be starting to fade then. I think circumstances dictate the decision. For a struggling pro, they would be better of going to the marathon earlier for financial reasons. More prize money and sponsorship opportunities.
I think late 20's to early 30's would be good for a strong club runner.
My opinion would be around 22.
Marathon mileage under 18 years old seems too risky and from 18-22 you can race for a college team.
If you aren't fast enough to run for a college team than a marathon could be a good goal and you can always switch to a half if training isn't going well.
The increase in mileage with longer long runs during marathon training actually helped my 5k and 10k times.
If you are a fast runner like Rodgers or Shorter, than I'm not qualified to give you advice and you should ignore my opinion. If I was that fast though, I'd race the events I'm most competitive in or can make the most money.
Lastly, you can train for a marathon and build up your mileage without racing a marathon.
Clearly, early 20s is the time to start running marathons. Makau was 24 when he debuted. Kebede was racing marathons internationally when he turned 20. Early 20s was also the time Kiprotich, Regassa and Desisa kicked off their marathon careers.
For the local age grouper, a case could be made for putting it off until late 20s early 30s to preserve legs. You can do much better in the marathon in your late 30s than you can at shorter road races and on the track.
How fast are your 800 and 1500m times?
Many runners should NEVER race a marathon.
Do it when you're young before life gets in the way. The time is NOW.
thanks for the responses. I want to lower my track times first before I consider moving up, but its good to get an idea that I can move up relatively soon(19 now) once I hit my goal track times.
Are sub 430 1500m and sub 16 5k indicative of a sub 6 minute pace for marathon(sub 2:37:12, my lifetime goal)?
clearly when your 12 y.o.
You do sound like a marathoner. I wouldn't waster too much time polishing your track times. If you had a reasonably active (injury free) HS career and just broke 4:30 for 1500 while still breaking 16 for 5k, mileage and long tempos may be what you need to run fast for you.
lad ,v=o wrote:
You do sound like a marathoner. I wouldn't waster too much time polishing your track times. If you had a reasonably active (injury free) HS career and just broke 4:30 for 1500 while still breaking 16 for 5k, mileage and long tempos may be what you need to run fast for you.
430 and 16 are my goals for 2015. My prs at the moment are 449 and 1655.