Daniels M Pace

Training Advice/Discussion Marathon

7 years ago 10/21/2016 6:16pm EDT

I just graduated from college in the spring and am continuing to train on my own. I've owned Daniels Running Formula for awhile, but I'm finally giving it a real read through since I'm now responsible for my own training (and also helping out with distance track at the High school I work at).

I'm currently training for a half in mid-late November and a full marathon in early February. I've been using Daniels training paces as a guide, and they all make sense to me, but M pace seems really fast!

I was a 4:20 mile, 15:00 5k, 31:30 10k in college, and I'm probably closer to upper 15s shape for 5k right now. I was an 80-95 mile guy in HS and now am running about 60-70. Always have been a long distance guy, but based on Daniels charts, I should be able to run 2:30ish for the marathon? That just sounds so fast! I feel like even 6minute miles would be a stretch.

who has some experience with Daniels? What should M pace feel like?

7 years ago 10/21/2016 6:39pm EDT

re: Daniels Running Bro

Lol I was 80-95 mpw in college, not HS

7 years ago 10/21/2016 6:46pm EDT

re: Daniels Running Bro

One thing about marathon training I've learned is that it often feels harder than the actual race. I'm training for a December marathon using Daniels for the 3rd time (my 7th overall marathon). I did a MP run a few weeks ago that felt really hard. I thought "how will I keep this up for 26.2 miles?" But you have to trust that it will all come together once you start tapering.

That said, just because a chart says your times are equivalent to a 2:30ish marathon doesn't necessarily mean you'll run that on the first try. Marathons can be a crapshoot sometimes. You'll have a better idea of what you can run after your half. For the marathon, I like to have A, B and C goals. Like for you that might be A) 2:30 B) sub-2:45 C) sub-3, and so on. Train for A, but be mentally prepared for a back up plan.

7 years ago 10/21/2016 7:10pm EDT

re: Daniels Running Bro

Daniels Running Bro wrote:
I was a 4:20 mile, 15:00 5k, 31:30 10k in college, and I'm probably closer to upper 15s shape for 5k right now. I was an 80-95 mile guy in HS and now am running about 60-70. Always have been a long distance guy, but based on Daniels charts, I should be able to run 2:30ish for the marathon? That just sounds so fast! I feel like even 6minute miles would be a stretch.

If you ran 90-100 mpw maybe. If you run 60-70 mpw you will obviously not reach your potential in the marathon and will probably not run some chart's equivalent.

7 years ago 10/21/2016 8:53pm EDT

re: txRUNNERgirl

txRUNNERgirl wrote:
One thing about marathon training I've learned is that it often feels harder than the actual race. I'm training for a December marathon using Daniels for the 3rd time (my 7th overall marathon). I did a MP run a few weeks ago that felt really hard. I thought "how will I keep this up for 26.2 miles?" But you have to trust that it will all come together once you start tapering.
That said, just because a chart says your times are equivalent to a 2:30ish marathon doesn't necessarily mean you'll run that on the first try. Marathons can be a crapshoot sometimes. You'll have a better idea of what you can run after your half. For the marathon, I like to have A, B and C goals. Like for you that might be A) 2:30 B) sub-2:45 C) sub-3, and so on. Train for A, but be mentally prepared for a back up plan.

This was absolutely true for me. My HS coach wrote my marathon plan when I started college. It sounded absolutely crazy, and continued to sound absolutely crazy until race day. The taper came together and I felt bouncier than I've ever felt in my life. Trust the long, grinding tempos and threshold runs will get you there. Daniels is pretty accurate.

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