Boston marathon pacing?

Training Advice/Discussion Marathon

5 years ago 03/18/2019 11:49am EDT

I ran a 1:20 low half marathon at the end of a 90 mile training week only shortening up the prior day. Other than that no “taper”. I’ve averaged 90 miles per week for 12 weeks and have been doing 20+ mile long runs once every week. Daniels equates the 1:20 half to a 2:47 full. Anyone have thoughts/ideas on what a taper/rest does to the conversion? Or is it insignificant? Trying to come up with a Boston strategy. The half was flat and was 3 weeks ago and was run in pretty nasty conditions, rainy, cold, relatively windy, ... Thanks for any feedback.

5 years ago 03/18/2019 11:52am EDT

re: Pace Help

Just Stinson it, anything less is being a pansy.

5 years ago 03/18/2019 12:04pm EDT

re: Pace Help

You can't create a Boston strategy until you have an idea of the weather. The course is easy in cool dry temps with a tailwind and a bear with a headwind and/or heat/sun.

5 years ago 03/18/2019 12:26pm EDT

re: Pace Help

You know your fitness better than any of us but I'd say the Daniels Calculation is in the ball park. what have your long runs looked like for pace?

5 years ago 03/18/2019 1:14pm EDT

re: Pace Help

The Daniels conversion can be optimistic, but it also assume similar performance intensity, so if you didn't taper for the HM, the marathon predictor might be accurate. The tricky thing about pacing isn't the average pace, though, but dealing with the Boston course. For that, it would help to hear from an experienced Boston runner.

5 years ago 03/18/2019 1:15pm EDT

re: you know best

I’ve done all of them easy (7:30-8/mi) with the exception of one where I did the first 5 easy and last 15 steady at 6:20 pace. That was about 7 weeks ago. Normally I wouldn’t do anything that long at the faster pace but I felt like I was getting to 2:45 marathon shape. Gut feeling. 6:20 felt like marathon effort so I just went with that. Felt fine the next day and through workouts the next week. I did run low 2:49 November 2017 and think I have a good feel for the distance but 2:45 just seems like another level from 2:49 and throw in the Boston course? I’m probably overthinking it.

5 years ago 03/18/2019 1:47pm EDT

re: Pace Help

The three rules of running Boston are:

1. Do not go out too fast.

2. Do not go out too fast.

3. Do not go out too fast.

Given that you've identified 2:45 as your next-level goal, I'd recommend a strategy of checking your pace every mile from the get-go and being SURE you are not going faster than 2:45 pace. If you are, slow down. If you're not, keep going. If you get to mile 21 and can't contain yourself any longer, you're allowed to exceed 2:45 pace.

5 years ago 03/18/2019 2:09pm EDT

re: sth

Thanks all. Sounds like I’m likely somewhere between 2:45 and 2:47. Conservative approach for Boston and consider the conditions. Good luck to any others racing Boston or elsewhere!

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Boston marathon pacing?

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