• BQ Dreams
      • Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 2:08PM
      • BQ Dreams
      • PR is 3:10 on 55mpw. Was in 2:56-58 shape on 62mpw last winter (1:24 half) then had an injury. This cycle has been an abbreviated buildup, w/only 3 weeks greater than 50mpw and I'm peaking this week at 66. Ran a 1:32:00 half (7:01/mile pace) 5 weeks before marathon day. Race is in 17 days. Today I ran a 12-mile tempo run averaging 7:06/mile. I need to average 7:04 to break 3:05:00 and hopefully get into Boston '18 in the 35-39 age group.

        Is breaking 3:05:00 on Oct. 2 realistic? Or should I hold off for a November marathon and continue building up?
    • Dumoulin
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 2:11PM - in reply to BQ Dreams
      • Dumoulin
      • I thinks it depends on the effort you put in that 1:32 half. If it was (nearly) all out then I think you should do the november marathon.
    • The blahblahblab
    • will be very tough
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 2:18PM - in reply to BQ Dreams
      • will be very tough
      • Based on the info given I think it's going to be very hard. Unless the half course is significantly more challenging than the full course your time doesn't line up well. There's still room for improvement from 5 weeks out but your training needs to be ideal and your recent "tempo" shows goal pace is not coming easy for you. If you decide to go for it personally I would use negative split pacing, aiming for around 1:33 at the half because you can't afford to go out too fast. Delaying the race to November may work but you would need to readjust your training to make sure you don't burn out and peak too early, which 12 mile tempo runs will cause you to do both. I would also consider a fast spring marathon if you don't hit your time this fall. Good luck
    • mellow seeds
      registered
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 2:23PM - in reply to will be very tough
      • mellow seeds
        registered
      • I don't think a 1:24 means you were in 2:56-2:58 shape. You might have broken 3 with that if you were lucky. I doubt you run 3:05 now or November.
    • jbar
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 2:28PM - in reply to BQ Dreams
      • jbar
      • I agree with the others that 3:05 is pushing it based on stated times, but if you're trying to BQ in the 35-39 age group, you need to run a 3:10, not a 3:05.
    • BQ Dreams
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 2:41PM - in reply to will be very tough
      • BQ Dreams
      • The half course was an out-and-back, with the second half of the race being a gradual yet sustained uphill. 66 degrees w/90% humidity. I ran slight negative splits, and final mile was 6:49. The October marathon will be a fast course. I should have noted that the November marathon will be NYC, which of course is a tough course (I was hoping to do NYC at an easy pace for fun after BQ-ing in October). I suppose I could always cancel both and just run Philly in November, but who knows if I ever win an NYC lottery spot again anytime soon.

        The point I was trying to demonstrate w/the information given, which you seem to understand well, is that I seem capable of running significantly faster than 3:05 when fit, and that I seem to be improving since the half. The 1:32 (7:02/mile) half was nearly all out, and the 7:06/mile 12-mile tempo felt like tempo pace rather than a greater effort.

        Anyway, I very much appreciate everyone's advice and taking the time to comment. Thank you.
    • TrackBot
      robot
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 5:02PM - in reply to I am cyber
      • TrackBot
        robot
      • VDOT for 01:32:00 21.0975km: 0
        Equivalent race times based on VDOT:

        Marathon: 23:48:24
        Half marathon: 11:54:12
        15K: 08:27:47
        10K: 05:38:31
        5K: 02:49:16
        3Mi: 02:43:26
        2Mi: 01:48:58
        3200m: 01:48:20
        3K: 01:41:33
        1Mi: 00:54:29
        1600m: 00:54:10
        1500m: 00:50:47


        I am a bot. Info: http://habs.sdf.org/trackbot
    • I am cyber
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 6:34PM - in reply to TrackBot
      • I am cyber
      • TrackBot wrote:
        VDOT for 01:32:00 21.0975km: 0
        Equivalent race times based on VDOT:

        Marathon: 23:48:24
        Half marathon: 11:54:12
        15K: 08:27:47
        10K: 05:38:31
        5K: 02:49:16
        3Mi: 02:43:26
        2Mi: 01:48:58
        3200m: 01:48:20
        3K: 01:41:33
        1Mi: 00:54:29
        1600m: 00:54:10
        1500m: 00:50:47


        I am a bot. Info: http://habs.sdf.org/trackbot
        Did I do this wrong? What up with the trackbot?
    • TrackBot
      robot
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 6:46PM - in reply to fffdsfdfd
      • TrackBot
        robot
      • VDOT for 1:32 21.0975km: 18443.5
        Equivalent race times based on VDOT:

        Marathon: 00:00:00
        Half marathon: 00:00:00
        15K: 00:00:00
        10K: 00:00:00
        5K: 00:00:00
        3Mi: 00:00:00
        2Mi: 00:00:00
        3200m: 00:00:00
        3K: 00:00:00
        1Mi: 00:00:00
        1600m: 00:00:00
        1500m: 00:00:00


        I am a bot. Info: http://habs.sdf.org/trackbot
    • fffdsfdfd
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 8:06PM - in reply to TrackBot
      • fffdsfdfd
      • TrackBot wrote:
        VDOT for 1:32 21.0975km: 18443.5
        Equivalent race times based on VDOT:

        Marathon: 00:00:00
        Half marathon: 00:00:00
        15K: 00:00:00
        10K: 00:00:00
        5K: 00:00:00
        3Mi: 00:00:00
        2Mi: 00:00:00
        3200m: 00:00:00
        3K: 00:00:00
        1Mi: 00:00:00
        1600m: 00:00:00
        1500m: 00:00:00


        I am a bot. Info: http://habs.sdf.org/trackbot
        Useful service.
    • be gentle on the legs
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 8:19PM - in reply to BQ Dreams
      • be gentle on the legs
      • half marathon time + 10 minutes is a safe assumption on 50+ miles per week. let's be honest here

        i'd do the November race if i was you.

        remember, be patient and don't crush yourself with workouts. Easy miles, steady long runs, down weeks, and marathon and HM/10k pace stuff. It's simple, just don't do too much. i look at it as 1 hard workout, 1 hard long run per week, and everything else is trying to do as many miles as the body can handle while getting you prepared to do the next hard effort. listen to your legs, don't just blindly follow a schedule. take it easy. start runs super slow and build into pace. massage. hot tubs. cookies. legs up

        my best marathon (2:28) was a weird buildup where i'd do 60-65 miles and some tough workouts one week, then have to drop down to 45-50 the next with just a short 5k paced workout and fast finish long run. I just went up and down for 6-7 weeks and then felt amazing the last 10 days of training. LESS WORK IS BETTER IF YOU ARE SIMPLY RUNNING EVERY DAY and doing some workouts around HM and 10k pace. Even something like 6 x 2 min @ 5k pace on 60 seconds rest. Or 6-8 x mile @ HM pace on 60 sec rest will get you FIT and fresh for easy marathon pace

        best of luck





        BQ Dreams wrote:
        PR is 3:10 on 55mpw. Was in 2:56-58 shape on 62mpw last winter (1:24 half) then had an injury. This cycle has been an abbreviated buildup, w/only 3 weeks greater than 50mpw and I'm peaking this week at 66. Ran a 1:32:00 half (7:01/mile pace) 5 weeks before marathon day. Race is in 17 days. Today I ran a 12-mile tempo run averaging 7:06/mile. I need to average 7:04 to break 3:05:00 and hopefully get into Boston '18 in the 35-39 age group.

        Is breaking 3:05:00 on Oct. 2 realistic? Or should I hold off for a November marathon and continue building up?
    • TrackBot
      robot
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 11:41PM - in reply to trackbot obey my command
      • TrackBot
        robot
      • VDOT for 1:32:00 21.0975km: 49.7
        Equivalent race times based on VDOT:

        Marathon: 03:11:44
        Half marathon: 01:32:04
        15K: 01:03:56
        10K: 00:41:34
        5K: 00:20:03
        3Mi: 00:19:19
        2Mi: 00:12:32
        3200m: 00:12:27
        3K: 00:11:37
        1Mi: 00:05:52
        1600m: 00:05:50
        1500m: 00:05:26


        I am a bot. Info: http://habs.sdf.org/trackbot
    • robert_cal
      registered
      • RE: Can I break 3:05:00? 9/15/2016 11:55PM - in reply to BQ Dreams
      • robert_cal
        registered
      • My recommendation is that I would shoot for 3:10 in the fast marathon. With a 1:32:00 half and a 12-mile tempo run, you are in shape for a 3:10 (7:15/mile pace). Run the first 18-20 miles and have the discipline to pull out if you are not on time and run your November marathon. But NYC looks like it would add at least +5-10mins to a fast marathon even in good conditions.

        This year due to the warm weather the projected BQ cut-off is likely to be at the -0s. That means that by the time they open to everyone to fill, there will not be too many marathons between now and 10/2 marathon to fill as first come first serve.