That's basically me. I averaged 38mi/week (just ran the #s) before 1st marathon due to work/life constraints at the time. Ran high 15s/low16s 5k in HS.
Ran the marathon conservatively and finished in 2:45 (around 1:21:30 at half). Didn't blow up but didn't feel great either.
Four long runs in 12 weeks (16, 16, 14, 20)
"The wall" was custom made for people who attempt this, even if they are hypothetical. Successful marathoning involves a ton of endurance. You gain endurance through practice. I will gleefully tell this person they are doing a good job as I pass them in the most hobbyjogger fashion imaginable.
Hypothetically, I think this runner could potentially run a marathon if they had a good amount of experience running long distances and were well-trained for the marathon. This runner's build-up would suggest that they are capable of running a 10k or half marathon, but a marathon is a different beast altogether and it is difficult to say for certain how this runner would fare.
2:45, twice. Once at boston.
That’s a bold strategy, Cotten.
80% chance you absolutely implode between 17-21
4% chance you bonk your brains into the abyss during miles 14-18 because you have never fueled on a long (hard) run.
10% chance you make it to mile 23 and bank into a hill like a snowball hitting a piece of cement.
4% chance you absolutely nail it but wake up in the morning with a torn hip labrum.
2% chance it’s a perfect day and you crush it without consequence.
I was wondering about something like this for me. I'm 63, no way I can handle high mileage.
If I ran 40 mpw (I would do a long run which would bring it over 40 a few times) and do a second workout of some cross-training routines I have- core, strength, some "jumping".
I wonder if I could break 3 hours. I've run under 2:50 when I was younger on 50 mpw and my longest run was 18 (once).
Yes. What you are describing is the normal hobby jogger route. 40mpw and a long run.
big difference than 40mpw without any long run. No fuel practice after mile 15, etc.
runn wrote:
I was wondering about something like this for me. I'm 63, no way I can handle high mileage.
If I ran 40 mpw (I would do a long run which would bring it over 40 a few times) and do a second workout of some cross-training routines I have- core, strength, some "jumping".
I wonder if I could break 3 hours. I've run under 2:50 when I was younger on 50 mpw and my longest run was 18 (once).
I know someone who's 64 that's fairly competitive at the marathon distance for his age group (routinely podiums/age group winner at regional marathons). He's always been fragile -- his body can't handle high mileage. He generally runs about 35-40 mpw during marathon cycles (weeks generally include shorter easy runs, a tempo, some type of workout (fartlek/repeats/LT, etc), and a distance run), but supplements his running with a lot of "incline treadmill power walks," and ElliptiGO rides. He swears by the incline treadmill stuff, and it must work. He'll do up to twenty minutes to an hour of power walking (just below a jogging pace) with the treadmill set to max incline several times per week. He says the treadmill stuff doesn't put as much stress on his legs, but that it still creates a decent workout stimulus that helps him maintain and sometimes improve fitness during his buildups.