Can I break a 3 hour marathon next weekend?

I signed up for the half long before I signed up for the marathon, and the start line is a mile from my house. Once I realized there were 8 days apart, my intention was to use it as a final workout going into the marathon.

I wasn't really racing except for the last 3 miles, and only ran 10 hard miles, but it was a little harder effort than I had planned in the heat of the moment. I'm a little sore today, but I'll be fine to do an easy run tomorrow. A couple more short easy runs this week and I'll be ready.

*Edit* - Also, the marathon is another local race just to keep me committed to training. I hadn’t planned on the sub 3 attempt, as Chicago 2025 was my goal marathon for sub 3. I’ll see how it goes. Thanks!

Sand bag final boss over here

Not a sand bag. It was harder than any workout I’ve done in buildup but not quite 100% racing. But then felt like 100% racing without speeding up in the hills (and maybe the humidity catching up to me).

That’s all I have to say. I think my odds are less than 50%, especially with the weather. An equivalency calculator for my “race” said 3:03-3:04.

This was fun for me to talk through regardless of whether I get it or not. I appreciate the advice and even the few kind words of encouragement.

Until next Sunday…

Too many excuses.

No, you will not break 3.

He ran a 30 minute 10k fives times a week during base training.

You're probably right. I'm more sore today than I was yesterday, and I have some pain in my knee. Not real injury pain, but more like post marathon extreme ligament soreness.

I think I'm going to bail on the sub 3 attempt, and shoot for sub 3:05.

I took yesterday off, don't plan to run today, and thinking I'll do an easy run tomorrow, easy run Thursday with a few strides and a very light jog on Saturday with the race on Sunday.

99.9% at letsrun dont care. MEAN SITE ! ask your family. They will care :)

no. if you're "shutting it down" in a half, you're not mentally tough enough when things get gritty at the 18 mile mark in a marathon.

Get out your calculator and figure out the point at which breaking 3 is competely impossible -- meaning that if you're feeling good and want to go for it, you have a shot.

I remember going for sub 2:50, getting to 24, and realizing that I'd have to run 5:30-ish for the last two miles...not possible, so I just ran as hard as I could and got 2:51.

So all I'm suggesting is that you figure out your "no way" point, so you know what it is. Then write it on your arm.

No, you call yourself a jogger. I've seen people jog, in no way are joggers 3-ish hour Marathoners. They are runners. You are a runner.

I didn't shut it down because I couldn't handle it. I shut it down because I unintentionally cut the course. The winner went through 5 miles at just under 29 minutes and finished at 1:06 high. He obviously made the same early turn that I did.

It now looks like the website updated his finishing time to 1:15:02. It was an organizational disaster, at least for the first 5 or 6 of us and by the time I was jogging home it seemed like they got someone down there to point people down to the intended turning point.

I've done almost 20 marathons, and I've had to grind both in shape and well out of shape.

Thank you. It's more of a joke on the stance for this site not that anyone less than an OTQ is a hobbyjogger. I think my times are pretty decent for an oldish man with a wife, 2 kids and the sole economic provider in the household.

That said, my wife staying home does give me some flexibility to go for a run after work while she takes kids to soccer practice or school events. Of course, I'll go to the real soccer games and my son's track/xc meets.

Again, I appreciate all the serious replies.

You’re correct, but it was pretty close.

3:01:36.

I am pretty happy with that. I have 8 months to improve and hopefully have better conditions in Chicago. The last hour was hot, high 60s and full sun.

Nice job. That’s a fine race under those conditions.