I run marathons in the 2:35-2:45 range as a 40 year old male. I'm not that good myself, maybe decent. I think of myself as slightly above average even though "average" is probably 4:00 for males and 4:30 for females. But those are embarrassingly slow times. If someone tells me that I'm like sure.
But what times should I be impressed with? or feign it? (yeah I'm just a jackass who only thinks times faster than mine are impressive). If someone says they ran a 2:5x I'm thinking that's decent though I'd hate that myself. When they say 3:0X my ears close off and at 3:3x I'm like so you even trying bro (or gal). I think most ppl I know who train seriously/semi seriously run from 2:18 - 2:5x so my perspective is a bit warped.
My family always thinks my times are like record breaking but to me they're just good but okay.
Most healthy/fit people (so already above average), who don't run, even struggle to hold 8 min mile pace for a 5k. So I'd say getting to the point of being able to hold 8 min mile pace for a full marathon is quite good for the average population.
I want to punch every poster here so far. Trolling, smug, toxic bros, and/or arrogant are all of you, especially you OP. So, for you, 0/10.
Look at any marathon and the average time is likely close to four hours, maybe slower. A runner at 2:45 or under is WAY in the upper tier. Among reasonable, normal, non-as-hole types, it breaks down like this:
4:00-Healthy, interested runner who trained with some long runs; older runners
3:30-Trained runner using a plan; plenty of runners will never hit this time
3:15-Serious hobbyist; most runners will never achieve this time
3:00-Serious runner, well-trained with some talent; few will achieve this time
2:45-Serious runner, well-trained, quite talented; getting into rare air here
Any times under 2:45-most runners cannot connect with what it would be to be able to run this fast for that long.
For any of you jerk0ffs snarking at the slower runners in the marathon, there would be NO RACE without them. Also remember that age will get you and, assuming you stay with it, YOU TOO will be the codger working your as$ off to hit four hours in the marathon some day.
Great post. I'm impressed by anybody doing a marathon for whatever reasons. Most people are really nice in the sport & do it because they love it. Some people on here seem to forget how hard it is for the general public to fathom a BQ, let alone an OTQ.
Anybody running under 2:45 is usually putting in a good number of miles. To me, this is where talent starts to enter in the equation. Some run sub-2:40 off of 100mpw. Others run sub-2:20. A lot of people with good work ethics are never going to run elite marathon times. It is what it is.
The only thing I disagree with in the above is that all 2:45 runners are talented. There are many 2:45 types who aren't talented but love the sport, stick with it, & grind their way into the 2:30s.
I run marathons in the 2:35-2:45 range as a 40 year old male. I'm not that good myself, maybe decent. I think of myself as slightly above average even though "average" is probably 4:00 for males and 4:30 for females. But those are embarrassingly slow times. If someone tells me that I'm like sure.
But what times should I be impressed with? or feign it? (yeah I'm just a jackass who only thinks times faster than mine are impressive). If someone says they ran a 2:5x I'm thinking that's decent though I'd hate that myself. When they say 3:0X my ears close off and at 3:3x I'm like so you even trying bro (or gal). I think most ppl I know who train seriously/semi seriously run from 2:18 - 2:5x so my perspective is a bit warped.
My family always thinks my times are like record breaking but to me they're just good but okay.
You are a troll. You are definitely not 40 because no one my age uses the texting abbreviations that you use, “bro”. And the “range” of 2:35 to 2:45 is a huge jump. Someone who legitimately ran a 2:35 is going to say they run a 2:35 because they realize just how much more work it took to get there from 2:45. You haven’t sniffed those times or you would know that.
So 0/10 on the backstory.
As to the question, I’m impressed if someone trained hard and got the most out of their talent/body. That typically translates to sub4 for first time recreational runners. 3:30 for fitter guys and gals, and sub 3 for the age groupers. For perspective, I’m actually 40 and have a 2:49 PR.
^This.
Haha. Epic fail when you pretend to be 40 and write like a 20 year old.
Anybody running under 2:45 is usually putting in a good number of miles. To me, this is where talent starts to enter in the equation. Some run sub-2:40 off of 100mpw. Others run sub-2:20. A lot of people with good work ethics are never going to run elite marathon times. It is what it is.
Talent "starts to enter the equation" at any level. Some people simply do not have the talent to run sub-3, sub-3:30 or whatever arbitrary cut-off time you set. That number is higher the faster the cut-off time is, but talent matters at any level.
I want to punch every poster here so far. Trolling, smug, toxic bros, and/or arrogant are all of you, especially you OP. So, for you, 0/10.
Look at any marathon and the average time is likely close to four hours, maybe slower. A runner at 2:45 or under is WAY in the upper tier. Among reasonable, normal, non-as-hole types, it breaks down like this:
4:00-Healthy, interested runner who trained with some long runs; older runners
3:30-Trained runner using a plan; plenty of runners will never hit this time
3:15-Serious hobbyist; most runners will never achieve this time
3:00-Serious runner, well-trained with some talent; few will achieve this time
2:45-Serious runner, well-trained, quite talented; getting into rare air here
Any times under 2:45-most runners cannot connect with what it would be to be able to run this fast for that long.
For any of you jerk0ffs snarking at the slower runners in the marathon, there would be NO RACE without them. Also remember that age will get you and, assuming you stay with it, YOU TOO will be the codger working your as$ off to hit four hours in the marathon some day.
Great post. I'm impressed by anybody doing a marathon for whatever reasons. Most people are really nice in the sport & do it because they love it. Some people on here seem to forget how hard it is for the general public to fathom a BQ, let alone an OTQ.
Anybody running under 2:45 is usually putting in a good number of miles. To me, this is where talent starts to enter in the equation. Some run sub-2:40 off of 100mpw. Others run sub-2:20. A lot of people with good work ethics are never going to run elite marathon times. It is what it is.
The only thing I disagree with in the above is that all 2:45 runners are talented. There are many 2:45 types who aren't talented but love the sport, stick with it, & grind their way into the 2:30s.
Talent is also loving the sport enough to not get bored of running and to able to run mileage injury free. A lot of people just can't handle the high miles with a desk job and imbalances that come with it (I think they all could if they cared more), maybe even lingering imbalances from competing in college. Also the time in the day after work and the financial means to take care of nagging injuries
I’ve seen many instances on this site where people who say they run in the 2:45- range are labeled “hobbyjoggers.” I have never finished a marathon with people in that range who didn’t look like strong dedicated runners.
I want to punch every poster here so far. Trolling, smug, toxic bros, and/or arrogant are all of you, especially you OP. So, for you, 0/10.
Look at any marathon and the average time is likely close to four hours, maybe slower. A runner at 2:45 or under is WAY in the upper tier. Among reasonable, normal, non-as-hole types, it breaks down like this:
4:00-Healthy, interested runner who trained with some long runs; older runners
3:30-Trained runner using a plan; plenty of runners will never hit this time
3:15-Serious hobbyist; most runners will never achieve this time
3:00-Serious runner, well-trained with some talent; few will achieve this time
2:45-Serious runner, well-trained, quite talented; getting into rare air here
Any times under 2:45-most runners cannot connect with what it would be to be able to run this fast for that long.
For any of you jerk0ffs snarking at the slower runners in the marathon, there would be NO RACE without them. Also remember that age will get you and, assuming you stay with it, YOU TOO will be the codger working your as$ off to hit four hours in the marathon some day.
Why bother running a marathon if you're that slow?
Subject said “good” time. 2:2X and 2:5X I take notice. Depends on your definition of good I guess. Should we lower our standards because general America sucks?
Once again people on this forum demonstrate clearly that they have never met average people.
Of course we have...see above, they are on average obese according to statistics. But that doesn't mean that the OP is wrong, because almost all of those obese people ate themselves that way. If they were to train like the OP, then what would you have.
You are all misintepreting the point about what potential and talent really means. If I were to instead sat on my arse, shoved food down my throat all the time and blown out to obesity, my potential and 'talent' to run 2:30 wouldn't have somehow disappeared.
Put it another way, if a really fat bloke, that was once skinny most likely, came to me and said "I will never ever be able to run sub 20 5km, because my PB is 40min", what should my answer be?
My friend ran 2:36 at the Boston marathon, and he thinks he’s the best in the world for some reason (lol, one of those types), but he literally packed up and moved to Boulder to pursue running. Barely broke 17 in college. His life revolves around his running. Literally obsessed with strava and spends his entire day trying to get as many followers as possible haha. My other friend (female) ran 2:38 on a difficult course last year. Both are early 20s. But she’s in med school. Has a job. Her life does not revolve around the sport. My point is, I’m much more impressed with her time because of the fact that she has other demanding things going on in her life and wasn't able to give it 100% (and also she’s a woman, so it’s a much better time in comparatively).
I’m much more impressed with someone who has a family, who has a full time job, who can’t plan their life around their runs. So, for the general public, if a guy runs sub 3 or a woman runs sub 3:30 I’m super impressed. But if someone who ran 4 years in college moves to Boulder to train and gives it their full time and commitment, I think it would take a sub 2:22 for guys and sub 2:40 for women for me to be impressed.
You're telling me a woman ran 2.38 whilst being in "med school" AND having a job? I don't believe you as I am a student doctor and there is not enough time for all three. Typical internet lies.
Lol in med school with a job, training for a marathon. I was beyond impressed with Hehir training for a marathon and getting through med school. That takes a preposterous amount of discipline and a very high IQ. But a job on top of that? Nope.
Exactly one guy had a part-time job in my med school class. He was incredibly disciplined and off the charts smart. He's immigrated from China as an adult, and had a very different set of values than most Americans, even among med students. He had no life at all and barely slept. No pleasure, just discipline. No way he was exercising even a minute on top of that.
Any time is a good time for the general population. I don't care if you ran 2:35 or run/walked a 5 hour race. Beey few people will ever xo plate 26.2 Miles of running or walking and as long as they are happy I'm happy.
That being said, if we are looking for a time that jumps out as good I'd say sun 3 hour. Not many people that didn't run seriously in college will hit that time, especially once they have real jobs and families.
I disagree with your assertion that it takes running seriously in college to run sub 3 hours with a real job and family. I did not run at all in college or for three years after college but in my 30s ran 2:27 while working full time as a lawyer with a wife and child. Running sub 3 does not necessitate college level training. It only necessitates getting out there and doing reasonable mileage for a few years. However, getting from sub 3 to sub 2:30 is a different story for the non-college trained runner. That necessitates serious training and mileage.
Once again people on this forum demonstrate clearly that they have never met average people.
Of course we have...see above, they are on average obese according to statistics. But that doesn't mean that the OP is wrong, because almost all of those obese people ate themselves that way. If they were to train like the OP, then what would you have.
You are all misintepreting the point about what potential and talent really means. If I were to instead sat on my arse, shoved food down my throat all the time and blown out to obesity, my potential and 'talent' to run 2:30 wouldn't have somehow disappeared.
"To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go"
There are fantasy answers and there are answers based on times people actually have done.
I run marathons in the 2:35-2:45 range as a 40 year old male. I'm not that good myself, maybe decent. I think of myself as slightly above average even though "average" is probably 4:00 for males and 4:30 for females. But those are embarrassingly slow times. If someone tells me that I'm like sure.
But what times should I be impressed with? or feign it? (yeah I'm just a jackass who only thinks times faster than mine are impressive). If someone says they ran a 2:5x I'm thinking that's decent though I'd hate that myself. When they say 3:0X my ears close off and at 3:3x I'm like so you even trying bro (or gal). I think most ppl I know who train seriously/semi seriously run from 2:18 - 2:5x so my perspective is a bit warped.
My family always thinks my times are like record breaking but to me they're just good but okay.
How do things go for you in the weight room, on the football field, on the basketball court, as a rower, in field events, etc. Family and your Strava pals still impressed?
Help us build the best running shoe review site for a chance to win a LetsRun t-shirt.Help us build the best running shoe review site for a chance to win one of 10 LetsRun t-shirts.