I'm shitting the bed with my running and I need tough love and criticism.

OntarioRunner wrote:

I honestly dont understand the attitude on this forum.

I don't think you need to necessarily be 5 to 6 minutes faster in your 5K before trying the marathon. But, if you're trying to see significant improvement in your times, you'd do yourself a disservice to not work on your speed. You haven't given much background info, but it seems like what you really need is time spent committed to a plan, and you should see your times go down all across the board.

But I am not looking for a huge improvement in my times and I never said that. I'm aware of my limitations right now. I'm extremely busy during the pandemic as I work in health care and simply can't commit to a proper training build. I am aware of that and I'm not complaining whatsoever.

I simply want to get from a 3:54 Marathon PB to a 3:45 PB. I believe I have what it takes already. When I did my 2:36 30KM PB back in April, if I kept going, I feel I could've been really close.

My problems are, I am unable to commit to a consistent running schedule right now, my motivation during the cancelled race season is lacking big time, and I am not sleeping great. I still really wanna do a solo 3:45 marathon for personal reasons though.

I know I'm going to get shat on but I am not looking for a 3 hour marathon or something here. I am already aware most of this forum is significantly better than me at running so don't worry, your egos are going to be ok.

On Saturday, I did my first 50K ultra in over a year and got an 8 minute PB. Went from 5:25 to 5:17. I feel alot more motivated lately and I'm proud.

I know people on here will reply "5:17 is a terrible time for 50KM" "you're a slow runner etc" Kiss my ass haters, I did a great job.

OntarioRunner wrote:

On Saturday, I did my first 50K ultra in over a year and got an 8 minute PB. Went from 5:25 to 5:17. I feel alot more motivated lately and I'm proud.

I know people on here will reply "5:17 is a terrible time for 50KM" "you're a slow runner etc" Kiss my ass haters, I did a great job.

Eh... Its not really that, its just that a significant portion of letsrun started their running as adolescents and so we all had the natural progression of race distances (mile - 5k - 8k - 10k - half marathon/marathon - ultra) and so we never had to slog through slow marathon times because we already surpassed all the time it takes to go from a 6 hour marathon to a 3 hour marathon, and we don't see a point in slogging slow marathons when there is plenty of low hanging fruit in the mile/5k/10k range, which most of us spent a significant portion of our young adulthood training hard through. Its more that we don't really understand why you'd ever want to be a 3 3/4 hour marathoner because we never had to work at marathon training until we were already fast. The hate largely comes from the indifference and indignance towards the idea that the marathon is the pinnacle of the sport when in reality we spent most of our competitive days at much shorter events, running much more impressive times than the average marathoner with little recognition.

Think you summed it up perfectly

I appreciate you taking the time to actually clarify that and that makes more sense. I wasn't understanding why there was so much violaity here. I personally prefer the longer, marathon runs so to each their own. If you know of an online community that's more suited to longer running, please send it my way.

And maybe those faster runners would get more recognition if they showed more class and respect? We are ALL in this together and we should all be supportive of each other. All of us at this forum are already doing more fitness wise than most of the population will ever accomplish

if you are not extremely fit, a hot weather marathon will absolutely destroy you. you probably should have bailed 10 miles early (or more), chalked it up to a good long run day, and moved your time trial goal to a more suitable day.

Keep up the good work with the shorter stuff, and eventually work your way back to 26.2. but do it smart.

Don’t worry about it. I’ve been a runner for about 20 years, was in the shape of my life before Boston was cancelled in March, and then I just stopped giving a f*k. All these people out there slogging through stupid virtual marathons, WHAT FOR!? I run every day up to 15 km per day to keep from getting fat, but I’m possibly the slowest I’ve ever ran because I don’t see the point in stressing out the body when there are no real races. I live in BC and our premier said “No public gatherings of more than 50 people until there’s a vaccine” so I am basically screwed until God knows when. But when races start opening up, THEN it’s time to start caring again. Until then I think it makes more sense just to stay in baseline shape and not get injured!? Sorry to sound like I’m ranting,, I’m just really sick of having no REAL races to train for.

OntarioRunner wrote:

On Saturday, I did my first 50K ultra in over a year and got an 8 minute PB. Went from 5:25 to 5:17. I feel alot more motivated lately and I'm proud.

I know people on here will reply "5:17 is a terrible time for 50KM" "you're a slow runner etc" Kiss my ass haters, I did a great job.

There's been 1 person on this thread to say anything that could be construed as "hating". Everyone else has done their best to provide their version of constructive criticism.

You say so yourself that you work a difficult job and don't have time to train. Then, you go on to start a thread called, "I'm shitting the bed with my running and I need tough love and criticism."

Maybe the problem isn't your running? You never did mention what you do for training. Like LetsRun understander said, most people here have been through several layers of coaching by the time they reach their 30s. If you've never had a coach, that would be a good place to start. Or, at the very least, pick up "Daniels Running Formula" and read it.

Though, to be honest, it doesn't seem like your actual running is the problem. What seems to be the issue is how you feel about your running, your results, and your self image. But now I'm just armchair psycho analyzing

OP - really tough situation - the heat / humidity is brutal this time of year and not having the race environment does not allow you to find that "extra" gear you need.

For what its worth, some crap happened to me - went for a TT HM PR and 3 miles in it just wasn't there.

The good? It inspired me to lose 8 pounds and have a great 8 week training block. That is not lost on my legs!

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK - change it up - work on your 1 mile time for 8 weeks.

Wow this comes off as SUPER pretentious... "We don't see a point in slogging slow marathons"... well obviously other people do.

Sorry you can't see past your own short sighted view.

A much larger percentage of the population has finished a 5k vs a marathon. No one gives a flying fk what your times for a 5k were out in the world of nonrunners...

In the world of nonrunners, distance means more than speed. Get over it.

lolololololololol wrote:

jogger2 wrote:

Think you summed it up perfectly

Wow this comes off as SUPER pretentious... "We don't see a point in slogging slow marathons"... well obviously other people do.

Sorry you can't see past your own short sighted view.

A much larger percentage of the population has finished a 5k vs a marathon. No one gives a flying fk what your times for a 5k were out in the world of nonrunners...

In the world of nonrunners, distance means more than speed. Get over it.

not true. people may not understand times. but they understand winning and headlines.

OntarioRunner wrote:

I honestly dont understand the attitude on this forum.

If you’re slower than them, they despise you, but if you are faster, they’re jealous.

More than likely those distances are not in your wheelhouse.

I really don't understand why people think the marathon is no more than hard work, and putting in the time. The real talented guys could get out of a sick bed, put their shoes on and jog 2:40.

You can't on your best day

If you want to enjoy running, find the right distance and bang away at it. At 4 hours, you are not a marathon runner.

How are you at the 100 m? JK, find some fun runs 5 - 10k and see if you can race. i.e. A beginning a middle and an end, where you have a strategy that's more than survival. With a kick and place improvement at the finish.

If you can't 'race' just do what forrest gump did. Keep running until you grow a foot long beard.

Nah, I'm definitely a marathoner and I'm proud of what I've accomplished. I'll keep improving and I'll never stop showing up each day.