Is a loop marathon course useful in improving pacing?

And the last 2 marathons I fell apart at 20 (6.2 to go) and ran both 10ks between 49:57 and 50:40, interestingly enough.

Either run a marathon on a track or run a real course.

i don't think a loop solves for pacing. just tell yourself to cool it in the first few miles. they should feel like you're floating. the first mile of a marathon feels like the most effortless thing in the world.

personally, i would just find it boring to do a loop multiple times.

A couple of things:

1. Why are you worried about .01 miles? That’s not anything weird, it’s .01 miles. It’s a fraction of a fraction.

2. Why run a TT the week getting back into running after a marathon PR? Ease back into it and listen to MIT or your coach about what to do. Light walking and cardio I’m sure is fine but there’s no reason to try and ball out so soon. Aerobically and muscularity you’re probably fried. Give your body the active recovery it deserves.

3. Your race is going to be very monotonous. Why not just wait and choose a different race or enjoy another season of running and have fun? There’s no need to rush getting to sub 3:15. You’ll get there, but there isn’t any reason to torture yourself on a 1 mile long loop 26.2 times in the freezing cold spring of Ohio.

Done some loop course stuff. I think it can be helpful for hydration/nutrition & sticking some spectators to keep you motivated. It can be a little boring but I don't think it solves for pacing. Maybe it'll get someone to think about pacing who struggles with going out too fast. I'm committed to going out ~10-15 seconds/mile slower than goal pace for the 1st 5k of every marathon I run. It serves as the warm up & makes sure I don't unnecessarily burn through fuel reserves early on. We all have GPS watches now. Look at it in the first 100 meters, 200 meters, 300, 400. Make sure you're not just sprinting out. You have 26.2 miles to get to go.

It's natural to start races too quickly. I did a small/local 5k & went out at the pace I wanted to hold for the whole thing. I was probably in 20th at 400m & then in the top-3 by 800. I ran even. Let people go out how they want & run your own race. It's 100% avoidable to go too quick at the start of a marathon.

There is a marathon in Springfield, Missouri called Run for the Ranch. 4 laps for a Half. 8 laps for a Thon. The good: you know what to expect and after about halfway your body kinda goes into autopilot. The bad: it gets boring cause you staring at the same scenery for a 3 mile loop. The good: you can get bathroom water every lap and drop clothes at the start finish line if needed and pickup at end.

Very useful thread and great feedback. I'm doing it to see if the loop format works. If it doesn't no big deal, I'll run Cap City Half to gain speed and then the Cbus full in the fall again. I don't race too much normally but this race looked unique.

Thanks to AFF, Bruno and FR for their input too! Springfield sounds interesting but is 20 hours away drive-wise lol :)

Interesting! It sounds like a great youth/mentoring organization, not unlike Fr. Flanagan's Boys Home in Nebraska (where the Hollies song, a HUGE hit in '70, "He Ain't Heavy" came from).