I still doubt I'd run a marathon, but the most I could commit to training wise would be about
5-6 miles a day with doubles two-three times/week. 1 day of rest. 1 longer run of 8-10 miles or so.
So, that's maybe 50 miles/week. Would that be enough to run a decent marathon?
I turn 37 in a month.
Best of 4:20 for 1500, 9:25 for 3000, 16:19 5k, 26:21 8k, 57:58 10 miles. All were over 15 years ago.
I'm at least 15lbs above racing weight right now.
Without the long run, you'd blow up in the race. You'd make it somewhere around 16-18 at goal pace and then the last 8-10 would be slogging at 1-2 mins a mile slower. That training however will get you through a half, so I suggest you run a half since you don't list a pr for that distance.
Times from 15 years ago are irrelevant. I'm sorry.
Why can't you commit to a 15 to 20 mile run one day a week?
Who knows, maybe I'd give it a try.
It means though I'd have to forget my lifting routine. My bench press would go down the drain.
I ran 3.5 miles today, I felt good for a change. I had more in the tank. But I feel the extra weight I'm carrying. I could be over 170lbs. I raced around 150-155 when I set my PRs.
pavement88 wrote:
Times from 15 years ago are irrelevant. I'm sorry.
Why can't you commit to a 15 to 20 mile run one day a week?
They are not entirely irrelevant. If Greg said he’d run 28:30 for 10000m 15 years ago then I would guess he could now maybe run a 2:30 marathon off 50 miles per week.
No sense predicting. You won't do the necessary long run, and you won't run one anyway.
So, no time for you. A DNS for you.
Properly train for one and then run it. Give us your finishing time, up your training for a second one, and then I will tell you what you could run.
No need to comment back to me that you can do anything you set your mind to, blah, blah, blah. I won't comment further in this thread as you just aren't that interesting.
You must tackle training for your first ‘Thon in stages. The biggest mistake a hobby jogger makes is to do a ‘Thon without a long base buildup first. I would set a goal of a 10k three months out. A half ‘Thon six months out. And a full ‘Thon nine months to a year away. Build the weekly mileage slow and steady. No need to rush into this with the likelihood of injuries with too ambitious of a time goal. Take your time and be patient!
Greg, good for you to pose this discussion as a question.
And for the 'thon, it is particularly good approach because this is an event that is nothing if not a vast unknown and subject to discoveries along the way.
One good bit of advice i heard along the way and very relevant is to run your first without expectations and just see how it goes. It really is a very different beast and whole new sets of systems get called into play.
It is not simply a HM but longer. It is a new terrain.
I ran 2:37 at about the same age by training 40 MPW but it was quite a bit different than your routine. I did 3 days at 8 miles and 1 day of 15 miles. The 15 miler was a cutdown from 7:15 to 6 minutes.
I have lived in the Boston area all my life and I still cannot fathom training around here for the Boston Marathon. The 90 days leading up to the Marathon are from mid-January to mid-April. How can anyone who lives here run the necessary miles in the streets during winters of heavy snowfall ?
I'll also consider the other information that I've read from you.
A. On 50 mpw you should be able to break 3 hours, but if you would need to train smarter than you suggest in this thread and it may take you a few years to get there.
B. Are you seriously saying that you would never do a long run longer than 10ish miles? If that's the case, then you can probably get down to a 3:45 after a few training cycles doing this.
C. Are you seriously saying that you would double to get up to 5-6 miles? So 2.5-3 mile runs? That's a waste of time. If you're going to change your clothes, stretch at all, or shower, then why would you lace up for only 3 miles?
Slower than 3:07
You pretty much need to run a 5k race to get an idea of your current baseline fitness. With that it would be much easier to estimate how you might do. Times from 15 years ago are not that helpful.
We need to know the baseline fitness first. Enter a 10k or half marathon now as a rust buster, then we'll know what we're working with.
50 miles a week would be plenty for a Marathon.
What you need to do Greg, is to slowly build up your mileage.
Do some 10k races with the goal for a Half Marathon.
Once you have that under your belt, you can start training for a Marathon with a goal time of that HM you ran. Since you were a decent runner 15 years ago you might get there quick without getting injured.
Pick a goal 10k race and start working towards it.
Good luck.
Does anyone really see Greg doing the necessary 5 x 18 mile workouts?
Pretty much, with the training you describe, and without any real long runs, you will need to be sure you get to around 1:20 half marathon shape to run sub 3 on a perfect day. Or if you do some really long runs and train like a marathoner, you will run sub 3 at only around 1:25 half marathon fitness, this approach will be easier than the former and you will reach your goal sooner.
Thank-you
DanM wrote:
I have lived in the Boston area all my life and I still cannot fathom training around here for the Boston Marathon. The 90 days leading up to the Marathon are from mid-January to mid-April. How can anyone who lives here run the necessary miles in the streets during winters of heavy snowfall ?
Lots of stuff is plowed - the esplanade, minuteman bike path, fresh pond (I think), etc.