Marathon PR - How much were you running?

Age: 39 (when I did the marathon PR)

PR 2:41

Slowed a bit at 22, slowed a lot the last mile

Avg Mileage in 8 weeks prior - around 90

Marathons prior to PR: About 8 or 9

Years running consistently: too many to count but Years running marathons: Only about 5 at that point

Age: 44

PR 2:56 (negative split by 1 second)

Avg Mileage in 10 weeks prior: 65

Marathons prior to PR: 5 I think

Years running consistently: 5

Should note that I was confident I could run 2:48 2 years prior to this PR if given the same conditions, but Boston was wickedly hot that year and I limped in a 2:59. I averaged about 10 miles less per week then but had more quality. I did 60-70 a week for my PR with no quality at all, just mileage. Felt strong, just not fast.

Age: 22

PR: 2:53

Avg. Mileage 10 weeks prior: ~10-15 mpw

Marathons prior to PR: 0

Years running consistently: 7

2:53 was run after getting hurt and having to take 3 1/2 months off before the race. I was already signed up so I did it anyway. Negative split of 1:28/1:25. Aiming for ~2:33 in Chicago this year.

It should also be noted that I'm not lying about the mileage prior, I only started running again about 3 weeks out from the marathon. But I did cross train my ass off when I was hurt, so I wasn't out of shape, just not used to running.

Two different years went like this:

1990: Age 37

PR 2:49

Peaked at 115 miles. Avg mileage 8 weeks prior 70 mpw

Marathons Prior to PR one at 3:17

Years running consistently prior 3.

1991: Age 38

PR 2:48

Peaked at 72 miles. Avg mileage 8 weeks prior 55-60

I took a hiatus between college and started running again at age 35.

YR: 1986

PR: 2:36

Age: 26

55-60 per week, almost all high quality.

One track workout; One Tempo Run; One Long run per week.

Years running consistently prior: 12.

Age: 19

PR: 2:48

Slowed way down around mile 20...was on pace for a 2:43

Avg mileage in 10 weeks prior: 35

Marathons prior: 1

Years running consistently: On and off but I guess you could call it 4 years although I really did not run between seasons in high school.

Hope to run 2:38 this October after taking training seriously (in my mind this is consistently at 65-70mpw...mileage I have never run anywhere near).

Age: 30

PR 2:35

Negative split

Avg. 70 mpw

Years running 15

4 20 mile runs prior with several long interval workouts, mostly 6x1 mile at 5:00 pace

Age: 25

PR: 2:29

On 2:27 pace through 21 but slowed, esp. last 2 miles

Mileage: 75

Marathons Prior to PR: 1

Years Running Consistently: 6.5

Age: 29

PR: 2:43

1st Half: 1:18:30 2nd Half: 1:24:30

Gradually started slowing in last 6 miles

Avg. Mileage in 10 weeks prior (not including taper): 35-40

Marathons Prior to PR: 3

Years Running Consistently: ? (started running age 11)

Age: 31

PR: 2:53:47

1st half: 1:26:10, 2nd half: 1:27:37

Dipped below average pace at around mile 23, slowest was +15 sec/mile, so not huge.

Average mileage for 12 weeks prior: 41 mpw

Marathons prior to PR: 7

Years running consistently: 3 years

Lomileageman,

I'm sure you've been asked this before, but have you ever tried doubling our mileage? Also, do you think you could have run a sub-2:40 if you had gone out at 1:20?

Age:53

PR: 2:56

55 second negative split

15th marathon

5 years running

65 mpw

2:57 before that

2 min negative split

same training

14th marathon

age 52

2:58 this year Boston

30 sec positive split, got lazy

number 16

age 53

I've never been able to go much above 40-45 mpw without breaking down. My half-marathon pr is 1:18, so yes, I think I might have held it together better at the end if I'd gone 1:20 first half.

wayfool wrote:

Lomileageman,

I'm sure you've been asked this before, but have you ever tried doubling our mileage? Also, do you think you could have run a sub-2:40 if you had gone out at 1:20?