Can I break 3hr marathon?

The only things that feel bad are my quads and calves. Anyone know any good stretches? Hahaha...still can barely walk after 3 days.

breakingthree, I also had a terrible day at ING. My goal was to run in the 2:30s. I was 1:17 through half but didn't feel right. My legs were already feeling damaged through the half. I held sub 6:00 pace through 19 miles, and then the wheels came off. Each mile after that was slower and slower, with my last mile over 9:30. It was pretty excruciating. The cramping took over my hamstrings in the last 10 meters and I limped through the finish pretty embarrassed. Monday and Tuesday I could barely walk. Today I feel 20% better but there's still a lot of pain in the legs. I'm also going to focus on halves on down to 5k for a while.

Sorry, I don't think you can. If you did run 1:24 for a half and were running 80+ mpw, I think you could sneak under 3 hours for the marathon. However, 50-65 is pretty low mileage for the half and full marathons. When you say that you did 50-65 during the last "8-9 hard weeks" are you saying that you usually do less mileage?

I had to build up to it. I hadn't seriously trained for two years after I did my half Ironman. I had stayed in shape, but no more than 20-25 MPW max before I put my mind to the training. So I began in the first week of August with a long run of a whole TEN miles! Haha. I finally got up to 40-45 the first week of October with long runs peaking at 16-18 miles. I did my first 20 miler on October 29, 3 months out from the race. In total, I finished seven long runs at or above 20 miles (3 above 22). In those weeks I finally got up to 55-60 miles, but yes, it was only for 7 weeks or so at that distance.

Nematode, I haven't heard of anyone who had a good marathon. I had another friend drop out at mile 17. The conditions just aren't race friendly. I went and got stretched out on a foam roller last night and that helped my legs, FYI. If you have access to a power mat at a gym (one of those vibrating things), I'd suggest getting a trainer to help you use it. It works wonders.

Probably the best article I've read describing similar symptoms that I had. I don't think mine is as severe as this guy's, though. From the article:

The pain persisted to the hospital. Nurses inserted an IV and cautioned that his creatine kinase levels were wildly elevated, signaling the dangerous breakdown of muscle fibers called rhabdomyolysis. The process releases the fiber contents into the bloodstream, which can cause kidney damage and intense pain. The incident kept him out of workouts for a month.

Arnold Ramirez, the team doctor at Eckerd who diagnosed Kearse with sickle cell trait, said his experience treating the condition has revealed symptoms that are stealthy and complex. The trait presents uniquely mild or severe symptoms for each individual, depending on physiology. So where one sickle cell trait carrier may experience uncomfortable light-headedness or weakness, others like Kearse can experience debilitating cramping in extremities, making diagnosis tricky.

The flow of oxygen-rich blood to vital organs can be disrupted when red blood cells turn sickle, causing blood clots.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2011/November/Monster+within+-+Eckerd+basketball+standout+Kearse+proves+sickle+cell+trait+can+be+a+tamed+monster

Running is hard enough without adding something like that. Man, I'm sorry. Keep at it, though!

breakingthree,

I've followed this thread on and off and mentioned it to a training parter of mine that happens to do sickle cell research. I incorrectly thought sickle cell affects only the black population and found it odd that you swam in college and are now running marathons. I have been corrected and have a better understanding of the disorder and the reason for the NCAA mandate on testing. Are you of Greek heritage?

Good luck in overcoming the trait to reach your goals.

Spot on. I'm half Greek. My dad also has the trait and he's Greek. I'm just hoping to run marathons in cold weather and low humidity from now on. This was the first time I had problems in any competitive activity, so I'm hoping mine isn't too severe. Only time will tell...thanks for the support!

I don't know about you breaking the 3 hr marathon with your times although it isn't impossible. I ran a 20.52 mile long run starting out at a very moderate pace for me for the first 12 or so and then pushing the last 7 and I ended up running a 2:04. I however don't believe that I have it in me yet to break 2:38 for the marathon. Although I haven't run an actual marathon so far, I hear the last 6 miles (especially the last 3) are a real pain.

can't believe i found my thread. i'm back to distance running after a sickle cell crisis fueled hiatus. ran a 1:21 at the ING half last year. finally training well again and i hope to break 1:20 in a half soon. don't think a marathon is in the cards for at least another year or two, but we'll see. hopefully by then i'll have no trouble breaking 3 in good conditions

Welcome back. If you run 1:21 half, then sub-3h marathon shouldn't be a problem as long as you aren't a doofus about training or pace strategy. Hope you enjoy it, definitely way better to get into NYC by qualifying than paying for a lottery space.

thanks man...yeah at this point i think breaking 3 should be a breeze once i get my mileage up. 6 minute pace almost feels like a jog. hoping to break 1:20 in a little over two weeks...will update when i can.

I think both these points are accurate. The 'famous last words' in the above are a universal truth. I thought I had a sub-three in the bag at New York some years ago (on very similar training), but at 22 I was one wobbly dude, and went 3:11. But.... I hope you make it.

thanks...i mean, this was years ago. if you scroll a little back you'll see i had a sickle cell crisis (if you dont know what it is, i suggest you google it...it's crazy). i've since run a 1:21 half. i haven't tried for a marathon again (i prefer the half distance - much less of a potential to have a sickle cell crisis) and i have goals to break in that until i try another full again. but i appreciate the input.

South Florida you say? Are you running the A1A marathon or naples? I may be at either one of those, I am aiming for the same goal

I'm no "expert" but it definitely sounds like you have the ability to run under 3 based on the half marathon triathlon result.

Run a 10K or half marathon under more ideal conditions and you will have a better idea of what you can do for the full marathon. You should also consider running a marathon in California. The humidity is almost non existent and the temperatures are moderate.

That is false, workouts do show time predictions. They may be better indicators than some of the races your named. A 10k race is so much different than a marathon. How would his 10k performance correlate what so ever with a race thats over 4x its distance?

He also said he will taper nicely