2:45-2:50 Marathon on this Training Schedule?

How did you end up finishing at Philly? I ran it for the first time - I was surprised by the rolling hills on the second half... Managed to break 2:50, but not close to 2:45

Curious g wrote:

How did you end up finishing at Philly? I ran it for the first time - I was surprised by the rolling hills on the second half... Managed to break 2:50, but not close to 2:45

It was a rough day for me. I hit my halfway target (1:24:50), but had to fight stomach distress (starting around 10mi) to do so. Legs got tight and heavy around 14mi, slowed to about 6:35/mi pace from 13.1mi to 30K hoping to fight my way through the rough patches, but then my left hamstring seized for good just after 20mi. I slow-jogged it in to a 3:06.

Not much I would have done differently, just one of those days where nothing seemed to go right from the first step.

Man I read the first page of this thread getting really pumped for the OP ("The Stone Cutter") thinking he's got to have it with that intense schedule but the end is quite sad.

OP, or someone who's followed you elsewhere, did you ever get to try again and did you meet your goal? I realize this is a 3 year old thread, but wondering.

Did you ever manage to break 2:45 in the last 3 years?

I've just started training for Boston having run the following, any advice on how to break 2:50 or whether I'll ever be able to run sub 2:45 to qualify for Tokyo would be a dream!

Berlin 2015 - 2:55:18

Chicago 2016 - 2:55:14

London 2017 - 2:52:35

BeanPole wrote:

Did you ever manage to break 2:45 in the last 3 years?

I've just started training for Boston having run the following, any advice on how to break 2:50 or whether I'll ever be able to run sub 2:45 to qualify for Tokyo would be a dream!

Berlin 2015 - 2:55:18

Chicago 2016 - 2:55:14

London 2017 - 2:52:35

Oh I am not there yet, was just browsing for guidance! Ran a 2:56:33 in 2016, a big PR at the time (20') and I am now looking for a new challenge...sub 2:50 would seem to be quite a good goal!

Ran 60-65 mpw for a while, now starting to incorporate some 70 miles weeks. Would like to hit 70-75 regularly for Boston. One thing I am planning to do is to include some MP miles into my long runs on hilly/rolling routes. My marathon PR was on a flat course.

Ran 6 miles tempo @ 6:22 last week.

4 mile tempo @ 6:10 couple weeks ago.

2 x 2 mi tempo intervals @ 6:03-6:04

4 mile race @ 5:46

4 x 1 mi cruise intervals @ 5:45 w/ 1' rest

10 x 1k @ 3:46 w/ 1' rest

6 x 800 @ 2:40-2:45 w/ 2:30 rest

Things like that! It seems that 2:50 is not an unrealistic goal for me, but I am not quite there and looking to get better by April. Think a sub 1:20 half, a sub 37 10k would be good starting points and I will test that in January.

What does your training look like? In my previous experience what I can tell, is that IF you have the required "speed" at shorter distances, then, in order to convert to the theoretical marathon time, 1) mileage and 2) long runs with some portions at MP are your best friends. One should be able to do 10 Easy + 10 MP about 3-4 weeks prior to the race, and not feel beat up from it.

I can't believe the true OP in this thread didn't reach his goal. Seems like bad luck. His training seemed stellar!

Sorry correction. 10 x 1k in 3:36-3:37 (wrote 3:46).

And by the way to clear any potential confusion: I am not the OP, was just browsing. Hope he/she is doing well though!

Apologies I'm a rookie, I know you weren't the OP but I was also intrigued how he got on especially after all that traingin!

Sounds good! I don't think a sub 2:50 is unrealistic, nor your HM or 10K goals.

I've found that my body maxes out at about 55m per week, I've tried to increase it each time but I've just found that I get injured, so this time I'm looking at 5 runs a week with one cross training and one strength training session. Speedwork is definitely the bane of my life but it's by far the most rewarding and where I see the most results, but also trying to make your long runs into progression runs is very satisfying and gets you in a good mindset for the marathon.

I recently read Run Less Run Faster and was determined that this would form my plan for Boston however after a few weeks of trialling it I just found too much speed is just as bad as too much distance, so hopefully I can find a compromise! It is a great book though and one day I will try the regime!

You’re right that too much speed is just as bad as too much distance, and most folks here will tend to agree that distance itself is NOT the problem.

I used to get hurt all the time. I read the FIRST book too. But eventually I followed the LetsRun wisdom and built my mileage very slowly but also by running slow.

I’m talking 9-10 min/mi in the summer or whenever needed, despite a 37:59 10k or 1:23 half. I just went slow for almost 6 months of regularly hitting 60-65 mpw with only a progressive long run as workout.

Long term this probably the best route.

Short term speedwork is VERY rewarding, but that gets me hurt quite quickly. The key is to not increase your mileage AND speed at the same time. Be cautious.

Once 60-65 mpw was bread and butter I added workouts.

Now that I want to get to 70-75 I’m going to scratch anything after than HMP or so. Until it’s second nature. It’s a long process.

The times you indicate in your marathons are remarkable if you’re a low mileage guy. Keep it up! Also bonus hint: sticking to a rigid schedule is also preferably avoided when trying to stay healthy. Be balanced, be flexible. Cross train is ok, so is massage/yoga and also SLEEP/nutrition.

Stone Cutter ran around 2:48 on a windy day at Philadelphia 2015.

Well done StoneCutter.

Love a good happy ending story! Well done indeed!

awesome!