3:00 marathon at 60 miles a week?

What makes you think you can break 3 hours in a marathon when you're currently running a 46 minute 10K?

Well, I don't need to break 3 hrs, just hit it or a couple of minutes above.

I also have only been running for a few months.

I was just asking if the mileage is a reasonable amount.

Yes it's possible, but you would probably need a 10k time well under 40 minutes.

Entirely depends on how quickly you respond to training and if your body copes with the demands of that many MPW. If you can bring your 10K down to the mid to upper 30's then maybe.... If you have a bit of talent as a runner. What you really need are long runs. I wouldn't worry about speed. The times you are talking about require zero speed. If 10 months from now you can consistently do 18-20 milers at 7 minute pace then you might have a chance to run 3 hours. I would recommend shooting for a half marathon 8-9 months from now. If you can't run around 1:25 then your odds of running 3 hours a year from now are not good. Before you get to that half marathon race you should be working to cut your 10k PR down into the upper 30's.

asiutsadm wrote:

Entirely depends on how quickly you respond to training and if your body copes with the demands of that many MPW. If you can bring your 10K down to the mid to upper 30's then maybe.... If you have a bit of talent as a runner. What you really need are long runs. I wouldn't worry about speed. The times you are talking about require zero speed. If 10 months from now you can consistently do 18-20 milers at 7 minute pace then you might have a chance to run 3 hours. I would recommend shooting for a half marathon 8-9 months from now. If you can't run around 1:25 then your odds of running 3 hours a year from now are not good. Before you get to that half marathon race you should be working to cut your 10k PR down into the upper 30's.

Thank you so much for your post.

I am currently doing about 45 miles a week. I think that I may have ability over sprint distances, but see a precipitous drop off over a couple of km.

If you're a mid twenties guy in 46 minute 10k shape, then you're probably not in the kind of shape to run 60 MPW.

I'd say spend ~3 months building up your base mileage. What's your mileage right now? 25 MPW? 30? I doubt you have any idea what hopping up to 60 MPW would feel like, and I don't recommend trying it in one jump. Build steadily; take your time getting to peak mileage. Once you're there, you can begin the marathon training.

A three hour marathon is not half as easy as this forum might lead you to believe. It's possible for you to get there within a year coming from your starting point, but I would not place any bets on it.

45 miles per week (unfortunately?)

go do an 18 mile long run at 7:00/mi pace

if you can't do that, you're not doing sub3 regardless of mpw

some people can do sub3 with even just 45mpw but it's the quality that counts

why not pick a plan from the dozens available if you have a year to map it out?

Work on getting your 10K much much faster. Mileage will not mean anything if you can't run 40 flat or under in the 10K and atleast 1:25ish for the half marathon.

california dreamin' wrote:

If you're a mid twenties guy in 46 minute 10k shape, then you're probably not in the kind of shape to run 60 MPW.

I'd say spend ~3 months building up your base mileage. What's your mileage right now? 25 MPW? 30? I doubt you have any idea what hopping up to 60 MPW would feel like, and I don't recommend trying it in one jump. Build steadily; take your time getting to peak mileage. Once you're there, you can begin the marathon training.

A three hour marathon is not half as easy as this forum might lead you to believe. It's possible for you to get there within a year coming from your starting point, but I would not place any bets on it.

Yup, listen to california dreamin'. Combining your limited experience and goal are classic ingredients for running injury. Be safe my friend.

HMArunner wrote:

Work on getting your 10K much much faster. Mileage will not mean anything if you can't run 40 flat or under in the 10K and atleast 1:25ish for the half marathon.

Right here. I had a friend that poured her heart out for the marathon, while her 10k time was enough to tell me she'd not make it.

I did my first marathon in 2:58 when I was in my mid-20's, at just over 60 MPW. So it is possible.

But .... it was a fall marathon. I had run a half marathon at a 6:20/mile pace that spring, and a 10 miler in under 1 hour during the summer. I made up for my limited mileage by being faster than I really needed to run sub-3:00.

You need to get that 10K time way down before you start thinking about running under 3:00, especially at 60MPW. Otherwise you're just dreaming. The fact that you have limits on how hard you're willing to work tells me it's nothing more than dreaming.

Started running at age 27 with 47 minute10k. 4 years later with 40-50 mpw ran a 2.59 marathon. So its possibe.

Same - except my 10km fitness at the time was 34 min. Work on getting your 10km faster first - it will go a long way.

yes, but 34min for a 10k is a bit extreme. even on 50-60mpw, you don't need such a relatively good 10k time. if you max out training, a 39min 10k is equivalent to a 3hr marathon, for a runner equally talented at long/short distances.

i'd say 36-38min for a 10k is what you should aim for.

Is your goal a sub 3 hour marathon or are you asking what a reasonable progression is for your running?

Either way, sign up for some 5k and 10k races. It'll be a much better gauge of how you are progressing. If your goal is a 3 hour marathon, listen to the advice in this thread