2:25 marathon attempt in May, should I pop my marathon cherry with an easy one in February or shoot for another fast HM?

Gasparilla often has difficult conditions, humidity and heat start cooking up that week usually and sometimes you get a major headwind like last year. So, I wouldn't target Gasparilla for a serious pr attempt. I also would definitely not run a February marathon ahead of a May marathon. That would cook your legs even if it is 20M easier (but not that easy)/10k hard.

1/2 marathons are good work along the way to a marathon, of course.

optimistdreamerotq wrote:

I love the optimism but:

It all looks good on paper, but the fact that you let yourself go and got chubby :) makes me think you like the idea of running 2:25 or faster, but you haven't even run a solid 1/2 yet.

I think you have the ability, but that doesn't mean it will happen. Injury and motivation are major limiters.

Have you run a 1/2 before or recent 10 miler to suggest you will be able to pop your cherry?

Valid concerns. I have high expectations for what I can do this year, but I realize it all depends on how well I respond to training.

I have 2 HMs on the schedule before March. Those will tell me a lot about how my fitness is coming along.

anonymous wannabe wrote:

optimistdreamerotq wrote:

I love the optimism but:

It all looks good on paper, but the fact that you let yourself go and got chubby :) makes me think you like the idea of running 2:25 or faster, but you haven't even run a solid 1/2 yet.

I think you have the ability, but that doesn't mean it will happen. Injury and motivation are major limiters.

Have you run a 1/2 before or recent 10 miler to suggest you will be able to pop your cherry?

Valid concerns. I have high expectations for what I can do this year, but I realize it all depends on how well I respond to training.

I have 2 HMs on the schedule before March. Those will tell me a lot about how my fitness is coming along.

my friend ran a 1:09:20 HM 4 weeks before he ran a 2:23 marathon.

don't get too caught up in that half marathon performance stuff if you're truly focused on the marathon. 5k fitness is probably more important for the HM than marathon-esque mileage

seems like you need to focus on one of the races, and let the other be what it is

Just a thought: it doesn't sound like you have specific reason to set your sights on 2:25 in May and you do have some specific long term goals 2 years from now. For that reason, my vote is to run the early marathon, even understanding it might get into the way of your training for your focus race.

In the long run, the experience of doing another race may be beneficial someday. Plus it tells you what might become important info on how well you can recover and bounce back from a not all out marathon.

Again, I do like the optimism and certainly think a 1:10 hm' can certainly translate to 2:25 or faster, but it's a hard road out there. I hate to quote Bruce Denton, but the trial of miles is real.

A 14:50 guy seems like he has as good a shot as anyone.

The training gets hard and staying healthy isn't easy. We all think we're special until we're broken.

This experiment often ends horribly for most people. If you want to run that fast you are going to have to be smarter than most people. You need to figure out how to schedule your mileage to perfection or figure out alternative ways to get in mileage. One injury and your timeline goes up in smoke.

I ran a marathon with a friend who ran 14:00in the 5k and he cracked at 14 miles. His training wasn't adequate but it just shows that it isn't easy. I like to stalk runners on strava and you can find very few people who actually pull it off.

Good luck just be patient. It's hard to pick a time until you have a few results or workouts to narrow in on the target. You need 5:20-5:30 miles to feel smooth.

I cannot say enough good things about the OP. Next year LR haters will accuse you of doping. Forget them as you straddle the podium.

Hoppy Jogger wrote:

I cannot say enough good things about the OP. Next year LR haters will accuse you of doping. Forget them as you straddle the podium.

You're embarrassing yourself. You're embarrassing me.