Just Won my first Marathon, Which one should be next?

I don't have a recommendation for you, but our times are similar (I graduated a few years before you) and I am training for a marathon now with about the same mpw as you did...so it gives me confidence to run a good time. Congrats!

Thanks Man! I did get in 2 20 milers and one 22 miler in my buildup, which I think helped a ton. Just knowing I could be on my feet that long gave me a lot of confidence. If you are looking for another gauge 4 weeks out I did a half in 1:11:55, good luck!

Looks like that hand cyclist beat you. You should train a little harder and you can probably get him next year.

trackflo94 wrote:

I just ran my first, winning the hilly Little rock Marathon (1225 ft) in 2:32. It was a really abbreviated build up. I started completely out of shape (hadn't run more than 10 miles a week since the summer) ran for 12 weeks and averaged just under 50mpw with 5 singles. I'm debating about doing St. Louis in 5 weeks as that's where I'm from and there's a good amount of prize money. Is that too soon? If I don't do that then I'll probably take a crack at a fast time with a better build up in the fall. Any recommendations are welcome!

-Background

Graduated college in 2016, ran 80mpw my senior year in XC, 70 MPW in track with prs: 1:53, 3:54(1500), 9:09 (steeple) 15:02 and 32:32 (XC 10k)

Running a marathon in 5 weeks sounds like a terrible idea to me, but then I was never very fast and marathons beat the crap out of me.

If there is prize money, chances are some low level Africans or Russians will be there and you will be finishing far out of the money.

Yeah, I know it'd be pushing it. Thanks for the input! As far as Finishing too far back, the Prize money is the same for the half, so typically that attracts the top talent. Its a similar course to little rock and 2:32 won it last year, 2:39 was 3rd and still won $500.

If you want the money and are willing to risk some pain or a horrible race then go for it

trackflo94 wrote:

Yeah, I know it'd be pushing it. Thanks for the input! As far as Finishing too far back, the Prize money is the same for the half, so typically that attracts the top talent. Its a similar course to little rock and 2:32 won it last year, 2:39 was 3rd and still won $500.

FYI Stanley Boen will run just hard enough to win. He ran 1:02 or something like that 10 years ago, and now he just shows up any race where 2:23+ will nab him $1000+. 3rd is $300, I believe, so really you're hoping nobody faster than you shows up and takes 2nd.

What are you goals from here on out?

If you are hoping to be fit enough to regularly jump into some races and maybe snag some cash, then yeah, go for it. Especially if you are feeling like recovery is going well (though you might be surprised on this one when you start pushing again, so be careful).

If your goals are to see how far into the 2:20's you can dip, recover fully this spring and do a long buildup to a fall marathon. That one could be a small marathon where you might win some money, or it could be a big race with a lot of competition to pull you along.

I'm planning on the Kentucky Derby Marathon on April 28. Shooting for 2:28-2:30 and would really like some company if you're interested.

fsdfasdfasdf wrote:

trackflo94 wrote:

Yeah, I know it'd be pushing it. Thanks for the input! As far as Finishing too far back, the Prize money is the same for the half, so typically that attracts the top talent. Its a similar course to little rock and 2:32 won it last year, 2:39 was 3rd and still won $500.

FYI Stanley Boen will run just hard enough to win. He ran 1:02 or something like that 10 years ago, and now he just shows up any race where 2:23+ will nab him $1000+. 3rd is $300, I believe, so really you're hoping nobody faster than you shows up and takes 2nd.

best strat would then be to run high 2:30s pace, sandbagging it with Stan nearby, then outkick right at the end. looks like that's exactly what happened on 2015.

maffeboner wrote:

fsdfasdfasdf wrote:

FYI Stanley Boen will run just hard enough to win. He ran 1:02 or something like that 10 years ago, and now he just shows up any race where 2:23+ will nab him $1000+. 3rd is $300, I believe, so really you're hoping nobody faster than you shows up and takes 2nd.

best strat would then be to run high 2:30s pace, sandbagging it with Stan nearby, then outkick right at the end. looks like that's exactly what happened on 2015.

Those 2 show up in a number of results together. Teammates?

If you got sub-2:30 next time you'll qualify for Lake Biwa. Go sub-2:27 and you'll make the qualifying time for Fukuoka. Do one/both of those once you get a bit better.

itdepends wrote:

If your goals are to see how far into the 2:20's you can dip, recover fully this spring and do a long buildup to a fall marathon. That one could be a small marathon where you might win some money, or it could be a big race with a lot of competition to pull you along.

This is the right move. You are college educated. $500 is chump change.

If I knew your college times, I might even say chase a OTQ for the marathon. You basically schlepped around and ran a great time considering. Even if OTQ isn't realistic, for life you can say you are a 2:24 marathoner or whatever.

Then come back next year and WIN your hometown marathon. Send those K-Mart Kenyans home DEVASTATED!

trackflo94 wrote:

-Background

Graduated college in 2016, ran 80mpw my senior year in XC, 70 MPW in track with prs: 1:53, 3:54(1500), 9:09 (steeple) 15:02 and 32:32 (XC 10k)

Okay, I missed this. Your steeple and longer times don't make me optimistic about an OTQ, but breaking 2:25 definitely is a realistic goal for the fall.

trackflo94 wrote:

I'm debating about doing St. Louis in 5 weeks as that's where I'm from and there's a good amount of prize money. Is that too soon?

Boston

you will not run to your capabilities. more importantly it may be another 8 months before you can be in your best shape to run another as two in 6 weeks will tear down your fitness. let yourself recover for 3-4 months and then begin training for a fall marathon. the other thing to think about is that you are much more susceptible to leg injury as your body cannot be full recovered in 5 weeks. good luck.

Congrats on the race! If you are really serious about getting into great marathon shape, I would recommend going down in distance for a few months. You don't want to overdrew it with too many thons. I understand Saint Louis has a budding 5k-middle distance development team sponsored by one of their shoe stores. If I were you, I would look into meeting up with those guys for some speed development for the remainder of the track season.

I might have some ideas for you.