Best flat marathon time scenario for me?

Training Advice/Discussion Marathon

5 years ago 12/14/2018 9:56am EST

I am 46, a very fit guy who trains 14hrs per week in gym. As a result I have a six pack and carry no extra weight while my old classmates look like pregnant ladies.

Anyway I am a weekend warrior when it comes to running. I have been running on and off for 3 years. Have run few mountain marathons and few half marathons (all mountain ones none flat).

Have never run flat marathon and I wanna change that. I have given myself 3.5 months to train exclusively for it.

I think my best V02max is around 46-48 according to Garmin Forerunner. In training I can run 5km in around 24mins. 10km in around 50mins. Maybe bit faster in competitive situation.

I know I am 46 and not a talented runner but what kind of time could I achieve for a flat marathon if I train hard for next 3.5 months?

5 years ago 12/14/2018 12:31pm EST

re: Best Scenario

Three main factors:

1) how many miles a week can you work up to

2) Are you going to coach yourself or use a plan/coach

3) how big of a dude are you naturally

answer those and maybe we can tell you some time goals

5 years ago 12/14/2018 12:44pm EST

re: Best Scenario

So, be aware that your post doesn't provide a lot of firm information for predicting marathon times. The marathon is a difficult distance to predict even for someone with extensive training and a recent half marathon time.

But a reasonable goal for you would be 3:30:00 or 8:00/mile pace. You've got 12-15 weeks to train for it. The best thing you could do to train is run a lot. Gradually increase weekly mileage to as high as you can safely get it, going from 4 to 5 to 6 days per week. Once a week, do a long run - a run farther than you have run before, which might be 7 miles this week. Increase the distance every other week.

It's not clear that you're not a talented runner. If you took a couple years to train first for 5K and then for longer races, you might find you do just fine as a runner, and you could likely run a marathon quite a bit faster, but it's impossible to predict ahead of time.

5 years ago 12/14/2018 2:21pm EST

re: GetToWork

GetToWork wrote:
Three main factors:
1) how many miles a week can you work up to

Whatever you reccomend within reason.

2) Are you going to coach yourself or use a plan/coach

Coach myself

3) how big of a dude are you naturally

Not big at all. 173cm and 60kg. Very lean. When I run I normally get to 58kgs.

answer those and maybe we can tell you some time goals

Answered :-)

5 years ago 12/14/2018 4:00pm EST

re: Best Scenario

Shouting for sub 4 seems a reasonable goal.

5 years ago 12/14/2018 4:28pm EST

re: Charlesvdw

5 years ago 12/15/2018 7:56am EST

re: Charlesvdw

Charlesvdw wrote:
Shouting for sub 4 seems a reasonable goal.

So sub 4 almost definite I think.

3:30 I should aim for?

Sub 3:30, forget it?

5 years ago 03/24/2019 12:02pm EDT

re: Best Scenario

Your marathon will be any time soon?

3:30 is not possible imho.

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