Why can't I run sub 2:15 marathon?

Read Bill Rodgers autobiography and become it

I ran sub 13:20 and did not run under 2:15. I am not going to say it is impossible but it is improbable.

Just another ambitious Aussie wrote:

I have just turned 30 years old and I am in the process of making a comeback to distance running since last racing when I was 24. I really want to run sub 2:15 for the marathon and I am wondering if having taken the last 6 years off has written me off .... Back when I was 24 I ran 30mins for 10km, 14:45 for 5km and 8:30 for 3km ..... I haven't raced the half yet but I believe that the longer the distance the easier it feels for me and I am hopeful that I can run the marathon equalivant for the times above but it's been harder than I thought even trying to get back to the above times let alone sub 2:15 ..... Is it over? Should I stick it out?

You can't rely on those figures after a 6 year layoff. Even back when you were 24, those numbers would have translated into a 1:06-1:07 half and low 2:20's full marathon. Right now, focus on breaking 2:30, a more attainable goal. Sorry!

For a sub 2:15 you need about 8:00, 14:00 and 29:00 instead of your 8:30, 14:45 and 30+ from age 24. So you were quite a bit too slow then, and not running for 6 years certainly did not help much.

Now you have to increase the amount and quality of your training a lot, and see if it is possible in 3-5 years. However, pay attention to stay injury free and remember, at that level you need some talent, too. So even if you run the 2:20-2:25 which is equivalent to your old 3 to 10 k PRs, that would be a great achievement.

For a sub 2:15 marathon you need a sub 2:15 marathon.

NO human is limited

Just another ambitious Aussie wrote:

I have just turned 30 years old and I am in the process of making a comeback to distance running since last racing when I was 24. I really want to run sub 2:15 for the marathon and I am wondering if having taken the last 6 years off has written me off .... Back when I was 24 I ran 30mins for 10km, 14:45 for 5km and 8:30 for 3km ..... I haven't raced the half yet but I believe that the longer the distance the easier it feels for me and I am hopeful that I can run the marathon equalivant for the times above but it's been harder than I thought even trying to get back to the above times let alone sub 2:15 ..... Is it over? Should I stick it out?

Coached by JS there is no problems for you to reach 2:15.

Who are you ?

A 30 minute 10K is equivalent to about 2:19 for a marathon and 14:45 for 5K projects to a time significantly worse than that. Don't know about the 3K but you'd be nuts to use to predict a marathon time. So it's not that your chances of running 2:15 are over, you never really had that chance to begin with. Does that mean it's not worth it? That's for you to decide.

Quit being a wimp and man up!!!

If 13:20 at 5 k you should have done sub 2:08 at marathon.......well , at least if I had been the coach.

Just another ambitious Aussie wrote:

I have just turned 30 years old and I am in the process of making a comeback to distance running since last racing when I was 24. I really want to run sub 2:15 for the marathon and I am wondering if having taken the last 6 years off has written me off .... Back when I was 24 I ran 30mins for 10km, 14:45 for 5km and 8:30 for 3km ..... I haven't raced the half yet but I believe that the longer the distance the easier it feels for me and I am hopeful that I can run the marathon equalivant for the times above but it's been harder than I thought even trying to get back to the above times let alone sub 2:15 ..... Is it over? Should I stick it out?

I'd recommend seeking Sage advice.

Just Another Run of the Mill ex-D1 er wrote:

Just another ambitious Aussie wrote:

I have just turned 30 years old and I am in the process of making a comeback to distance running since last racing when I was 24. I really want to run sub 2:15 for the marathon and I am wondering if having taken the last 6 years off has written me off .... Back when I was 24 I ran 30mins for 10km, 14:45 for 5km and 8:30 for 3km ..... I haven't raced the half yet but I believe that the longer the distance the easier it feels for me and I am hopeful that I can run the marathon equalivant for the times above but it's been harder than I thought even trying to get back to the above times let alone sub 2:15 ..... Is it over? Should I stick it out?

I'd recommend seeking Sage advice.

Why would you go to him?

None of the times you listed are equivalent to a 2:15 so it is possible you just don't have the talent. You are picking an arbitrary time for a distance 4 times longer you have ever run competitively. If you want to run a marathon, run a marathon. Once you've seen what it takes and the time you ran you can make a realistic assessment of what you can possibly run and if you want to put in the effort to work towards it.

there are much better people out there wrote:

Just Another Run of the Mill ex-D1 er wrote:

I'd recommend seeking Sage advice.

Why would you go to him?

For starters, he has 5/10 PRs (14:30ish/29:45ish) that are only marginally better than the OP's , yet still managed 2:15 himself. It seems reasonable he might have some relevant insights.

I know a guy who has ran sub 2:20 with a PBs of barely sub 9:00, 15:30 and 32:00. Insane endurance. With that I want to say that 2:15 can be done if running insane milege. But it might wreck you

MohammedAA wrote:

I ran sub 13:20 and did not run under 2:15. I am not going to say it is impossible but it is improbable.

Check out the IAAF profile for the Australian Runner Julien Spence... 8:20, 14:18, 29:55, 2:14 .... That's the problem with Americans, always so literal and single minded. Thanks for the belief from those on here and to the haters, I look forward to seeing you in 2024, blazing through the streets in an Olympic Marathon #nohumanislimited

consider this wrote:

A 30 minute 10K is equivalent to about 2:19 for a marathon and 14:45 for 5K projects to a time significantly worse than that. Don't know about the 3K but you'd be nuts to use to predict a marathon time. So it's not that your chances of running 2:15 are over, you never really had that chance to begin with. Does that mean it's not worth it? That's for you to decide.

I think a 30 min 10K more like a 2:16 marathon.

Go for it!

First of all you will need to find a good group and coach and plenty of those in Australia.

It will take a few years but whether you have the ability to run under 2015 will be on how much training you did to run the times you did when you were 24?

Set Gold Coast 1/2 in 2020 as a target and if you can run under 1:07 in 10 month then you know you are on track.

Good luck!

Sally Vix wrote:

consider this wrote:

A 30 minute 10K is equivalent to about 2:19 for a marathon and 14:45 for 5K projects to a time significantly worse than that. Don't know about the 3K but you'd be nuts to use to predict a marathon time. So it's not that your chances of running 2:15 are over, you never really had that chance to begin with. Does that mean it's not worth it? That's for you to decide.

I think a 30 min 10K more like a 2:16 marathon.

It varies. My source is Daniels. McMillan has 30 minutes equivalent to 2:20:45 and that's based on a lot of data.