Sub 3Hr Marathon
314 watchers
May 2023
9:21pm, 22 May 2023
24,895 posts
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Bazoaxe
Bowman. Don’t despair. My first sub three attempt was a horrible 3:16 although five weeks later I did at least pb in 3:03. It took me five more years to get a 3:02 and then another five years to 2:59 with 2 x 3:00 and another 2 or maybe even 3 x 3:02s |
May 2023
9:26pm, 22 May 2023
78 posts
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Charlesvdw
I think they solved that train crossing issue by now. And the reason Bruges didn't work out well for me: it was just 4 weeks after my PB marathon, I didn't run a lot those 4 weeks in between, and I went all in running with the 3:00 pacers, although I was probably in 3:15 shape at best. Having run a great PB a month before, I thought "I have nothing to lose". |
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May 2023
9:32pm, 22 May 2023
24,896 posts
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Bazoaxe
Checked back and it was three more 3:02s. Four in total plus the two 3:00 in that ten years of trying to break three. That’s without listing all the disasters as well of which there were quite a few. |
May 2023
9:34pm, 22 May 2023
2,531 posts
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Big_G
PS, I don’t really belong on here with only a 3:06, but I think I go against the prevailing view about talent being the main factor. I remember once a running friend whose opinion I respect a lot said something like ‘anyone can get a GFA’. What she meant was that anyone who trains can get one. At the time I was probably 30mins slower than that (and since then, the standards have tightened, and I’ve gone up an age category), and to be honest I was bit offended that she had said it to me. I thought I was training properly and I honestly thought I had zero chance. If anything I think people use perceived lack of talent as some kind of excuse. I see it all the time on a World Marathon Majors group I’m a part of. Boston qualifying times are easier than London by quite a way, but people think it’s beyond them, when I don’t think it is if they just got some extra miles in, at an easy pace. I am most definitely not a natural. My first marathon was 5hrs15, I’m tall, broad shouldered, and my running style and economy is dreadful. But consistent mileage and managing to stay injury free for a period and I improved. Funny that! I think natural talent is one thing, but we can’t control that. There are plenty of other variables that we can control which will have a bigger impact on our performance, in my view. Training, weight, diet, strength work and adequate sleep to name but a few. As I say, probably I shouldn’t post here as I’m not at this level 
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May 2023
3:31am, 23 May 2023
14,850 posts
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jda
You make an important point about natural ability/aptitude Frosty The Bowman 🇸🇪. As for me, I also get a bit pissed off when people say "oh you just have to train better/try harder" about other things that I'm not much good at. It really isn't enough to just train better if you don't have some intrinsic aptitude. I'm absolutely certain that the vast majority of 50+ could never match my PB of 2:47 for a marathon whatever they do, any more than they could become strong chess players or musicians or gymnasts or fluent speakers of chinese. My first 10k was exactly 12 years ago almost to the day (I'm doing the same race again next Monday), just over 50 mins as a 42 year old, and I finished with a load of blisters. It was the furthest I had ever run in one go at that time. It took me a couple of years to break 40 mins for a 10k and I had no reason to think I had any more aptitude for longer distance running until I did my first marathon and got 3:06 off limited preparation. Of course that's not fantastic but it's fairly respectable for a casual 40-something hobbyist. I went sub 3 on my second attempt and then kept on taking off about 2-3 mins per year until I got to 2:47 aged 50 which was my peak (and about 40th in age cat for the year in the uk out of the thousands who ran, according to rbr). I have a training system that I'm happy with but I certainly don't tell other runners that they are doing it all wrong just because they happen to be a bit slower. Would make as much sense to tell them they eat the wrong food because they are shorter! However I do think that a sub-3 marathon could be on the horizon of most middle-aged runners if they are sufficiently keen and perhaps not too old when they start trying. It's about 70% wava for a 40 year old. I'm not saying that's easy and anyone who fails is a terrible person but just that it shouldn't be considered out of the question from the outset. I don't know if you will make it but I'm sure you'll get quite close if you keep up your efforts and keep learning. I saw a youtube video recently suggesting most people get their PBs about 5-7 years after they start racing, but it can occasionally be as much as 10y. Tim Grose video. I thought I was quite fit when I started running (already did quite a lot of cycling) but it took a while to build up the ability. |
May 2023
6:32am, 23 May 2023
6,499 posts
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Little Miss Happy
I'm not sure I have a chance of going sub 3 again Big G but they haven't kicked me off yet. I never raced much and don't like 10k's Bowman. My PB is 38.51. Charles - I too ran marathons off low mileage for the first few years as I broke if I tried to do more but eventually I fixed the issues (months of running rehab and custom orthotics along with regular physio and diligent exercises) and by not doing any speedwork etc I was able to increase my mileage and lower my times. |
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May 2023
6:38am, 23 May 2023
79 posts
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Charlesvdw
Thanks LMH. I have a physio and orthotocis and certainly the physio was needed to get my mileage up from 40km/25mpw -> +50km/32mpw. I will build up carefully to +60 km/40 mpw. I know this is not big mileage, but for me it is. |
May 2023
7:03am, 23 May 2023
2,702 posts
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Bowman 🇸🇪
I'll try not to Bazoaxe, with your tries you had over the years, did you increase/better the training all that time, and at what level? And did you think you got better and better? but still couldn't get a proper marathon where it all fell into place, or how did it pan out over the years? I'll try to get more Marathons in anyway I almost booked a big one in the capital of sweden in two weeks, and haven't really let go of the thought yet but its so big, and so much hazzle getting there and getting to the race and what not, i'm more of a small event guy Big_G also a very valid point, and i agree. I've heard something similar loads of times. "Ah so you are a runner, yea i can't do that i get shin splints/pain in my knees/blisters/[anything else] (general i don't have the talent speech) good for you that you have it so easy.." And i'm not at this level either, yet, but i'm trying to be, so i feel i can post here
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May 2023
7:06am, 23 May 2023
6,501 posts
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Little Miss Happy
I honestly never thought I'd be able to manage the mileage I did Charles so hopefully you'll surprise yourself too.
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May 2023
7:48am, 23 May 2023
2,703 posts
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Bowman 🇸🇪
Interesting jdawayinamanger, thanks for sharing And very nice progress in a relatively "short" time. And 3:06 is more than respectable as a first try for sure. I guess it's a sliding scale depending on where you are at too, it's very relative. Probably a few people in my proximity think i have a natural talent for running and had it easy, so it's all about from where you look at it. Maybe i do have some talent to some extent, i can (knock on wood) stack up pretty good mileage, at least so far. And i can be pretty healthy and also balance lif around me, if thats some kind of talent maybe I do not respond as fast on the training though, at least i think so, but it's not awful either, i do get better and see some fine progress.
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