The sub 3.30 marathon thread
190 watchers
15 Mar
8:00pm, 15 Mar 2024
194 posts
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Charlesvdw
Well said MarkJ. A 5k is really hard but a 10k is not much slower but you have to hang on for more than twice as long. That's why I find the 10k the hardest distance. I agree with your HM preference. It must be run slower than a 10k, it is a hard effort but not that hard and not as long as a marathon. The sweet spot indeed. |
15 Mar
9:11pm, 15 Mar 2024
125 posts
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Joe1970
I'm with Mark Jingle All The Way, J 🇳🇿 here, I've been doing quite a bit of trail running and increasing distances for 18 months or so and that's not something I can get excited about a time for as all the courses are so variable and generally hilly, but that training has got me in decent enough shape that I'm thinking "hmmm, I could do some road races and see just how fast I can go, not getting any younger here..." At a base level, another +1 for half marathon distance too, for me it's something I have to work hard to do well, but I feel I genuinely can do well (its all relative, of course...) and be consistent at, whereas I'm stepping a bit into the unknown going up to a marathon, feels like there's a lot of potential things to get wrong! But I'm enjoying the challenge of stepping up a distance too, so maybe I'll have a new favourite before long!... 5k is hard, but I've generally quite enjoyed doing a few as an "effort" run when I haven't got much spare time, although I've never raced an official one apart from occasional parkruns, where I think my fastest is about 22:30. Might have to do one just to get a time banked 
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15 Mar
9:27pm, 15 Mar 2024
2,265 posts
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auburnette
Agree that 10k is the hardest. 5k is actually my favourite distance when I'm well trained for it, love the feeling of running hard, loads of endorphins with marathon it's the training I've come to feel is really fulfilling, like SailorSteve I find it really rewarding when it all comes together on the day, but I've also come to enjoy the training. Find it really cool to be able to go out and run 20 miles (maybe with a bit of effort thrown in) 'just' like that.
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15 Mar
11:05pm, 15 Mar 2024
3,207 posts
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riggys99
I must be weird because I prefer 10k to 5k even though the pace isn’t much different. Half’s are great for a good challenge without the dealing with nutrition during the race (a few jelly babies just in case). And with a half if it goes wrong you can go again fairly soon. As others have said nothing beats the feeling of a marathon coming right on the day.
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16 Mar
8:39am, 16 Mar 2024
3,209 posts
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riggys99
The Running Channel must read this thread. New podcast What’s the hardest running distance 😁 podcasts.apple.com |
16 Mar
8:47am, 16 Mar 2024
2,560 posts
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SailorSteve
Thanks for the link. “Hardest” is a bit different to where I was coming from, which was more about enjoyment or satisfaction. I’ll take a listen👍 |
16 Mar
8:47am, 16 Mar 2024
1,941 posts
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Mark J 🇳🇿
We're pioneers riggys99, that's all.
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16 Mar
9:00am, 16 Mar 2024
3,210 posts
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riggys99
Thanks for the link. “Hardest” is a bit different to where I was coming from, which was more about enjoyment or satisfaction. I’ll take a listen👍 Sounds like they did an episode what is the best distance as well |
16 Mar
10:17am, 16 Mar 2024
4,090 posts
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tipsku
riggys99, I also prefer the 10k over the 5k because the pace feels more doable. 7:15 feels pretty hard but I can hang on for the full distance while 7:05 is just uncomfortable from the start and I can't hold it for the half the distance. The difference between the 5k pace and the 10k pace isn't much, 10 seconds, but it makes all the difference. For a 70% WAVA, I have to run a 44:41 10k (7:11 pace) and a 21:53 5k (7:03). I haven't managed a sub 22 5k in three years but I have raced a couple of 10k under 45 since then. Back in 2021, I was training specifically for a fast 5k (Garmin 12 week training plan) and I just cracked the 22 min by 2 seconds. For me, it's the distance where it's the hardest to make any progress. All the training for just some seconds improvement. That's why I find training for a half or a marathon more satisfying because you see big gains when everything comes together on race day. I ran a 3:51:46 in 2022 and then a 3:29:36 in 2023. Or 1:41:30 in 2022 followed by 1:37:42 in 2023. |
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16 Mar
11:00pm, 16 Mar 2024
3,213 posts
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riggys99
I see where your coming from tipsku that few seconds difference in pace can take you just below the red line. I also think marathon training can bring improvement across most distances whereas 5k won’t have a big impact on marathon times
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