The sub 3.30 marathon thread

2 lurkers | 191 watchers
Jan 2012
1:10am, 26 Jan 2012
12 posts
  •  
  • 0
RobertoM
Thanks, not had much mara experience, did my first in october, hated it but it got me wanting to do more. Very poor training routine until now so with 4 months of consistent traing I should be able to get a better time, just need to work out my target time really.
Jan 2012
1:16am, 26 Jan 2012
1,365 posts
  •  
  • 0
HappyTimes
Personally think its difficult to apply a "rigid" rule to conversion. Elites would be double it plus around 6 minutes which fits with one rule 2for every doubling in race distance add 15 secs per mile" Fairly commonly experienced club runners would say double plus 10 but all these rules assume we have trained specifically and to best of our ability for distance which few of us will do in our first few marathons and only get a better conversion with experience from both racing/running marathons and the training cycles that go into doing them.
My first was 3:13 off a 1:28 half at the time and feel I should have ran more like 3:07 but I was injured in lead up to race and ran like a fool on the day which cost me in final miles.
Consistency over period of time in training a big benefit.
Jan 2012
1:21am, 26 Jan 2012
13 posts
  •  
  • 0
RobertoM
When I ran in october, id done less than 400 miles, longest had been 16 mils and my hm pb was 1:47 (keswick in may and was only my third run in my training) and I ran a 1:40 half in the marathon an started struggling at 16, so definate lack of training. Think il target 3:20, if I dont get it, it gives me 10 minutes to crawl in under 3:30.
Jan 2012
12:14pm, 26 Jan 2012
1,637 posts
  •  
  • 0
emdee
I think on a sub-90 half, you should definitely be targeting sub-3:20, assuming that it's on similar (or better) terrain to the half.

The last half I did was a hilly road one, on a pretty windy day. I did 1:34 (this was early Dec). One week later I did 3:25 on a flat, but mixed terrain marathon. I'd like to think I could get closer to 90 on a flat half right now, and I'll be targeting sub-3:20 either in April, or in the Autumn.
Jan 2012
2:19pm, 26 Jan 2012
219 posts
  •  
  • 0
Nelly
I'd agree with emdee. Roberto you've just run 1:28 at Helsby on an undulating course in windy conditions whilst the Manchester route is much flatter by comparison.

I was listening to an early issue of Marathon Talk yesterday and they suggested using twice HM time plus 10% as a guide, so rounding a little gives;

90min HM = 1.1 x (2x 90) = 1.1 x 180 = 3hrs 18mins predicted marathon time (+ benefit of flat course and less wind)
Jan 2012
2:34pm, 26 Jan 2012
15 posts
  •  
  • 0
RobertoM
Thanks Nelly, il just have to keep my training up and keep motivated.
Jan 2012
10:32pm, 26 Jan 2012
17,156 posts
  •  
  • 0
HappyG(rrr)
I did 3:12 off 1:28:30 Roberto. Your 1:28 is a good half time. You can def go quicker at marathon, assuming you put in the long, slow runs to build endurance and total volume, to build aerobic capacity and still manage to do some speed work that gave you the 1:28 in the first place!

I would just plug the number into McMillan or Fetch running calculators, rather than doing simple "double the number you first thought of" type calcs. They are *very* rough at best!

Links:

McMillan calculator: mcmillanrunning.com 3:07
Fetch calculator: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/training-calculators-racetimes.php 3:10

Go for it! :-)G
Jan 2012
10:58pm, 26 Jan 2012
220 posts
  •  
  • 0
Nelly
:-)G the problem with all these approximations is the wide range of answers between the various methods. So which one are you supposed to believe?????

As an example, for my recent 1:34:35 half marathon McMillan predicts a 3.19 marathon, Fetch predicts 3.36, and "double HM time + 10%" predicts 3.28!!!!
Jan 2012
11:00pm, 26 Jan 2012
3,555 posts
  •  
  • 0
Smout
Aye - but your Fetch Reigal whatsit will be set funny using old PBs which are no longer realistic. I adjust mine cos the predictions across other distances are a but daft...... I need to go check what I did
Jan 2012
11:01pm, 26 Jan 2012
3,556 posts
  •  
  • 0
Smout
Riegel even lol

About This Thread

Pop a message in the thread with an upcoming attempt and I'll add you to the side bar :)

2025 Sub 3:30 Attempts:

April 13th - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Hills of Death (HOD)
April 13th - Christchurch, New Zealand - Mark J
April 13th - Leipzig, Germany - Tipsku
April 27th - London - Aurburnette
April 27th - London - SailorSteve
April 27th - London - Solo
April 27th - Tissington trail - Riggys99
Oct 12th - Chicago, USA - Mark J

-----------------------
2024 Hall of Fame:

SailorSteve - London - 3:17:08 & Edinburgh - 03:24:09
auburnette - London - 3:28:47 & Valencia - 3:20:50
Tipsku - Leipzig, Germany - 3:27:26
Mark J - Christchurch, NZ - 3:12:24
MissingPhoenix - Chester - 03:28:40

Related Threads

  • goals
  • marathon
  • sub
  • training








Back To Top

Tag A User

To tag a user, start typing their name here:
X

Free training & racing tools for runners, cyclists, swimmers & walkers.

Fetcheveryone lets you analyse your training, find races, plot routes, chat in our forum, get advice, play games - and more! Nothing is behind a paywall, and it'll stay that way thanks to our awesome community!
Get Started
Click here to join 113,924 Fetchies!
Already a Fetchie? Sign in here