The Sub 3:15 Marathon Thread

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Aug 2017
1:47pm, 2 Aug 2017
3,092 posts
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Curly45
Larks you need some glute strength work (aka squats). Then versus now(ish)




(hopefully the pics work)
Aug 2017
1:49pm, 2 Aug 2017
3,093 posts
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Curly45
Ah lets try again with the before picture:
Aug 2017
1:51pm, 2 Aug 2017
27,037 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Great illustration Curly. Nice K-bend in that after pic. :-) G
Aug 2017
1:52pm, 2 Aug 2017
2,463 posts
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larkim
You mean my middle aged, low knee, 200pm cadence shuffle isn't perfect running form!?!?
Aug 2017
1:55pm, 2 Aug 2017
3,094 posts
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Curly45
Hey I am nowhere near perfect running form (and am a vet these days), but there is always something to work on that can help us run with less niggles and thus hopefully get faster :)
Aug 2017
2:20pm, 2 Aug 2017
24 posts
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bgillam
Back in October last year, I ran my last marathon (Abingdon). I was aiming for sub 3.30 and got 3.19. It was hellish, and I vowed on the sub 3.30 thread that I was now done forever with Marathons having achieved my sub 3.30 goal.

Some cruel bastard (Uyuni?) then piped up that I was only 4 minutes off a GFA time. I tried my utmost to ignore it, to banish this from my mind, but throughout this year I've been running well and getting a few PBs and I keep coming back to that comment.

So here I am now, aiming for sub 3.15 in October. Due to various other commitments I have only the weekend of the 7th/8th October, which gives me three options:

Chester - Looks well organised, possibly lots of crowd support, but the elevation profile looks like it has some nasty energy sapping hills.
strava.com

Bournemouth - As Chester really, mostly flat, some horrible hills.
strava.com

Walton - Pancake flat along the Thames. Several laps, out and back. Boring, no crowd support, potentially a bit muddy as on a trail path that can get boggy. Very near to home - I run the route on long training runs.

I'm erring towards the Walton one for convenience and because I hate hills, but if anyone thinks Chester or Bournemouth are better options, please let me know!
Aug 2017
2:40pm, 2 Aug 2017
2,464 posts
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larkim
I'm biased, living near Chester (and debuting there!). They're not hills, they are just undulations!

Does London accept marathon results from the Walton one as proof of GFA (if, as I'm sure you will, you are successful at dipping under 3:15)?
Aug 2017
2:47pm, 2 Aug 2017
2,465 posts
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larkim
This is my second eldest who, despite Down's Syndrome, has significantly better running form than me (especially when sprinting for the finish line of parkrun!)

I should take a few leaves from his book...

Aug 2017
2:47pm, 2 Aug 2017
11,643 posts
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Bazoaxe
GSI events organise Bournemouth and so there is a high chance of something odd happening
Aug 2017
2:48pm, 2 Aug 2017
11,644 posts
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Bazoaxe
I am not posting any pics, they are all horrific !

PS Larks - sandy Lane at 24 miles qualifies as a hill

About This Thread

Maintained by Windsor Wool
For those who want to go sub 3.15 in a marathon and/or those that have already done it and want to give advice. Share your journey or help someone else's here.

2024 achievers:
Akie: 3:15 @ Rotterdam
allmatthew: 3:09 @ Manchester
Bowman: 3:01 @ Boras
Mark J: 3:12 @ Christchurch NZ
PJH92: 3:13 @ London

Related Threads

  • goals
  • marathon
  • sub
  • support
  • training









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