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Runner's Forum: question on pace and setting goals

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    • CommentAuthorFree MemberAPDuncan27
    • CommentTimeOct 24th 2007
     
    APDuncan27

    I am running my first marathon on November 25th in Seattle, I set my goal for 3:30:00 (8:00 per mile).  I have been training for about 5 weeks and things have been going very well.  I didn't start timing myself until about 2 weeks into training and I found myself running very close to an 8 minute pace.  My longest training run so far has been a 15 miler, which I ran at a steady 8:20 per mile.

    Last week I ran a half marathon race in 1:39:20 (7:35 pace), and while I was spent at the end I felt like I could have run faster.  I am starting to feel like I should set a more aggressive goal for the marathon, perhaps in the neighborhood of 3:20:00.

    Am I crazy?  I feel like I am improving at a rapid rate, most of my regular runs (ranging from 4 - 8 miles), are somewhere between 7:25 and 7:40 pace, and this is not full effort.  Given my improvement and the fact that this is my first marathon, would it be advisable to set my pace more aggressively or should I stick with the 3:30:00?

     Thanks,

    Duncan

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberDF
    • CommentTimeOct 25th 2007
     
    DF

    I have my second marathon (Auckland, NZ) coming up on Sunday (eek!). I was running pretty similar times to what you were at my first one, and wound up doing a 3:39. The main problem I had was not doing enough long runs, and this started becoming evident at the 28k mark (sorry about the metrics). The first half took 1:45, the second 1:55. Also not helping was crappy weather - a blustery wind that always seemed to be head on, made the last 10k pretty unpleasant (though the warm flat coke at 39k worked a treat)

    I am aiming this year to beat 3:30, all going well I should end up about 3:20-3:25. The forecast is good, fine and mild. I am feeling much more prepared than last year, though am still lacking a little on the long runs.

    Only advice I really can give is don't underestimate the distance - it is a long way to run. I would stick with the 3:30, enjoy the run, and learn from it. Next time go for a quicker one.

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberAPDuncan27
    • CommentTimeOct 25th 2007
     
    APDuncan27

    Thanks for the advice DF, I have an 18 mile run coming up this weekend then a 21 mile coming up the following week, things taper down after that.  I think for now I will stick with the 3:30 goal for now, if my upcoming runs go very well, I might bump up the goal a bit. 

    Good luck on Sunday's race!  Be sure to let us know how it goes.

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