Quote:
Originally Posted by jkrue22
Thoughts on training at a slower pace?
I'm signed up to run a marathon this fall and I'd like to break 4 hours. The training plan I'm using wants me to run my long runs and easy runs at like 9:53/mile, which feels obnoxiously slow. If I trust the plan and just build mileage at a slower pace, will I still be able to knock out 26.2 in ~9:00/mile on race day? (The plan does have faster intervals and pace training throughout the week.)
Background: Always been a decent runner. Ran several half marathons and busted out a full marathon in college without really training (14 years ago!). Recently been more into CrossFit the last couple years... this is my first time seriously committing to a training plan/race with a goal in mind.
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Race update: I ran the Columbus Marathon yesterday in 4:00:31! Yep, missed my goal by just 30 seconds officially (though my watch had me at 3:59:55... so I'll go with that
).
Lessons learned:
-Don't trust your watch! The only thing I can think of is that it paused itself automatically when I stopped to use the toilet... but I caught it and restarted it right away, couldn't have been more than 5 seconds. Either way, paces can be off because distances vary, so give yourself a decent buffer!
-Don't stop your training program 2.5 months prior to the race. Long story short, the race I was going to run in September was cancelled due to COVID (dumb). My training app never "re-synced" itself for the new October race, and I let myself fall off my plan (lots of travel for work and a new baby didn't help). I felt way more prepared at the end of July than I did in October... those 30 seconds would have been easy to make up if I had stuck with the plan!
-Energy gel shots are money. I took 3 during the race: Miles 8, 17, and 22... but get flavors you like! That chocolate one at the end was gross.
-Start with the correct group. My brother and I were a little late getting to the starting line and found ourselves starting farther back in the pack than we were supposed to. Those first couple miles were super packed and slow... also could've made up 30 seconds had I started at the correct pace!
All that said, the weather was perfect and the race support was outstanding... it was a beautiful day for running 26.2!