Running A Marathon

[egg]

Originally Posted by Patriots' Fan

Cool! You can tell me all about it!

Now I'm also doing all kinds of other stuff meanwhile to get myself in a great shape. A week I did a strenuous 14-mile hike, this week I'm flying to Colorado to ski. Two races next weekend, and another after. My question is, how fast normally do marathoners run per mile? It seems to me I may have the endurance alright, but not sure about the speed.... But I'm hoping marathoners don't run that fast (naturally, to last that long).... I know someone who's run in 2.5 hour or so, and that's supposed to be awesome fast no?

A 2:30 marathon is very good. Olympic Qualifying is just under that at around 2:22 or so. Boston qualifying for <35 yo male is 3:10:59, less than 10% run that fast. Most people shoot for the nice round number that is 4 hours (especially on a first marathon) - that is slightly over 9 minute miles.

Have you run a 5K, 10K or half marathon? [Just trying to gauge what kind of speed you have to give you a rough idea of what you can run for a marathon]

[Cohete009]

Originally Posted by lipman

Cohete, have you started training yet? I am thinking about running one this year and the Chi-town is one of the 3 potentials

Not officially training, but have started running again last week to get back endurance. Set up a plan which gradually increases my daily runs.

Once we get to June, hope to be following a program that has already been set up for how want to train, so everything until then is just basework.

[Patriots' Fan]

Originally Posted by egg

A 2:30 marathon is very good. Olympic Qualifying is just under that at around 2:22 or so. Boston qualifying for <35 yo male is 3:10:59, less than 10% run that fast. Most people shoot for the nice round number that is 4 hours (especially on a first marathon) - that is slightly over 9 minute miles.

Have you run a 5K, 10K or half marathon? [Just trying to gauge what kind of speed you have to give you a rough idea of what you can run for a marathon]

5K, 10K yes, not yet a half, prolly can now, just a matter of signing up.

I'm just about 9.8 or so a mile, which sucks in my personal opinion.

[2pac Shakur]

Originally Posted by Cohete009

Usually second Sunday in October.

Cohete is thinking of running it this Fall.

That's the one marathon I've run (2004).
I thought it was awesome.

[MarsLasar]

Originally Posted by Patriots' Fan

Cool! You can tell me all about it!

Now I'm also doing all kinds of other stuff meanwhile to get myself in a great shape. A week I did a strenuous 14-mile hike, this week I'm flying to Colorado to ski. Two races next weekend, and another after. My question is, how fast normally do marathoners run per mile? It seems to me I may have the endurance alright, but not sure about the speed.... But I'm hoping marathoners don't run that fast (naturally, to last that long).... I know someone who's run in 2.5 hour or so, and that's supposed to be awesome fast no?

A four hour marathon is a highly doable goal for first time marathoners.
Train at 11-13 minute miles. Run the race at 9 min miles

[Patriots' Fan]

Originally Posted by MarsLasar

A four hour marathon is a highly doable goal for first time marathoners.
Train at 11-13 minute miles. Run the race at 9 min miles

Thanks for the tip. Really appreciate it.

[cdn_actuary2b]

Originally Posted by lipman

My one piece of advice, have a backup marathon ready to roll in case you don't get into NYC - 07. It would suck to do a bunch of training, get your hopes up, then not make it into the race and have to scramble. San Fransisco would be a good replacement.

How difficult is it to register in the NYC marathon? I was considering doing it in 2007 as well. Is it just a matter of getting the paper work in before it "sells out" or are there some requirements you have to meet?

[egg]

Originally Posted by cdn_actuary2b

How difficult is it to register in the NYC marathon? I was considering doing it in 2007 as well. Is it just a matter of getting the paper work in before it "sells out" or are there some requirements you have to meet?

NY is a lottery system. I believe out-of-towners have a better chance of getting in than do NYers. If you are rejected 2 years in a row, you are automatically in on the 3rd year.

[lipman]

Originally Posted by cdn_actuary2b

How difficult is it to register in the NYC marathon? I was considering doing it in 2007 as well. Is it just a matter of getting the paper work in before it "sells out" or are there some requirements you have to meet?

As egg said it is a lotto. I have registered for it twice and gotten in twice, but last year I registered with 2 other friends and I was the only one who got in...so your mileage may vary

[quentin cassidy]

Originally Posted by egg

NY is a lottery system. I believe out-of-towners have a better chance of getting in than do NYers. If you are rejected 2 years in a row, you are automatically in on the 3rd year.

Yes, that is correct. The first time I signed up for it, I used my parents address so that I would have a better chance. FWIW, I got in that time (though I ended up not running it due to injury). A couple years later, I signed up with my NYC-area address and initially didn't get in, but got a letter about a month before the race saying that I could still get in due to other cancellations - too bad I hadn't been training for anything that long.

The only one I have done so far is the Marine Corps Marathon in Wash, DC, which is a good first marathon (the course is a lot flatter than NYC). It is a smaller field, so I assume it'd be easier for a middle-of-the-pack runner to start at the right pace.