This week I announced my intention to knock 31 minutes off my marathon PB this year. Ambitious? Yes. Achievable? I think so. I’m thinking positive but staying realistic and I believe I can do it. But I’ve also been thinking about quite how long 31 minutes is.
31 minutes is…
longer than my train journey into work
longer than most TV programmes
longer than it generally takes me to cook my dinner
longer than it takes me to run 3.5miles.
So it’s quite a big ask if I think about the 31 minutes as a whole. But if I break it down it seems almost manageable. Here’s the maths, with working:
My marathon PB is 4hr 31min. This was a pace of 10:20 min per mile.
My marathon goal is 3hr 58min. This is a pace of 9.05 min per mile.
Ok, that still seems like a lot of hard work. Luckily the training I’ve been doing with the local running club seems to be paying off and I’m my long runs, which at the moment are around 11 miles, have been comfortably around 8:45 min per mile. So, ambitious? Yes. Achievable? Definitely.
Hi Laura,
Happy to hear that you are doing another Marathon! Are you going to follow the same training program? It seems like some of the newer research is advocating the longest run being 18 or even 16 miles rather than the standard 20 or 22 miles. I will be in training “with you”, as I have Chicago in the fall.
Happy running!:-)
Susan
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Definitely achievable and I wish you all the luck with it. I think I will live my PB ambitions vicariously through yours this year ;o) One day though…
Hi Susan. I’ve been thinking about training plans a lot recently but am no closer to picking one for this year. I think a lot of people need the psychological boost that running 20 miles gives them. I don’t know whether I’ll choose that or the slightly fresher legs that 18 will give me.
Good to have you as a virtual training partner.
Laura.