2:51 Marathon on 30 MPW

another n+1

Averaged 20mpw over the last 10 weeks to run 1:20 this last weekend. I have two young kids and very little time so I have to squeeze in runs when I can. That roughly equates to a 2:50 thon but on that mileage I am almost certain that the wheels would fall off sometime after 30K of the race. I also noticed that I am SUPER sore post-race with the low mileage. That may also just be the 39 years under my belt.

canadaa runner wrote:

I guess everyone in this thread is super talented. Could an argument be made that they'd run even better on higher mileage?

I'm in low 240s shape but that's off 100mpw. Makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong..

This thread has turned into a I ran X fast on only Y mileage humble brag.

Funny because MOST of the time LR is all about not being a hobby jogger and only running a few days a week.

If some guy is running 1:20 half or 250 or faster marathon with only 20 miles or so.. they are truly blessed with great talent.

I know there are those people that are super fast and only need a little training, but the marathon usually catches up to anyone that hasn't put in the work.

You can fake the funk from 800m> Half.. but usually if you havent done the work around mile 18 or so you'll fall to pieces.

Have a deep breath.

I'm pretty sure I wrote, in my first sentence, that talent makes a huge difference. I then gave hyper specific examples of the training I did to get there (around 2:51) and even mentioned that I had a few years of more weekly mileage in my legs when I ran faster on only 30-35 mpw, which also makes a huge impact. I even wrote that the last few miles of a marathon on low mileage are brutal (which I assume means i don't recommend it)

You've got to realize that a 1:20 half marathon isn't very impressive if you've run 8-10+ minutes faster in a race or split much faster at halfway in a marathon. Plenty of guys can struggle through a 1:20 even if they're under trained.

Talent makes a massive difference and it's all relative. many guys can casually hit my lifelong running pb's on greatly reduced mileage.

It's definitely possible. I ran a 2:48 virtual marathon during lockdown on 37.5mpw. My longest runs were 18 and 16 miles and I didn't do any workouts at all. I wasn't very motivated with the lack of real races and was just maintaining basic fitness. I started at 6:20 pace, which was the quicker end of my easy range at the time, felt my legs getting heavy from mile 16 and backed off to about 6:35, but I was never in any danger of falling apart.

canadaa runner wrote:

I guess everyone in this thread is super talented. Could an argument be made that they'd run even better on higher mileage?

I'm in low 240s shape but that's off 100mpw. Makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong..

I doubt anyone would argue AGAINST the conclusion that these talented low-mileage marathoners have much greater potential. Like 2:50 on 25 mpw might predict 2:30 at 80 mpw.

It's all cost versus reward. For some, investing an hour or two every day just isn't worth racing 20 minutes faster on race day, especially if they can can run a reasonable time (sub-3) without the extra work. Some talented runners may be happy to participate in marathons, and don't care much about time or place.

Some, like me, look back and regret never realizing their potential. I've run dozens of marathons over the years, always low mileage training. My PR was at age 23 off 42 mpw, 8 months training (2:40). At the time, I figured 70 mpw would net sub-2:35, and planned to do that.

But I never did increase my mileage, so will never know. Not that It matters to anyone but me.