I’m a 38m and would like to hit or break 3hrs to qualify (qualifying time - buffer).
I’ve realized when comparing my current training to other training cycles, that with 19 weeks to train, I should be realistically aiming for 3:10-3:15. This means that I will likely need to do a second training cycle before attempting the BQ. My body typically finds it easy to add distance, but a little more difficult to add speed.
I was wondering if it would be better to train to run a 3:10-3:15 marathon for the first cycle and then work on getting the time down in the second cycle? Or would it be better to drop the first cycle to a half marathon, where I’m very focused on speed and try to get as close to 1:25 half marathon time as I can? Then I can use the second cycle to build the distance. I’m currently running around 25-30 miles per week and will be starting a 18 week training plan next week.
BQ Marathon time - 2 training cycles
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10
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I think it depends on what your current marathon and half prs are. But generally I would just choose whatever race will motivate you to train the most and whatever fits best with your schedule. Personally I would get more benefit training for a full over a half as I'm more likely to half ass training for the half but if youre mentally locked in, a build for a half is fine. Either way, you will likely need to build up more mileage to get your goal, but it will be easier to BQ when you hit 40.
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If I could go back in time I would've told my younger self to work on my short distance PBs, before cranking out a bunch of marathons. I think it's ok to go in either direction based on your time goals. I think it's reasonable to go from 3:10 to 3-flat over 2 marathon training cycles. Consistent mileage can make that time jump possible. But running 1:25 just lowers your marathon potential when you do want to go back there. I think "speed training" gets thrown around a lot & it's hard to know what someone means. I think workouts should look pretty similar for a half marathon & marathon. I think that you should be able to run decently well at either distance in a marathon build. It's not like you're doing a bunch of 200-400s when you train for a half. You're not even doing stuff like 5 x 1k @ 5k. You're logging a healthy amount of threshold work. Maybe that's 8-10 x 1k on short rest in a half marathon build & in a marathon build it's 10-15 x 1k on short rest @ slightly slower speed. You're touching on similar systems.
Long way of saying if you think you could get to 1:25 in build #1 then why don't you think you could get to 3 hours in build #1? Maybe stick with the marathon & plan a goal half 6-10 weeks before your race so that you can taper & race it flat-out to see where you're at.
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Prediction: OP's next post will contain a spam link. He will never BQ.
You,ve got this,,,
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elfoo wrote:
I’m a 38m and would like to hit or break 3hrs to qualify (qualifying time - buffer).
I’ve realized when comparing my current training to other training cycles, that with 19 weeks to train, I should be realistically aiming for 3:10-3:15. This means that I will likely need to do a second training cycle before attempting the BQ. My body typically finds it easy to add distance, but a little more difficult to add speed.
I was wondering if it would be better to train to run a 3:10-3:15 marathon for the first cycle and then work on getting the time down in the second cycle? Or would it be better to drop the first cycle to a half marathon, where I’m very focused on speed and try to get as close to 1:25 half marathon time as I can? Then I can use the second cycle to build the distance. I’m currently running around 25-30 miles per week and will be starting a 18 week training plan next week.i got this...00
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