Can I break 2:40 at Chicago?

I would say so. Chicago is a faster course than Boston and your workouts indicate that you could sneak under 2:40. good luck

NO

Chicago Hope wrote:

PRs from college (3 years ago): 4:19 mile, 25:47 xc

Training leading up to race: consistent weeks of between 65 and 85. Probably 5 long runs between 16 and 18, plus a 21 2 weeks ago, and 20 last week (7min/mile for first 15, just under 6min/mile for last 5.)

A handful of workouts (5 by mile in 5:20 w/ 1 min rest), 2 by 3mile @ 5:45ish w/ 5 min rest. Early in training ran 7 mile road race @ 5:38/mile.

Marathon PR: 2:53 (Boston a few years ago)

Can I break 2:40 Oct. 12?

Your PRs from three years ago are irrellevant. Your mile time from last week is irrellevant. The marathon is almost as different from the mile as it is from sumo wrestling.

To be honest, I have no idea what you can run. Just line up and run the race. Then you'll know, and you will not have to start another stupid "predict my time" thread.

Mr. Bill wrote:

Chicago Hope wrote:

PRs from college (3 years ago): 4:19 mile, 25:47 xc

Training leading up to race: consistent weeks of between 65 and 85. Probably 5 long runs between 16 and 18, plus a 21 2 weeks ago, and 20 last week (7min/mile for first 15, just under 6min/mile for last 5.)

A handful of workouts (5 by mile in 5:20 w/ 1 min rest), 2 by 3mile @ 5:45ish w/ 5 min rest. Early in training ran 7 mile road race @ 5:38/mile.

Marathon PR: 2:53 (Boston a few years ago)

Can I break 2:40 Oct. 12?

Your PRs from three years ago are irrellevant. Your mile time from last week is irrellevant. The marathon is almost as different from the mile as it is from sumo wrestling.

To be honest, I have no idea what you can run. Just line up and run the race. Then you'll know, and you will not have to start another stupid "predict my time" thread.

Why'd you post in this thread?

i never ran in college, you're not much faster than me, and i'm in the 2:50 range. but whatever, go for it.

It'll be close... Just try to go out in 1:19-1:20 and hold on.

No, I have you at 2:40:36. Good effort. Maybe next year.

Chicago is probably the fastest course in the states so I think it is possible, but 2:42 is more likely. If you were running Boston, I would say no way, shoot for mid 2:44-46 range. Also, it's only possible if you don't run your first 10k like a jackass. You need to run even 6:06 splits with very little deviation.

For a comparison, I have a 2:38 PR and plan on breaking 2:40 on Oct 12th. My mileage peaked in the high 60's with a 20 miler that included 15 miles in under 90 minutes(sub 6:00 pace). I'm averaging 5:15 on my mile repeats with 2 min rest, & 2 x 3 mile in 5:30-5:35 pace. I'm estimating that I'm in 1:14:30 - 1:15:30 half marathon shape.

Good Luck

For what it's worth, I ran a half in 1:12:40 in my preparation for Boston (2:53.) I feel I could run 1:11 low now....

Can I break 2:40 Oct. 12?

I dunno, CAN YOU????????

Ahhhhhhhh ha ha ha ha ha.

They callin' me!

As long as the weather isn't like last year.

I'm not sure how you go from 1:12 to 2:53 unless you're doing something wrong with hydration or nutrition, or you just hated the Boston downhills. Chicago is as easy a course as Boston is hard, and that alone is worth several minutes.

If you believe you can do a 1:11 half then at worst 2:35 should be your goal, not 2:40. However, if you are as young as being just removed from college would suggest, go out at 6:05's and take what should be an easy 2:40 to build confidence. The only pace adjustment is that it can get very windy up there, so obviously adjust pace here or there for that. You have a lot of time to go lower. (look at Geb at 35)

You'll have plenty of people to run with at that pace at Chicago, but be careful at a lot of them will be tempted to click off 5:59's instead of 6:05's, and that adds up if you're pushing your limits.

That 20 miler with the 15/5 break was too close to marathon day. That may come back to haunt you at mile 23.

I was surprised with my Boston time, I thought I was in 2:45-2:48 shape, but I ran a bunch of 7:05s in miles 22-26. The hills killed my quads. Hoping I feel fresher at the end of Chicago...

Very likely.

I ran 2:37 off similar mileage two years out of college. The key for me was lots of 10 to 12 milers at marathon pace. My long runs were of similar distance but on trails, which forced me to go slow and get in the time. Also, I ran a 1:16 half leading up to the marathon.

At the next water stop after the 1/2 mark, slow to a walk for a few seconds and shake out your legs, get a good drink, then get going again. Take whatever pills (pain killer, salt, etc) you're going to take at this point too.

This way you can say you did 2:40 using the Jeff Galloway plan. Kidding, but seriously, I've done a lot of marathons in the 2:40's, and in the ones I did that it actually seemed to help.

A number of people who prefer Columbus over Chicago say that the slight variation in grade helps mix things up a bit for the legs to keep them from grinding down on mile after flat mile. Maybe its mental, but a little variety or interruption in 2 hours and 40 minutes of the same monotony could be good.

I think you should be able to rock 2:40. If you can do a 71 minute half going through halfway in 1:19 should feel like a cakewalk. Let us know how you do and run lakefront next year (2009) because I want someone to try and break 2:40 with me there.

If you can run 1:11 low, you should be thinking about trying to break 2:30 not 2:40. Also your mile repeats and threshold runs should be faster if you plan on improving your lactate threshold. The simplistic rule of thumb is double you marathon time & add 10 minutes, which puts you at 2:32. Also, you're logging decent miles, so something doesn't make sense. Start at 6:06 pace, take a gel every 5 miles, run the tangents, & hope for a cool day. Also, stay away from the racers or lightweight trainers just to be safe and prevent muscle fatigue.

You have a better shot at running 2:40 for the marathon than running 1:11 for the half.

I think you should be able to do it. Don't start off too fast, tuck in the back of a group and let others pull you along for as long as possible, and wear training shoes to minimize the pounding on your legs.