Home› General Training Discussions

Kiawah Marathon

WisemanWiseman
in General Training Discussions

So I've signed up for my first open marathon, Kiawah on Dec 11. I'm doing this with an eye towards qualifying for Boston, which will require< 3:35 at my age. I have the Augusta 70.3 on 9/26 and a sprint tri on 10/11, otherwise open.

I've looked at the marathon run hack but looking forward tips/guidance from the EN marathoners out there...by the way, I've done 4 IM's, so I know how long it is ! just not at the same intensity !

Comments

  • manconamancona
    The number one tip that comes to mind is that the IM marathon and an open marathon are completely different beasts. In fact I would say the only thing in common is 26.2 miles.

    If you are streching yourself to reach the < 3:35 it will pay off to train like a runner for from after Augusta 70.3 until the race. In otherwards ramp up your overall millage and do multiple quality runs per week in addition to a quality long run. I would consider only swimming and riding as recovery or when you feel like it during this time. Maybe start the OS on 1/1 assuming you are going back to focusing on tri's.

    If you don't think 3:35 is all that much of a streach for your current fitness, then keep up the try training and just follow the marathon run hack you mentioned.

    Also, fwiw, open marathons hurt WAY worse than an IM. If you really push yourself on race day be prepared for a world of hurt that day and in the next few days after it. I'm not trying to scare you or anyone else but I think anyone that is serriously considering racing a marathon hard should be prepared to suffer and realize that you may need a few weeks to recovery before you are in training again.

    I personally would use your open half marathon and vdot to judge your ability in the open marathon and not your IM run split...but thats just my opinion.
  • WisemanWiseman

    Thanks Matt...I've heard about the pain of a marathon "raced"...it is what it is.

    As for the goal, I THINK its well within my current fitness, but I haven't "raced" 26.2 either...so we'll see. VDOT bounces 50-51.

    Thanks for the thoughts.

    B

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    What Matt said. Also note that most vDOTs fade about 2.5 points LOWER when we go to actual predicted marathon times. So if your vDOT is 50, then you can drop 47.5 into a calculator and come up with a predicted finish of about 3:20. So all things being equal a 3:35 seems within reach provided you can execute well. I'd train for the 70.3 all out, plan on a week off (of EVERYTHING), and then we begin to work on your run frequency and getting the long runs where they need to be. To start adding on to the current plan's run workouts would be a pretty serious mistake!

    P
  • WisemanWiseman
    Got it, Patrick...thanks for the reminder on adding volume ! Staying with the HIM Advanced plan to 9/26.
Sign In or Register to comment.