Runners - Analyze my splits, please!

Somebody_Loved

I'm still fairly new to running and am looking at my splits from my half marathon this past weekend and I'm wondering if I should try to be more consistent? They're negative which is great, but there's over a minute difference between my first and last mile. Does this mean I can push myself harder?

I have a marathon coming up in a month and am wondering if I should try to tweak my pacing during my last couple long runs or if this looks good? And input would be greatly appreciated!

1 - 9:45/mile
2 - 9:50/mile
3 - 9:50/mile
4 - 9:13/mile
5 - 9:40/mile
6 - 9:38/mile
7 - 10:00/mile
8 - 9:34/mile
9 - 9:30/mile
10 - 9:32/mile
11 - 9:13/mile
12 - 8:38/mile
13 - 8:24/mile

lporter229

It really depends on the individual. Different people have different race strategies. My race strategy for a marathon vs. a HM are very different. For a HM, I usually go out slightly faster (like 5-10 seconds per mile) than my goal pace and see how long I can hang on. Sometimes I surprise myself and make it through the whole course with a nice PR. Other times I just end up slowing down towards the end, with no real harm done. However, I would never use this strategy for a full. In fact, I do just the opposite.

For a full, I start out at my goal pace or even a little slower. Then I try to speed it up just a tad after about mile 14. The reasoning is that you are very unlikely to deplete your glycogen stores in a HM (i.e. "hit the wall"). Most people can run at least two hours or longer before this begins to happen. However, in a marathon, it can happen very easily, especially if you go out too fast. You can practice for fast finish races, but it is very hard to gauge how you will be feeling at mile 22 or 23 at the beginning of a race. If you stay conservative, you are more likely to have gas in the tank at the end and you can always make it up by really pouring it on in the end.

Your HM splits look very similar to the type of plan I might use for a marathon. Since your marathon is coming up soon, I would not do too much different for your long runs, other than maybe practicing the fast finish strategy. I always like to make the last 2-3 miles of my long run my fastest. But be careful not to overdo it and wear yourself down or get injured. Good luck on your marathon!

Somebody_Loved

@lporter229 - Thank you for the feedback! I was wondering when people start to speed up during a marathon - I was assuming it was around halfway so that's good to know. I'm trying to plan for it the best I can, but seeing as this is my first marathon and a lot can happen over the course of 26 miles, I'm only hoping for a very loose time goal. Thanks again!

_Waffle_

Somebody_Loved wrote: »

@lporter229 - Thank you for the feedback! I was wondering when people start to speed up during a marathon - I was assuming it was around halfway so that's good to know. I'm trying to plan for it the best I can, but seeing as this is my first marathon and a lot can happen over the course of 26 miles, I'm only hoping for a very loose time goal. Thanks again!

Never. Both times I had a steady pace that withered after about 22 miles. Good luck though

P.S. 20 miles is half way in a marathon. At least it feels like it.

lporter229

@_Waffle_ , I guess I should have stressed that my plan for speeding up after about half way is working on the assumption that you are going adequately slow in the first half. @Somebody_Loved -I did not realize this is your first marathon. My advice to start out slow doesn't really changed based on that, but you might not want to speed up until the final miles and then only if you are feeling good. It's hard to prepare for what the final miles of a marathon are going to feel like the first time. I usually suggest that people throw time goals out the window for their first marathon unless you have been running at a high level for a long while. Focus on finishing and having a good time. There will be other marathons that you can work towards a specific goal. As @_Waffle_ hinted at, don't make the mistake of thinking that a full marathon is the same as two halfs.

Somebody_Loved

@lporter229 @_Waffle_ - Points well taken, thank you both. I'll start out slow and keep it consistent until the last few miles and speed up only if I'm feeling strong. I really have no idea what to expect so finishing is my ultimate goal.

_Waffle_

I knew around mile 17 in both of those that I had issues. The first, well was my first and I did the first half too quickly. 2:03 and of course I felt amazing but that eventually wore off. It didn't help that it was about 70 degrees at the start. I still pulled off an 4:30 but that was nearly 30 minutes off my goal. That was a bad goal for me. I should have shot for about 4:15.

The second one I was in better shape but made the stupid decision to eat a really fatty meal the night before. Horrible stomach pains and I never get those. Then again, I don't typically eat like that before a long run. Basic rules I knew would have saved me there. Don't do anything different before a race.

At any rate I had fun on both. The 1/2 marathon is still my favorite distance due to reasons that @lporter229 mentioned but I have no doubt I'll do another full.

If you're still feeling good by mile 20 - 22 I'd say you were safe to speed up a bit. I think I would.

Somebody_Loved

@_Waffle_ - Thanks so much for sharing. What I struggle with is I don't know what my pace goal should be since I've never run that distance before. I'm still a relative beginner to running and feel like I learn something new every week. Some long runs I feel strong like I could go forever, and others feel extremely difficult right from the start. Some days a 9:30 pace feels easy and other days it feels like I'm sprinting.

I do love the 1/2 distance, this past weekend was my third. My stomach doesn't do well with fuel mid-run so I like that I don't have to worry about that so much. I'm trying to get used to it during my long runs but overall it doesn't make my stomach happy. Anyway, I digress. Thanks again for the feedback!