Has anyone paced a marathon or run one slower than usual?
ebaymommy
Posts: 1,067 Member
Just curious about this to see if there's anything particular training-wise to do in that sort of situation. I'm coming off a 3:50 marathon this weekend (this was marathon #5 for me, I've run from 4:30 in my first to progressively faster each time).
My mom is planning to run her first marathon in September. It happens to fall the day before her 50th birthday. I think it would be fun to run it with her, be her personal cheerleader/pace leader, maybe play "pack mule" and carry her water/gels and such so she can just run. I'm guessing based on her half-marathon times that she would probably run a full in around 5 hours.
As far as training goes I was planning to just keep a decent weekly base mileage and make sure I'm doing some long runs on the weekends leading up to the marathon. I'm just wondering how it will feel to run that much slower than my normal pace and also how it will feel to be on my feet that much longer.
Do any of you have experience/insight with this?
My mom is planning to run her first marathon in September. It happens to fall the day before her 50th birthday. I think it would be fun to run it with her, be her personal cheerleader/pace leader, maybe play "pack mule" and carry her water/gels and such so she can just run. I'm guessing based on her half-marathon times that she would probably run a full in around 5 hours.
As far as training goes I was planning to just keep a decent weekly base mileage and make sure I'm doing some long runs on the weekends leading up to the marathon. I'm just wondering how it will feel to run that much slower than my normal pace and also how it will feel to be on my feet that much longer.
Do any of you have experience/insight with this?
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I done quite a few marathons as training run, but they have been ~ my LSD pace (instead of race pace). So maybe 15-20 minute slower than usual.
I think jogging a 5 hour marathon might be harder than running a 3:45 (for me).0 -
i agree i think it would be harder than you think.... Not saying don't do it, cause i am sure she will love the support, but you'll need to make sure some of those long runs are slow, just to see how you do.0
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I haven't run a full marathon yet so take these thoughts for what they're worth.
I'm with the others in thinking that maintaining the slower pace may prove difficult, kind of counter intuitive when you think about it but it's hard running slow when your body has become accustomed to a faster pace. It's been suggested by one of my tri coaches that my Sunday LSDs (anywhere from 15 to 20km) be run at about 6:30 to 6:40 km which is a pretty leisurely pace (a 6:30 pace would give you about a 4:40 finish if my math is right) - try a few runs this slow and see how it feels.
(But I think the idea of running with your mother for her 50th is terrific!)0 -
I was thinking it might actually be harder than it sounds. I will definitely plan to run some long runs at her anticipated race pace to see how it feels.0
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interestingly enough I was just asked to pace a HM at 2:30 or 2:45 pace0
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If the pace is slower than your easy run pace, I think it would be extremely difficult to run a pace which your body isn't used to running.0
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If the pace is slower than your easy run pace, I think it would be extremely difficult to run a pace which your body isn't used to running.
that is what I was thinking too. I may do it just because but it is about 90 seconds slower than my easy pace....it'll be hard to do...thinking i'll need to have them walk through the water stops0 -
I've paced quite a few folks through runs, the longest being a 25K, and you might find that being focused on your mother's well being and enjoying your time with her will actually make those 5 hours a bit easier. Think of it as an extended fun run rather than a race, and leave your own watch at home. :-)
You will want to do a run/walk/hike for at least 5 hours to make sure your feet are trained to be on pavement for that amount of time. You might find issues like hotspots/blisters or joint pain is worsened if you're not used to being out that long.0 -
I've never paced a marathon, but have paced someone on a long run. It's fun to be someone's cheerleader and road crew. Of course, I wasn't significantly faster than that person (compared to how you are with your mother), but it was a comfortable pace for me. It might be harder for you mentally, just knowing that you have to be out there much longer, but I'm sure just the sheer joy of the experience with her would balance that out.0
