Having completed my first HM on 9th Sept, I’ve continied running but struggled to find a purpose for each run. I still enjoy it, but much preferred the structure of preparing for an event where every run had a purpose. The obvious answer was to book another event, but the HM between now and year end didn’t suit. So I’ve now gone ahead and booked myself into the Milton Keynes Full Marathon! Suddenly very excited, with a feeling of now being committed... or “ all in “ as a poker player might say!
So It’s on May 6th 2019, I’ve got plenty of time to get ready.... I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a “ decent “ first marathon time? I did my first half in 1 hour 56 mins 42 secs.
Also has anyone run MK marathon before? It seems to get some good reviews for a regional event, often mentioned as top ten one to do.
Very excited!!!!
Written by
AntSharpe
Half Marathon
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There are race time calculators available online to plug in your best HM result and see what tine you could likely run a full marathon in. Not bad for a ballpark figure.
I have not done the MK full, but have run the half, and I also know MK pretty well. It's a fast marathon being fairly flat, with some nice scenic parts, and a fabulous stadium finish - great for a first marathon I reckon 😊
Hope you enjoy your training (I suspect you will!) and I look forward to hearing more about it!
I always like to plan forward with races so that I can have a couple of months preparing with training runs too. I find it helps me with keeping focused and motivated. Not been prepared to commit all the way up to a full marathon as of yet though so well done, I'm sure your would be great.
With your HM Pb I would be looking for around 4.5hrs for a full, if it was me doing my first one.
wow that is so exciting!! Your HM time is great, and as for the marathon, as Abi suggests use the training calculator. I would also add as its your first, to make your ultimate aim to get it done then you also have a baseline for the next one. It can be really demoralising if you set yourself up to achieve a certain time, and then don't achieve it, which can take away the enjoyment of the experience.
Hi thanks, agree actually doing it has to be my goal, and whatever I do, it will be a PB. Now I’m stepping up into a new distance though, I always want to know what good looks like... can’t help myself! Might go with sub 4.5 hours as an acceptable time and go from there
Don't set a firm target time in your first marathon, just enjoy finishing alive. It's not 4 and a bit 10k runs or even your HM time times two, it's a completely different animal. I felt great to 30 odd km in my first marathon ( superhuman even ;-). ) but I then got my butt kicked over the last 10k just like everyone else does! Over longer distances/running times your muscles can't function without refuelling and the endurance called for makes it as much a mental thing as physical. My Garmin helpfully suggests I could run a sub 4 hour marathon but that will be a few years away only if I improve a lot from 04:51:09 (i.e. actually run the distance instead of jogging it).
Just run to finish and get a baseline PB, then you'll have a target for your second marathon. But if you really need a carrot then doubling your HM time then adding 30-40 mins to that can give you an idea of a possible marathon time. So for you it might be in the 04:30:00 plus territory as a loose target. If you ran your HM time "eyeballs out" then that won't work though.
What did you learn from your HM experience that you think you can apply in building up the longer training distances needed? What have you learned about yourself, your strengths or foibles?
As others have said, around 4.30 might be a ballpark finish time. I had run a few hm’s at Around 1.54 and finished my first marathon in just under 4.30.
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How did that happen?
Thinking of registering for a HM...........eeek! 
Time for a challenge 🤔
Just not meant to be! 
