Reaching a Marathon Pace

As the marathon approaches, it's time to talk about Marathon Pace (MP) runs, in which you run at a desired marathon pace. Most marathon training plans call for only a few of these runs due to the fact they are rather demanding.

Here are the basics of MP runs:

• Incorporate an MP run into a long weekend run, perhaps running 2-3 miles at an easy pace first before launching into an MP. Sustain this pace for up to 120 minutes maximum.
• Practice eating and drinking while running at this faster pace.

A word of caution: do not get discouraged if running at this pace feels uncomfortable after a while. You are not fully rested at this point. Runners often wonder how they will survive 26.2 miles at this pace, especially when they feel tired after 16 miles at MP. Remember, this is a training tool, not the ultimate test of marathon fitness. Running 26.2 miles is not easy. MP just gets you used to a faster pace for a long period of time (up to 2 hours). Save the rest of your energy for race day.

This tip is presented by Craig Souders and Jesse Schimmer, physical therapists at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

This page last updated 4/20/09 07:56 PM