First Half Mary...2 hrs

Nice job!

At least you know where to find the slinky pace group!

Actually a 1:58 half equates to a ~4:09 marathon, if you believe the calculators.

Yes I saw that in McMillan, but those numbers have not been acurate for me as each distance I am arriving in better shape.  13.1 today being my longest distance ever.  In the next few months I will have 3 seperate 20 mile runs so I am hoping to continue to get faster.

I think the calculator is great after the base is built...but until then like I said, it hasn't been accurate.

Just to complete near 4 hr will be an accomplishment though.  I am thinking long term...IM is the goal...not necessarily the clock!

Congrats on the HM - that's a big milestone, and a good result.

I'd just caution on using Mcmillan for your 1st (or any!) marathon too strictly. It is a VERY ambitious calculator - a minority of folks seem to hit the marathon estimates, and then usually only with 70 miles per week of training, and optimal race conditions.

I still have yet to come within 10 minutes of my Mcmmillan predictor despite training for nearly 2 years on Pfitzinger's structured 18 week/70mpw max plans in "Advanced Marathoning" and 5 marathons. (My HM PR is 1:25, whereas my marathon PR is 3:16)

For first-timers without competitive run background, if you finish within your Mcmillan +20, in my opinion, that is a superb result. Mcmillan +30 is a still optimistic realistic time.  

DrPete - 2008-10-12 3:23 PM Congrats!!! Just finished my first 1/2 marathon too... most satisfying.

Me too!  I finished in 1:44:49 unofficially.  I never heard of this McMillan character but just googled it.  He has me running a full marathon in 3:41.  I would be super excited to just beat 4 (I'm doing Boston 2009 through a charity).  I'm listening to the post before mine and not putting too much stock in this drunk McMillan guy!

To the OP, congrats buddy.  I think you can definitely beat 4 hours especially as your fitness progresses.

the calculator clearly assumes you are not melting down on mile 13... did boston 1/2 yesterday in 1:58 and could not have run another step... at least not without some exquiste pace booty. 

To- OP i am with on that 4hr thing.  next year is just around the corner! great job!

Congrats on your first half!  If you prepare properly (build up long runs slowly and add some speedwork and tempo runs), there is no reason you couldn't do a marathon in under four hours.  But there is a big BUT (actually, two of them): 1.  It may not be your first marathon where you achieve that goal; 2.  You would need a perfect race, and any marathoner will tell you that a lot of things can go wrong on race day.  Just keep in mind that running a marathon is not only about preparation but experience as well.  Read Runner's World and keep a diary.  Good luck!

Congratulations! 

Mark