Subject: RE: How close is McMillan calculator (HM to Mary) Recent thread on McMillan here: http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=469514&posts=28&start=1 But yes- if you bank the miles and the training, you CAN run a 3:13 full. The 3:13 is what your body is capable of in ideal conditions. Start taking minutes off for environment (hot or cold), altitude, elevation change (i.e. hills), wind (can be significant), and sub-optimal execution. Execution requires perfect pacing, hydration and nutrition. Keep in mind, for every second you go out too fast in the early miles, add 2 seconds to the later ones. Unfortunately the reverse isn't quite true. If you go out a second/mi too slow in the early miles, you don't get to run 2sec/mi faster in the later ones- so this is where Mcmillan is useful. It let's you know how you can pace to achieve a more optimal overall time. As any time spent above threshold, even a little, is very damaging. Planning on going out slow and negative splitting is a 'safer' way to run the marathon, but not an optimal way. Keep in mind- that to achieve McMillan- it's gonna' hurt. A LOT. It's the limit of what your body is capable of. Shooting for a 3:13 and failing may yield a 3:40. Shooting for a 3:30, is much more likely to yield a 3:30- if that makes any sense. |