Comments on: Hobbling around the San Francisco Marathon http://www.owen.org/blog/561 Thoughts from Owen in Africa Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:34:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Owen http://www.owen.org/blog/561/comment-page-1#comment-2281 Owen Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:33:53 +0000 http://www.owen.org/blog/561#comment-2281 Thanks everyone.  I suspect that adrenaline played a big part in my running a good race.  Perhaps we ought to have a pact to beat each other up on the start line of future races, to get the juices flowing?<br /><br />I did not run anything close to 2h45 minutes, nor do I expect to any time soon.<br /><br />Neil: thanks for the correction on Riegel's formula. You are right, of course. I can't think how that slipped through.  I'll correct it on my <a href="http://www.runningforfitness.org" rel="nofollow">RunningForFitness</a> website when I get a chance.  (The formula is right; it is my characterisation of it that is incorrect.)<br /> Thanks everyone.  I suspect that adrenaline played a big part in my running a good race.  Perhaps we ought to have a pact to beat each other up on the start line of future races, to get the juices flowing?

I did not run anything close to 2h45 minutes, nor do I expect to any time soon.

Neil: thanks for the correction on Riegel’s formula. You are right, of course. I can’t think how that slipped through.  I’ll correct it on my RunningForFitness website when I get a chance.  (The formula is right; it is my characterisation of it that is incorrect.)

]]> By: Skinny Americano http://www.owen.org/blog/561/comment-page-1#comment-2280 Skinny Americano Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:08:33 +0000 http://www.owen.org/blog/561#comment-2280 On a quick course such as London or a super-fast course such as Berlin, a 2H54M marathon with injuries, no taper and hills is probably worth sub-2H45M - in London this means elite status. Congratulations! On a quick course such as London or a super-fast course such as Berlin, a 2H54M marathon with injuries, no taper and hills is probably worth sub-2H45M – in London this means elite status. Congratulations!

]]> By: Neil Hall http://www.owen.org/blog/561/comment-page-1#comment-2276 Neil Hall Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:18:41 +0000 http://www.owen.org/blog/561#comment-2276 You have to be kidding, Owen!  Less than a minute behind your Copenhagen PB of 2:53:28, on a hilly course, so effectively a new PB when you're not even trying (preperation-and-intention-wise, I mean -- obviously you were trying <strong>very </strong>hard during the race). Not sure I believe you about a "training run"; that's what you genuinely did last year.<br /><br />Here I am, desperate to achieve a 3:45 marathon before age catches up with me, and I seem to be doomed to frustration. More or less recover from a long series of illness and injuries (after 3 years injury-free running),  then a (completely non-running related) operation to my neck under GA sets me back and now I have persistent pain and tightness in my L calf, which may or may not be due to varicose veins (legacy of a bad accident over 10 yrs ago). The last thing I want is another bloody op, but it may be necessary for those annoying veins. Oh, dear. You fast guys have it easy!<br /><br />PS. I see you've chickened out of the Veleta then (that ought to have been a doddle after your Himalayan adventure ;-)). Or maybe just too difficult to get the holiday time off?<br /><br />PPS. A little running-geek note: <br /><br />On your website, you say "It [Riegel's formula] says ... that a person's speed declines by around 6% when the distance doubles". Not so, it in fact declines by about 4.25% according to Riegel's assumption. This is easy to see.  The formula says that the time increases by a factor of  2^1.06 when distance doubles. Therefore speed decreases by a factor of 2^1.06/2, i.e., by a factor of 2^0.06, or by approximately 4.25%. You have to be kidding, Owen!  Less than a minute behind your Copenhagen PB of 2:53:28, on a hilly course, so effectively a new PB when you’re not even trying (preperation-and-intention-wise, I mean — obviously you were trying very hard during the race). Not sure I believe you about a "training run"; that’s what you genuinely did last year.

Here I am, desperate to achieve a 3:45 marathon before age catches up with me, and I seem to be doomed to frustration. More or less recover from a long series of illness and injuries (after 3 years injury-free running),  then a (completely non-running related) operation to my neck under GA sets me back and now I have persistent pain and tightness in my L calf, which may or may not be due to varicose veins (legacy of a bad accident over 10 yrs ago). The last thing I want is another bloody op, but it may be necessary for those annoying veins. Oh, dear. You fast guys have it easy!

PS. I see you’ve chickened out of the Veleta then (that ought to have been a doddle after your Himalayan adventure ;-) ). Or maybe just too difficult to get the holiday time off?

PPS. A little running-geek note:

On your website, you say "It [Riegel's formula] says … that a person’s speed declines by around 6% when the distance doubles". Not so, it in fact declines by about 4.25% according to Riegel’s assumption. This is easy to see.  The formula says that the time increases by a factor of  2^1.06 when distance doubles. Therefore speed decreases by a factor of 2^1.06/2, i.e., by a factor of 2^0.06, or by approximately 4.25%.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.owen.org/blog/561/comment-page-1#comment-2279 Anthony Fri, 04 Aug 2006 07:24:26 +0000 http://www.owen.org/blog/561#comment-2279 You had me in stitches with your bicycle stack on the tramlines in the dark. Were you pondering your next blog entry at the time? I was therefore expecting to read about a 3:30 marathon; but alas you continue to shock and surprise!<br /><br />Within a minute or two of your PB?! Those Berkeley hills must be suiting you well. No wonder we never hear of an imminent return to London.<br />Here I am struggling for a 4hr marathon and you run sub-3 with a bloody knee. Where is the justice in this world?! ;) You had me in stitches with your bicycle stack on the tramlines in the dark. Were you pondering your next blog entry at the time? I was therefore expecting to read about a 3:30 marathon; but alas you continue to shock and surprise!

Within a minute or two of your PB?! Those Berkeley hills must be suiting you well. No wonder we never hear of an imminent return to London.
Here I am struggling for a 4hr marathon and you run sub-3 with a bloody knee. Where is the justice in this world?! ;)

]]> By: Owen http://www.owen.org/blog/561/comment-page-1#comment-2278 Owen Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:41:29 +0000 http://www.owen.org/blog/561#comment-2278 Pablo<br /><br />That is insane! He is <a href="http://maniacs.marathonguide.com/MyMarathons.cfm?MID=208" rel="nofollow">running them pretty quick</a>, considering he is not getting a day off between marathons.<br /><br />Owen Pablo

That is insane! He is running them pretty quick, considering he is not getting a day off between marathons.

Owen

]]> By: Pablo http://www.owen.org/blog/561/comment-page-1#comment-2277 Pablo Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:35:00 +0000 http://www.owen.org/blog/561#comment-2277 <p>Congrats on pushing through. Have you seen this crazy guy running 50 marathon's in 50 days in 50 cities. Hurts just reading about it.</p> <p><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.50in50in50.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.50in50in50.com/</a></p> Congrats on pushing through. Have you seen this crazy guy running 50 marathon’s in 50 days in 50 cities. Hurts just reading about it.

http://www.50in50in50.com/

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