Predicting Marathon Times
You can predict your marathon time based on how long it takes you to run 800 metres. Don’t believe it? The secret lies in ‘Yasso 800s’.
This year I discovered an amazing new marathon workout. Amazing, because it’s the simplest marathon workout you’ve ever heard. (And simplicity in marathon training, is much to be prized). Amazing, because I’m convinced it actually works.
Yasso 800s have been devised by Bart Yasso , race services manager at RUNNER’S WORLD magazine. Amby Burfoot, the Boston marathon champion, takes up the story….
Amby Burfoot: Bart and I were at the Portland Marathon last September when he told me about his workout. He was training for a marathon later in the fall, so two days before Portland he went to a nearby track and ran Yasso 800s. “I’m trying to build up to ten 800s in the same time as my marathon goal time,” he told me.
Huh? Half-miles in 2 or 3 hours? I didn’t get it.
Bart saw that he’d have to do more explaining. “I’ve been doing this particular workout for about 15 years,” he continued, “and it always seems to work for me. If I can get my 800s down to 2 minutes 50 seconds, I’m in 2:50 marathon shape. If I can get down to 2:40 (minuses), I can run a 2:40 marathon. I’m shooting for a 2:37 marathon right now, so I’m running my 800s in 2:37.”
Suddenly things started to make sense. But would the same workout apply to a 3 hour marathoner? A 4-hour marathoner? A 5-hour marathoner?
I’m convinced they are a great session to practice on the track, and give runners an indicator of their possible marathon time. However they only indicate your possible speed providing you also have the necessary endurance base. Which in the case of marathons means plenty of 20 to 23 mile runs.
Marathon Runner, Drinker and Artist, Blogging for Pleasure and Profit.
What a lengthy and in depth article, but full of useful information.
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Useful for any runner contemplating a marathon anyway.
John
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[...] Making Money on the Internet Predicting Marathon Times [...]
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John McNally
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May 26th, 2010 at 6:27 am
Feel free to use any part of my blog, there are no copyright issues to worry about.
John
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John McNally
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May 26th, 2010 at 6:29 am
Thanks Pierre. I have been blogging for 14 months, and must admit that I can actually write a post quite quickly now.
John
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John McNally
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May 26th, 2010 at 6:30 am
Glad you like it Evelyn.
Call back any time.
John
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John McNally
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May 26th, 2010 at 6:31 am
Thanks Jacquelynn, always good to know these posts are being read!
John
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John McNally
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May 26th, 2010 at 6:32 am
Thanks Isaac, you can use any part of my blog that you like, and I will install a RSS reader to make this easier.
John
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John McNally
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May 26th, 2010 at 6:34 am
Good to know you have bookmarked this blog Raymond. I hope you find the articles useful.
John
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Fantastic .Now i can say thank you!
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John McNally
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May 26th, 2010 at 6:35 am
And I can also say thank you Ami, for leaving a comment.
John
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John McNally
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May 26th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Sorry I don’t know how to send a PM Thanh.
Anyway I would rather deal with questions in an open format such as this. 
John
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