Compare marathon PRs

For those who don't mind sharing (and if you've run Boston), could you reply with

a) Your marathon PR (best time at any marathon ever)

b) Your Boston marathon PR (best time at Boston ever)

I wanted to see if there is any pattern or vague correlation that us newbies can see. From all the posts, it just seems that Boston isn't a PR course though I am hoping for one.

Ok, John, but take into the fact that this was in 1987.

1) PR MCM November 1987 - 2:56:55

2) Boston PR April 1987 - 3:03:03

And yes, the correlation is probably that MCM was/is a slightly easier course.

More recently, my AG40s PR is 3:36 at the Pig in 2004 and my Boston PR of the same decade is 3:38 in 2001. I ran a number of less than quality Boston races in the early 00s, but the weather was less than stellar in all but one of those years as well. The weather for the Pig was perfect that day.

By the way, the Boston time in 1987 was a PR at the time.

1st marathon MCM: 3:30
2nd marathon Bos: 3:24 - PR
4th marathon Bos: 3:11 - PR
5th marathon Beaver Island: 3:08
6th marathon Bos 2012: I am expecting a PR, something below 3:05 if weather and the last couple of weeks go right.

So, in both my Bos I have PR'd. No reason you can't do the same. I have faith in you!!

TRUST YOUR TRAINING!!

Here you go John

1. Best ever Boston 2011 2:49:16

2. Best Boston 2011 2:49:16

Boston can be a PR course if you prepare and run it the right way. And if the course plays into one's running strengths. For me once I have learned to run this course I have found it easier for me to PR than Chicago. Again I have to put in the dedication to make it possible but Boston is a PR course.

In 2009 I ran 3:10:xx in Boston and then in 2010 I ran 2:55:xx which was also my first sub 3.

3:14:41 PR Chicago 2011 5th overall marathon
3:24:33 Boston 2010 2nd marathon (ran with caution)

1. Marathon PR Chicago 2011 2:54:57
2. Boston PR 2009 3:05:29

It may be a PR course but I haven't figured out how to PR in Boston, yet.

Best Marathon: Steamtown 2009 3:12:53. Well run, strong through the finish.
Best Boston 2010: 3:24:55. Badly run, early banshee boy met Newton hills.

Boston can be a PR course. Da Bull proves that. But it requires firm patience and focus.

1. Marathon PR - 3:34:55, Twin Cities 2009

2. Best Boston - 3:47:29, 2011

Probably not a good comparison as I was not training for nor did I attempt to PR at Boston in 2011

My PR... 2:32:39, Boston 2011

My best Boston, 2:32:39, in 2011


FWIW, I also PR'd the first time I ran Boston in 2008.

PR at Flying Pig Marathon May 2009 - 3:41:xx

Boston Marathon April 2010 - 3:46:xx

a) 2:34
b) 2:38

But, at the time, the 2:38 was a new PR. In fact I am 3-3 running PRs at Boston. I do think it can be a fast course with the right training.

PR 4:11:13
Not going to Boston with that time!

John, can I approach your question a little differently, to see if this helps you out?

An area running coach that is hired by many of the local charities to get their runners prepared for the race tells participants that they should plan on Boston being 10 minutes "harder" than flatter marathons, based on his having worked with hundreds of runners to get ready and set goal times. Admittedly, that 10 minutes is different for a 6 hour marathoner than a 3 hour marathoner.

In talking with people that run the course every year, the consensus is that it is a PR course once you get to know the nuances. Maybe the best "decription" I've heard is that it's considered a highly "technical" course, meaning that it helps to have a very deliberate strategy in mind in terms of how to approach it, segment by segment, to do well. How well any individual does probably has more to do with selecting the right strategy, and then executing it.

The other aspects to consider are how well training has gone, whether enough time was spent training to the specific course profile, and what impact winter weather had on training? The final 8K was described by someone I know as being like being hit in the quads with a ball peen hammer - that it's not a matter of "if," but how much? How hard the blows are will be based on the training done, and individual pain tolernance, and will go a long way toward determining your race. Plus, running Boston while training in the North is a very different experience from training in the South. Sort of like Chicago, in reverse.

Personally, from my own experience and in talking with others, it's a hard course to run "well" your first time, maybe even first few times. Having said that, I did run a 13 minute PR iin 2008, following my BQ race six months earlier. And I expect to PR again over my BQ race (Chicago 2010), by something between 3 and 13 minutes, depending on the temps and wind direction.

Hope that helps!

Thank you all for the replies. As I thought might happen, some do have their overall marathon PRs from Boston but others have Boston times a little slower than their marathon PRs. Given the smaller sample size and weather factors in any marathon, this is probably as good a representation as any scientific study. I think Vivian is probably the most similar to me in running so her results are what I might expect.

Martin - thanks a lot for your reply, I think you have hit it exactly on the head, what I was looking for. My problem is that just as I foolishly have run marathons in the heat without making any adjustments in pace (until the second half when I die), my brain is struggling mightily to try to justify any pace that is less than a PR pace since I had a decent training cycle. But that 10 minute bogey, coupled with some replies up above, is probably pretty accurate.

Since I don't have the course profile here to run, I've done multiple 5-6 miles pace runs on a TM with boards under the back legs to simulate downhills. The pace seemed effortless and I know my biggest problem will be to run MP or even a little slower those first 5-6 miles of net decline (as people mentioned in the other Boston thread). If I can do that, I have a fighting change. If I go out too fast, then the hills later on will definitely kill me.

a) 2:57 (was an overall PR at the time)

b) 2:55

Boston is definitely a PR course. What is overlooked I think is the number of runners you can latch on to. I finished somewhere around 1,000th there running 2:57. Lots of fast runners to target.

1. 2:58:35, 1/2010
2. 3:39:xx, 4/2009

No help, but just want to remind everyone Jerry has run Boston.

PR: 5/2008 Age 47 3:16:22

Boston PR: 4/2008 Age 47 3:16:24

Jerry wrote:1. 2:58:35, 1/2010
2. 3:39:xx, 4/2009

No help, but just want to remind everyone Jerry has run Boston.

Jerry, I have a decent chance to beat your Boston time, how will you live it down?

JohnP wrote:

Jerry wrote:1. 2:58:35, 1/2010
2. 3:39:xx, 4/2009

No help, but just want to remind everyone Jerry has run Boston.

Jerry, I have a decent chance to beat your Boston time, how will you live it down?

HAHAHA!!! According to Jerry's Friday Thread...he is not a runner, but a racer

A) 3:13:30 - Steamtown 2011

B) TBD

I do think that the course can be a PR course if you set a good plan and are well trained for it. I believe it can also be a nightmare if you try to PR without a set plan and appropriate training.

a) 3:32:40 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, November 2010
b) to be determined in 2 weeks. Wouldn't be mad if this was an overall PR, not just a Boston PR.

Lauren wrote:a) 3:32:40 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, November 2010
b) to be determined in 2 weeks. Wouldn't be mad if this was an overall PR, not just a Boston PR.

Best of luck!

Nick Morris wrote:A) 3:13:30 - Steamtown 2011

B) TBD

I do think that the course can be a PR course if you set a good plan and are well trained for it. I believe it can also be a nightmare if you try to PR without a set plan and appropriate training.

Dude, be aware real runner's etiquette in replying this thread.