Runners World and top marathoners say that's the case.
In the great majority of marathon-training plans, runners try to accomplish this by first building endurance with long runs, and then, as race day approaches, by "sharpening" with shorter, faster intervals.
However, many top runners and coaches think there's a better way. They say the standard method doesn't train you to become highly efficient at burning glycogen at marathon race pace. "The physiology of the marathon is completely different from the physiology of shorter races," says Renato Canova, who coaches many top Kenyans, including former Boston and ING New York City Marathon winner Rodgers Rop. For these shorter events, says Canova, "the goal of training is to improve the power of the human engine" so that you can run faster. Because you're not going to use up your glycogen stores even in a half-marathon, "there's no need to pay attention to fuel consumption," he says.
For the marathon, however, "the goal of training is to reduce the consumption of fuel at race pace," Canova says. When you become more efficient at marathon pace, you burn less glycogen per mile and theoretically have enough to maintain your goal pace to the finish. That's certainly how it has worked out for Rop, along with U.S. champions Alan Culpepper, Scott Larson, and Steve Spence.
However, many top runners and coaches think there's a better way. They say the standard method doesn't train you to become highly efficient at burning glycogen at marathon race pace. "The physiology of the marathon is completely different from the physiology of shorter races," says Renato Canova, who coaches many top Kenyans, including former Boston and ING New York City Marathon winner Rodgers Rop. For these shorter events, says Canova, "the goal of training is to improve the power of the human engine" so that you can run faster. Because you're not going to use up your glycogen stores even in a half-marathon, "there's no need to pay attention to fuel consumption," he says.
For the marathon, however, "the goal of training is to reduce the consumption of fuel at race pace," Canova says. When you become more efficient at marathon pace, you burn less glycogen per mile and theoretically have enough to maintain your goal pace to the finish. That's certainly how it has worked out for Rop, along with U.S. champions Alan Culpepper, Scott Larson, and Steve Spence.
So what does this mean for your marathon training schedule? Well, if you're planning to walk the whole race, probably not much. But if you're planning to push yourself a little, don't think you're going to pick up your speed with just a couple weeks of speedwork right before your marathon.
Begin with the shorter, faster workouts. Get comfortable running at a faster pace. Then build your endurance. And make sure you have the right guidance when you're designing your own marathon training schedule. I like The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer
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