tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post3572941721499715916..comments2024-03-27T20:31:44.878-05:00Comments on Steve in a Speedo?! Gross!: Pace Calculator IssuesSteve Stenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419298404210612118noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-22670111976011098182012-02-03T07:03:45.262-06:002012-02-03T07:03:45.262-06:00I didn't learn about the pace calculator until...I didn't learn about the pace calculator until after I'd run a half marathon but when I entered my latest 5k time in, it exactly predicted the half time I had just run. But, on the flip side, it got me into trouble when I was training for a marathon. I went for a time that was too ambitious based on that calculator's predictions (which felt justified since it had magically predicted my half time to a tee) and, of course, ended up being disappointed with my performance.Staceynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-31139743644520253272012-02-01T11:10:28.043-06:002012-02-01T11:10:28.043-06:00Mine is all backwards too. I've run a 3:30 ma...Mine is all backwards too. I've run a 3:30 marathon, but my fastest half is a 1:38. According to many pace calculators I should be able to run about a 1:30ish half. Too bad it doesn't work that way.Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15490582426886405494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-64794839432675939492012-01-31T16:22:10.762-06:002012-01-31T16:22:10.762-06:00I have used one before, and when I read the run le...I have used one before, and when I read the run less run faster book, it really says to use the distances that are close to each other to get the most accurate time out of it. Like, the half marathon time is the best predictor of marathon time. It does pretty well w/ my half and full times. My 5K times aren't quite as good.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624297955496298110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-50355391676516507742012-01-31T14:17:45.033-06:002012-01-31T14:17:45.033-06:00Sometime in December you posted about a half-marat...Sometime in December you posted about a half-marathon-esque length training run at just over 1:30 pace. Take away the stroller, put on some racing shoes, and 1:25 seemed pretty realistic. <br /><br />Also 7 minutes, big difference over a marathon!Evan Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11535512581510397532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-56537548814849878812012-01-31T13:33:29.432-06:002012-01-31T13:33:29.432-06:00I Pull 400 Watts: I think that's about what it...I Pull 400 Watts: I think that's about what it comes down to. We all enter numbers, but unless the training is radically different to match the specific race, then we can't hit that goal. And (speaking very generally here) I think most people don't really specifically train for 1 race - I think most (me included) just run and fit in some specific race workouts.<br /><br />Karen: you sound like you have similar "issues" as my wife! She can run those longer races just fine, but then can't quite bust out the speed in the shorter ones. I have the opposite problem! :)Steve Stenzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11419298404210612118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-17469221077443291902012-01-31T12:32:29.484-06:002012-01-31T12:32:29.484-06:00I totally agree that you can't just plop in a ...I totally agree that you can't just plop in a number, and then expect to hit whatever the calculator spits out - no matter what your training is. <br /><br />When I called Mike out, I knew he was doing 70 mile weeks. Combine that with his mile speed and it was pretty obvious he could go much faster than 1:28.<br /><br />I do think that some people are short distance specialist and some are long distance specialists. So that needs to be taken into account when using the calculators.<br /><br />I think McMillan's calculator and Daniels' VDOT charts are tools that can be effectively used to predict upcoming races based on past races. As you use them more, you'll realize where your performances tend to fall off.Chadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-8564137225238991472012-01-31T11:30:19.160-06:002012-01-31T11:30:19.160-06:00I've noticed those same things when I use the ...I've noticed those same things when I use the calculator too. As I never really train specifically for shorter distances, my longer race times (half and full marathon) predict wicked fast 5Ks (by comparison) that I can never hit.<br /><br />But comparing my 5K time to a 10K is pretty close.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01212228308225991239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-53231076744823747342012-01-31T11:25:29.193-06:002012-01-31T11:25:29.193-06:00SteveQ, that's very true!SteveQ, that's very true!Steve Stenzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11419298404210612118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-45358358671251771442012-01-31T11:23:51.567-06:002012-01-31T11:23:51.567-06:00Of course, there are other calculators. http://run...Of course, there are other calculators. http://run-down.com/statistics/calc.php<br />They all convert 4:53 mile to sub-1:20 1/2-marathon. Can't compare indoor on a rubber surface to windy concrete at freezing temps, at any rate.SteveQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943650844671498074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-20590441478582568382012-01-31T10:47:21.695-06:002012-01-31T10:47:21.695-06:00So the only problem is that people use the calcula...So the only problem is that people use the calculator incorrectly.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611329798986755095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-37009537070933544592012-01-31T10:38:48.403-06:002012-01-31T10:38:48.403-06:00Yep I Pull 400 Watts, I mentioned your 2nd and 3rd...Yep I Pull 400 Watts, I mentioned your 2nd and 3rd paragraph in my post. In bold. And italic.<br /><br />:)Steve Stenzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11419298404210612118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29677084.post-74268564359654659552012-01-31T09:46:44.855-06:002012-01-31T09:46:44.855-06:00You are correct. If you use the calculator wrong (...You are correct. If you use the calculator wrong (like your two friends did), it will produce bad predictions. <br /><br />Even on the page for the calculator, it mentions that a 5k specific runner will not just go out and run the equivalent time in a marathon.<br /><br />"The problem with that is that these predictions assume you've trained up for that distance in the same way you trained for the shorter run."<br /><br />I do not see that as a problem. I do not believe (and would never recommend) using the calculator for a "short" race and predicting a "long" race time. <br /><br />Like you mentioned, the best way to look at the calculator's times is this. Take a 5k specific runner and give him a year of marathon training. Then he will most likely be able to get pretty close to that predicted time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611329798986755095noreply@blogger.com