Surefire Way to Shave 17 Minutes Off Your Marathon Time
Lose 20 pounds.
Few things are guaranteed when it comes to racing, but one thing is certain: the less weight you're carrying to the finish line, the faster you will get there. Below is a chart that estimates the effects of weight loss on various finishing times.
Time Reduction From Weight Loss
| Weight Change | 5k (min:s) | 10k | 1/2 Marathon | Marathon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 pounds | 0:12 | 0:25 | 0:52 | 1:45 |
| 5 pounds | 0:31 | 1:02 | 2:11 | 4:22 |
| 10 pounds | 1:02 | 2:04 | 4:22 | 8:44 |
| 20 pounds | 2:04 | 4:08 | 8:44 | 17:28 |
April 3, 2010
8:03 PM
I think that this is an interesting take on how to drop time for your races. I would caution however that many runners already suffer from disordered eating. I have had teamates end up hospitalized from bulimia, or who have decreased their weight and bone density so much that by the end of college they had the bone density of a 60 year old woman. This kind of training advice should only be given by a coach and nutritionist to someone who has weight to lose and the weight loss should be carefully supervised if the athlete has a grueling training schedule as cutting out too much nutrition too quickly could lead to permanent damage.