How I Took 20 Mins Off Marathon PB in 3 Months

[@aeriegrove]

Just ran my first half and everything went according to plan and giving me a 1.40 PB to beat in April! Could have made great use of this video a few months back, but I'll take all those insights and shoot for a 1.30 next time :D

[@MrSilain]

Today I ran 01:54 sub 2 hours for the first time (HM). I am so happy! Thx for all the good videos and knowledge 😊!

[@arielmerrill2607]

I've been running off and on for 2 decades I started watching your videos a week ago and began implementing some of your training plans. I literally took a minute off my mile time! In a week! 🤯 You are both so great! Thank you so much for all you do to help others.

[@NT_1]

That's amazing! The winner of the women's Berlin Marathon also took 20 minutes of her PB. 2:15:37 in her second Marathon ever

[@Jess-Rabbit]

That is nuts!

[@JesusWasHeree]

Love this. Got a marathon next sunday and i always set off too fast. Hopefully this'll help. The taking emotion out bit is a fantastic tip

[@runningraven]

Happy birthday, Ben! Great job! 💪😇💙🏃🏻‍♀️💨

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thank you 😊

[@neilduncan441]

Happy birthday! 🎉 that is one of the best prep and advice videos I have ever watched, much love ❤

[@gokiwi2642]

One of the best marathon preparation videos I’ve seen on the net, I had a very similar experience with my marathon a few weeks back, that’s one thing that helped me was take a jel. Regularly I took one every half hour instead of when I felt like it, makes a big difference, I used the pacers but as a guide only, if I felt I needed to drop back I’d drop back & then catch up again to the group on the down hills, I think if you can learn to do just the right amount on the taper weeks, my taper routine I do a few 10k easy pace runs, with 5 x 30sec hill sprints, few swims a week & a few easy pace bike rides, just enough to keep the legs awake & fresh for race day, excellent video keep up the good work👍🏼🌿👣✅🥳

[@DrProfX]

It’s important to take gels after running some MP segments of the long run - how your GI responds to gel is contingent on paces you’re running so make sure that body gets used to taking gel while running a race pace!👍

[@JavierISampedroTNF]

I was able to improve in almost 20min my second marathon but still I was a bit disappointed as I wanted to make sub 3h30, but it was within my goals so finishing with a new PB was a nice feeling. Hope to keep up the trend and applying some of your tips to keep improving when I have the chance to go for the marathon distance. Hope you had a good birthday Ben. Cheers!

[@zachs8765]

looks like im in the same boat. 2nd one coming up in 3 days, my main goal is 3:40 (first marathon was 3:48) but would be nice to get in 3:35ish. but i guess setting higher goals after not specifically training for them might lead to disappointment.

[@JavierISampedroTNF]

@@zachs8765 My next marathon might be in February so I can think ahead how to improve my training. Still not decided as there will be a trail race I want to make that is around the same dates.

[@jamesdrury6627]

This matches my experience too. 3:52 on my 1st (went out too quick), 3:35 on my 2nd (even pacing), 3:32 3rd. Now aiming for 3:29 in April 2023 using tips from this channel 👍

[@JavierISampedroTNF]

@@jamesdrury6627 That´s a good progression. Let´s keep on working

[@alwaystmoza]

@Zach S how you go? Yes if you didn't train for the 335 then going for it in the race will hinder your actual time you train for. Always Stick to your time and plan during a race. Hope it went well

[@davebobson1206]

Just finished my first half marathon in under 2 hours and your videos have been a big help

[@timhough9191]

Great job mate

[@85parrot]

lol, I just read that as "finished my marathon in under 2 hours" - was momentarily pretty impressed that Kipchoge was a subscriber 🤣. Well done on your time 👍

[@50Something]

Dave, that's a great time! Congrats

[@IrrIdk]

@@85parrot same lol

[@marty232]

me running down the street is a pb

[@paulcook7426]

This is one of the finest video pieces of advise I've ever seen.

[@jordanleroux-stewart7009]

Best marathon tips video I’ve seen in a long time. Great job !

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks so much, Jordan 😊

[@lauracostigan866]

Those 5k splits! 😍 So satisfying. Currently training for marathon number 2 and there is so much good advice here. Thank you!

[@kathyrunsaround3393]

Happy birthday Ben. Great video. Concise and to the point. Well explained. What a fab race you had in London.

[@Kevgti5]

I did so many of these things before my first half yesterday and absolutely blew up at km 14. I finished but almost needed to go to hospital on the commute home.. a bit ratteled at where to go from here. The most annoying part is in the training leading up I had a full dress rehearsal (the full 21k) and had probably the best run of my life, I repeated everything on race day and no dice.

[@50Something]

That's a bummer Kevin! Why did you think you needed medical attention? What happened?

[@Kevgti5]

@@50Something well on the commute home, I was sick a bit and then suddenly got cold chills, really dizzy, started hyperventilating, my fingers and nose started going numb. Was pretty crazy. Eventually got my breathing back under control and once home (about an hour later) I manged to eat an apple and drink. Bout 4 hours later I could eat.

[@50Something]

@@Kevgti5 it sounds like you had an anxiety attack brought on by exhaustion and possibly disappointment mixed in. Are you ok now?

[@jps5871]

Ran first 10k had 3 different goals, was really effective in training for it as it gave me access to success. Hit all 3 goals.

[@RunThePlanet]

Great run going 2:55 for your first road marathon, Trail running's so much tougher I recon you'd have gone sub3 without specific training. 35min 10k ! thats ace too. Good video and i'm sure a lot of people will find this useful.

[@Mylifeinthreeminutes]

Happy Birthday Ben. Those splits are the stuff of dreams 😍

[@LoadsmanJ]

Messhappy Birthday Ben! Hope you Mary and the pups had a great day celebrating 🥳🏃🏼‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[@daFonsecable]

Your energy is AWESOME!!! Keep doing that, with all the blessings of the universe, my friend.

[@kamit4986]

Well done!!! This video helped. I'm training for my second Cape Town Marathon and I'm taking a lot away from this video. Thank you 😊 💓

[@mathesonrittenhouse]

Great video - reinforcing how I am planning my year. Base, base, base, in the "off-season" mixed with strength and stretching for injury prevention. Then integrate threshold runs and only in the 8 weeks before my "A" races integrate speed. All runs have a purpose.

[@saintsaens21]

Mr Bridge's videos really surpass anything runningtube has to offer, kudos & thanks. And happy birthday!

[@accidentalactivist9633]

I'm quite tempted to do a marathon next year and maybe the 50km Thames ultra. I ran a half marathon distance a few weeks ago at just over 2 hours and only really started running in the spring but I'm hooked now and loving your content. My park run PB's have gone from over 28 minutes to sub 24 as well. Not too bad for an over 50 and still hoping to improve.

[@conradburdekin722]

I started running in the spring as well! I’ve done a half marathon as well… and next year I’m booked for a marathon (May) and Thames ultra 50 k (September). I’m 46 so slightly younger but that’s the only difference. See you on the start line in September…???

[@jamesdrury6627]

Go for it! Marathons are the best. The sense of achievement is so much more than for other distances. Once I did 1 I was hooked.

[@xenofonmoniodis5408]

Happy Birthday, from a new viewer from Olympia, Washington! Appreciate and enjoy the content; thank you.

[@Tonyr2]

Happy birthday Ben 🥳🥳. Have a great day. Erm beachy head marathon in a month and no long training run yet....eeeek!!! 20 miler coming up ASAP.

[@jameshegeman5660]

This video is one of the best essays on “How to Prepare for Competition” that I’ve seen.

[@pixel-fudger]

Really good tips here. Cheers and happy birthday Ben!

[@mv9044]

This is gold, my man.

[@fampattack]

happy birthday!! the coolest video about marathon ever!!!

[@andrewdutton1003]

Happy birthday Ben! Have a great day!!!

[@alanshrimpton6787]

Happy birthday Ben. Thanks for the tips. My marathon next Sunday in Aussie.

[@MrNooge]

Happy Birthday Ben!

[@mark.betterliving]

Ben!! I am addicted to your videos, thanks for the knowledge!

[@michellloubser8869]

Happy Birthday. Ben My first marathon is comming up in about a months time. And it scares the living daylights out of me. Thanks for all the info in your videos. Say hi to Mary for me.

[@munrowen]

Great video, came across by accident! I was in the London Marathon too, my first road one. I think virtually all of my plans, philosophies etc, etc, matched yours! All went extremely well for me although calf cramps came in the last 8k so that’s something to work on before LM again in April 23! ! Enjoy any future marathons you do 😊

[@edwin5419]

Happy birthday Ben!

[@seanogization]

I’m hoping to break this at London in April. Can’t wait! Also, great to see Dublin in the video

[@rileymalcolmson6724]

happy birthday! training for 2 half marathons love the info about tapering

[@anastasiav.206]

Happy Birthday! I'm subscribed and do appreciate everything you do on KZbin! Thank you guys!

[@nyashamunjoma2022]

Happy Birthday 🎂Thanks for this advice. Makes so much sense to me.

[@runningsuperska]

Well done mate. Thanks for the tips.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

No worries. Thanks 😊

[@souradipta]

Happy Birthday 🥳.. these were valuable tips..

[@smithnatalie4803]

🎉 HB Ben! Another educational video

[@richardbrown1573]

Superb vid + Happy Birthday Ben! 🎉

[@yogiponappa]

Happy birthday Ben! Great video as always, and thanks for sharing the insights.

[@justinkarthur]

Beautiful 5k splits, what a way to end the video👏🏾👏🏾happy birthday aswell 🎉

[@kieronstubbings5547]

Happy birthday Ben, what a great video.. will be taking a lot out of this video for when I run my first London next April 👍👍

[@runfilmsleep]

Plans are good until they’re not.. just a thought from a rookie who hit a wonderful wall on his first marathon in Copenaghen 😂..I loved the part about letting emotion go! Thanks!

[@rob.hodgson]

Great video. Really watchable. Working my through lots of your vids!

[@irawhitlock1084]

HBD Coach!

[@bank_gangter9984]

Thank you for this video! from Thailand 🇹🇭

[@christianemde6952]

Happy B-Day Ben! Greetings from Germany.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks Christian 😊

[@ailleurs25]

Happy Birthday!! 🎂

[@mikegamber8561]

Happy Birthday!!!

[@MultiShiv19]

Happy Birthday Ben! Thank you for putting together this informative video :)

[@j.nakajima9070]

Amazing tips ! Thank you so much. I might be too late, but you put really nicely the strategy and provided a nice framework. Kudos.

[@juniorgorg3348]

Happy Birthday Ben 🍻

[@stevencauser15]

Happy birthday man. Great vid as always. Got my first marathon in Valencia in December so top quality info mate

[@JohnSmith-rx2uv]

What a marvelous video :) Thanks!

[@alane3983]

I liked this video very much. Really good example of how it should be done.

[@JBIRDRN8]

Happy Birthday!

[@Humppakarajat]

Happy birthday mate! 🎂🥳

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks so much 😊

[@akinsolasalami8694]

Belated Happy Birthday Ben

[@jholowka]

Nicely done!!! 👍🏾

[@onorth5615]

Ben, help needed. I’m over 40, love running but I’m very much a newbie when it comes to organized races. I recently completed a 30km in just under 2:10:00 without gels or salt tabs and minimal hydration at aid stations (because I didn’t have a race plan or good technique with the cups). I hit the wall at about 25 km and slowed down significantly. MY QUESTION: would I have been able to maintain my pace for a full 42.2 km had I used gels and hydrated properly? I’m having a lot of difficulty figuring out my optimal marathon pace. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for another fantastic video. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday.

[@arkamukhopadhyay9111]

that's an incredibly fast time, that means you're a naturally gifted runner. People half your age would struggle to run at that pace. So yes, gels and salt caps will certainly help.

[@onorth5615]

@@arkamukhopadhyay9111 Thanks for the kind words. That’s really encouraging. My pace felt good/optimal for the 30km distance, but I’m wondering if I would have to slow it down a touch for the marathon distance-even if I incorporate gels and salt tabs. I guess the first marathon will be somewhat of a trial run.

[@vagabond268]

Happy birthday, i stumbled upon ur channel today! Nice videos

[@stevenwilliams520]

Hope you had a great Birthday 🥳. I will see you on Sunday to see if your marathon training plan has worked 🙏

[@almorrison2040]

Great observations Ben, very wise for an 18yr old..😁. Happy Birthday!

[@PatrickStar_24]

your 5k time is what i'm aiming for 😘. I'm 40 but ran a 17:05 22 years ago. Just started running for the first time in over 10 years. I don't know if I can get back to sub 18 but it's going to be fun trying.

[@Ryan_RyRy_Ryan]

Very informative, thank you 💪

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks Ryan 😊

[@conordaly4793]

Great video Ben and happy birthday! Very helpful tips. One week to go now (screams internally). Fingers crossed the niggles fade away😅

[@Ajumi-]

happy birthday!

[@oseiasferraz5207]

Really really well explained

[@davidwaldron5312]

Happy Birthday brother 🎉

[@lauseba6990]

Happy Birthday. 😀😀

[@FraggotJr]

thank you for this video!!

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thank you for the thank you 😊

[@roustabout4fun]

Impressive~ I will soak it in...when I am settled.

[@IainThacker]

Happy Birthday! Epic video timing - have my first half next Sunday (2nd), half way through taper and feeling good about my goals. Some great tips, particularly on pacing!

[@keksha2207]

Happy birthday 🎉

[@Leeroy49]

A Berlin Marathon birthday :) cool. Thanks for the video.

[@tristanglasse-davies4547]

Great video

[@viviennecraven6976]

happy birthday 🥳

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thank you 😊

[@Raf_Mac]

I've just been to Isle of Wight for the first time and did a LR from Shanklin to St Helens and back. I recognise that foot bridge ;)

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Ha ha it is indeed that bridge! One of my best mates lives there so we always used to go over In the summer 😂

[@bowen_adventures]

great video!

[@hagosmesgoun7195]

Great insight mate I am in the USA hopefully in 4-6months I’ll be running my first sub 3hr now I am at 3:17- only one year of training of marathons, although I do have some running back ground from 10-15yrs ago -

[@hagosmesgoun7195]

I did my last marathon at 3:05 now heading for sub 3 in a couple of wks - thanks for your help !!

[@itsjustme3072]

happy birthday 🎉

[@symuhush]

Great info

[@headstart.running]

Excellently done - and amazing consistency on the 5k splits! However, how much of the 3:15->2:55 improvement would be due to different terrain? I wouldn't be at all surprised to see 15 mins difference between flat trail and flat road!

[@ronanhalpenny3184]

Very interesting video Ben, thank you. I was just wondering if you could give the source of the information regarding pre-race training adaptations %/week? I would like to do some further research into this. Your videos are very informative and entertaining at the same time - keep up the great work.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Hey Ronan, it was from a chat with a coach who had gone to a British athletics coaching course and had made copious notes. It may be on one of my fitness freaks podcasts too but I can’t be sure.

[@ronanhalpenny3184]

@@ThisMessyHappy thanks Ben. I'm definitely going to look into this more, its very interesting! I hope you and Mary are both keeping well.

[@robertaries2974]

Happy birthday

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks Robert 😊

[@jordanrundell9962]

Great Video Ben! Do you upload all of your training to Strava? Was curious, because I was looking at your buildup before your 2:55, and there seems to be VERY little running. Sometimes 15mi a week. If this was try manage to progress your tempo pace and keep trained for the long distances with such little volume?

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Hey Jordan, yes it all goes on Strava. I actually had a hip issue in the lead up to London thanks to a dodgy arm swing technique. So the bulk of my marathon training was done Dec-Feb and then March was “get to start line” mode. But it worked out well, just a bit longer taper 😊

[@ianmcilwraith4479]

Ran a 37.08 10k and 82min half and still to get a sub3. Currently stuck at 3.10 but will give it another bash next year hopefully

[@feezee82]

Based on your half marathon PR, you should be able to shave another 10 minutes off your marathon time without much problem. 2:55 for a 1:16 guy is on the easy side. 2:40-2:45 is what you should aim for.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Yeah I’ve always thought I had a 2:40 in me but I prioritised Ironman last year so couldn’t have a go. And now I’m in Bangkok I’ve had to readjust and focus on trying sub 3 in 30 degree heat and stupid humidity at 1am 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[@philpetersen4477]

Ran a 3:20 in my first M in 2013, ran 3:16 this year (2022) but completely blew up around halfway after doing 1:27 1st half, and the 2nd half sucked. No leg endurance as hadnt ran longer than 10k for over a year. Will have to do some training if sub 3 will be possible in future! Great tips re pacing. I need tips!

[@mattsully2238]

The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle. I dig that

[@robinc.9845]

So great, you have my Sub! :D

[@SebastianTrii]

Please show us what your training weeks look like..

[@AndreyGochev]

I am a bit confused! How can you run at optimal speed when you are recording and talking? It feels like you were ready for a much faster run :) And where did you keep your camera and the camera stick the whole time as I don't see any bag on your back?