Member Since: August 7, 2012
Answers: 1038
Last Update: August 2, 2021
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I want to run a marathon but I am having trouble working out the pacing and figuring out what speed I will have to run to make it in a reasonable time. Has anyone here ever run a marathon or ridden in a long bike race or something where you had to do with kind of computation? (link)
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Velocity (aka 'speed') is the first derivative of distance with respect to time. Thus distance (26 miles for the whole race I believe?)divided by time in minutes gives you the average velocity (speed) over the distance in miles per minute. Dividing by 60 makes it a more often used 'miles per hour of course'. That's the average over the distance. But the second derivative (the velocity you have found by change in distance divided by change in time, then divided again by time gives you 'acceleration'). You won't keep a constant velocity over the whole race, and one cannot keep accelerating indefinitely...as you no doubt know. (Your energy isn't infinite, and there's laws of physics governing velocity & acceleration). Using a stop watch that can do 'split timing' and storing the numbers (over say the first 6 miles, 6 in the middle, final six or something similar) will give you loads of data. You should be able to make a really precise profile of your performance, optimim distance, how you'll run. The way a racehorse trainer does for his horse to find it's best 'trip' and what to tell the jockey about howto handle it in a race. (eg. "Don't make him 'go' too soon, hold him up in a good position until the final furlong. Then push the button"...for example). Obviously you can't pick and choose YOUR best trip, it's fixed at the full marathon distance. But you will identify a tendency towards maybe being a strong starter/front runner, or a master at maintaining stamina, you might be a 'sprint finisher' with 'petrol still in the tank' at the end...and so on. You'll see how to 'manage' your energy best. Hope this is a help. It works with racehorses! Recap Change in distance divided by change in time = velocity. Velocity divided change in time = acceleration. That's all the variables in speed events I believe? ps Top marks...I couldn't run a marathon for a million quid!!
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Rating: 5
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Wow, thanks! Are you a scientist or what? That is amazing! :)
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