One surprising bit of information gleaned from the previous year's data was that the biggest predictor of marathon time was the students' two-mile time. "I would have thought weekly mileage was the best predictor," Lundstrom said. -thats fit.com
As for assignments and grading, students must design a fuel plan detailing what they will eat and drink, along with a mental plan that explains the "techniques and tools they'll use to get through the tough parts of the marathon." They will take a few quizzes and also be graded on attendance, but 40 percent of the grade rests on completing the Eau Claire Marathon in Wisconsin on May 2.
MY COMMENT: Chris Lundstrum (a 2:17 marathoner) is heading up this class at the U of Minnesota. While this is not the first marathon training program for college credit, this is the first time I've seen this much detail and data collection. I agree with Chris- I find it interesting that 2-mile time is a better predictor than weekly mileage of marathon performance.
I know that there is a lot more to his research that displayed in that one sentence.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I have found that mileage has been a huge indicator
of marathon times in my own case.
Never timed a two mile run, so cannot say that it would not be a predictor also, but I am doubtful.
I guess this predictor may be given the proper base, or actual ability to compete the distance??
ReplyDeleteIt is the opposite for me. Higher mileage correlates quite well with faster marathon times.
ReplyDelete