Friday, January 7, 2011

Race Time Predictions

I was reading this interesting website called powerrunning.com and it talked about how the most accurate way to predict your race time is by using your results from other races at different (but similar) distances.

This got me thinking - what distance race have I performed best at? Because many people say that we each have a specific distance range that we excel at - e.g. short races (3-5K), middle distance (10K - Half Marathon) or long races (marathons and ultras).

So anyway, I made up this table which allows you to enter in your fastest times at each distance (or leave blank if you haven't done a distance). Then it will predict what you are theoretically capable of running those distances at. Keep in mind that this is all in theory, you still have to put in the appropriate training!

The calculations are done using a simple formula that I copied from this website:
runningtimes.com. It only allowed you to see the predicted time for one distance.

I've filled in the 10 km time as an example.

Run Time Predictor Enter in you best times for the various distances in the form [h:]mm:ss. You can edit the distance textboxes as well and the column(s) will be updated.
The fastest times will be in bold.

Distance Time 200 m 400 m 800 m 1000 m 1500 m 1609 m 3 km 5 km 8 km 10 km 21.1 km 42.2 km

Conversion Chart

Metric (km) Non-Metric (miles)
1.609 1
5 3.1
10 6.2
21.1 (Half Marathon) 13.1
42.2 (Marathon) 26.2
Another nice race time calculator is on the Harrier's website.