🎯 Objective
To complete a coastal road marathon with steady pacing, wind adaptation, and mental resilience—marking Luke’s longest run to date and a key benchmark for future endurance goals.
🏃 Athlete Profile – Luke Parker
- Race: Brighton Marathon (self-paced)
- Location: Brighton and Hove, England
- Date: Sunday, 6 April 2025
- Distance: 42.79 km
- Moving Time: 4:58:14
- Average Pace: 6:58/km
- Elevation Gain: 180 m
- Conditions: Clear, 53°F, 60% humidity, ENE wind at 22 km/h
- Device: Garmin Epix Gen2
- Shoes: Not recorded
- Top Results:
- Marathon – 4:57:27
- 30K – 3:18:24
- Half-Marathon – 2:09:17
- 20K – 2:01:46
- Notable Achievement: Longest run on Strava to date
📊 Pacing Breakdown – Luke Parker
KM 1–10 (Settling In) Average Pace: ~5:35/km Notes: Luke opened with confident pacing—KM 6–10 all under 5:30/km. Early splits showed aerobic control and rhythm despite headwinds.
KM 11–21 (Mid-Race Flow) Average Pace: ~6:00/km Notes: KM 11–18 showed consistent effort (5:54–6:08/km). KM 20–21 reflected early signs of fatigue (6:22/km, 6:50/km), likely due to wind exposure and fueling needs.
KM 22–35 (Fatigue Management) Average Pace: ~7:30/km Notes: KM 23–30 included pacing dips (7:04–7:58/km), with KM 25 dropping to 9:41/km. Luke showed resilience by stabilizing effort in KM 31–35 (7:42–8:06/km), leaning into mental cues and cadence control.
KM 36–42 (Final Push) Average Pace: ~8:20/km Notes: Despite fatigue, Luke maintained movement and closed with steady pacing—KM 37 (7:17/km) and KM 42 (8:42/km) reflected determination and finish-line focus.
❤️ Heart Rate & Effort
Estimated HR Zone: Aerobic endurance Insight: Average HR of 145 bpm and cadence of 147 spm suggest steady aerobic effort with late-stage fatigue. Luke avoided spikes and showed strong pacing awareness.
💡 Key Insights
- Distance Breakthrough: This run marked Luke’s longest distance ever—an endurance milestone that reflects both physical and mental growth.
- Wind Adaptation: Coastal conditions required pacing adjustments and mental resilience, especially in the second half.
- Effort Consistency: Despite fatigue, Luke avoided major pacing crashes and finished with intent.
- Benchmark Value: This marathon sets a realistic baseline for future pacing plans and fueling strategies.
🧩 Coaching Applications
- Luke’s splits teach fatigue management and wind adaptation
- Reinforces the value of pacing discipline and mental resets
- Models how milestone runs benefit from strategic restraint and emotional pacing
- Celebrate distance breakthroughs