PMP my run

[marathondan]

I was just looking at the Furman Institute first marathon training plan. (I'm training for my second, but I'm not aiming to do any better than the first.)

They advocate the long training run at a pace typically PMP (Planned Marathon Pace) + 30-45 sec/mile. So far this campaign, my long runs have been coming in about PMP +/-10 sec. But I'm only up to 9 miles.

But the more interesting thing is that they advise PMP should be 10K pace +45 sec. That sounds very fast to me. My 10K PB pace is 7:28, which means I should be aiming for 8:13 PMP, or a 3:35 finish! (Actual target: sub 4). Does this mean I'm not fulfilling my potential as a marathon runner? I can imagine that the answer is yes, as I'm only training 3 times a week.

How do other people's 10K and marathon paces compare? Are you fulfilling your potential? I'd be interested to compare.