I also have run marathons (22) and it is not true that one has to need to
know how long a mile is in order to arrange a suitable pace. There are 42.2
km in a marathon (42.195 to be picky) , rounded to 40 plus about another ten
minutes or so or running. All you need to know is what your target "10 K"
time is.
It is, unfortunately, common for only mile markers to be posted on many
courses, but also many courses have no markers at all but only a map posted
at the start area. Usually one can discern where the 10, 20, and 30 km
points are. Our running club here in Grass Valley, California, puts on a 10
km race each year where only km signs are visible, and there are 9 of them.
One can also use 3 miles as an approximate 5 km mark.
HARRY WYETH
