Key contributors to marathon running performance. These can obviously vary by person, but overall – I see these as key factors in marathon performance.
In my opinion, first and or foremost your consistency of training (over months & months) will be the largest positive contributor to marathon performance. Of course, what you do within that is important (volume, intensity). After that, the qualities you develop will determine how well you run
i.e. correct pacing of your structure: Running economy, aerobic capacity, lactate threshold, VO2max, neurological adaptation).
Injury will be the largest negative impact on performance, but well planned training, external support factors such as monitoring your load, strengthening your muscles, flexibility and mobility will help reduce the risk of injury.
Acute positive factors can have very large contribution to performance, so don’t neglect these – even if you have done the long term work.
i.e. Nutritional competency such as carbohydrate loading & fuelling, hydration. Race strategy and well as on the run fuelling and sodium hydration – and now the new one is shoes – All can have significant positive contributions to marathon running performance.