Preparing for 1/2 marathon how to know target time

SomeUnusedName

hi there:

I m preparing for a half marathon and I m checking out a good few training plans, most of them talk about some sort of target time.
How can I calculate that?

I went for a run yesterday and on average I did 9.5min per mile, that givves me over 2 hours for a marathon distance.

Tips of all kinds very welcome

Thanks

Woddle

Your 9 1/2 min miles, what distance did you do it over and was it full effort or had you more in the tank?
Other races before your main race such as a 5 miler or 10k would give you a more accurate estimate. Once you get those race times you can plug the numbers into a calculator such as mcmillan.

RoyMcC

It's difficult to predict a race time from training times. You invariably find that you push harder in race mode. If you've not raced before (and therefore have no precedents) then I'd go with a loose target and be pleased when you beat it.

I suspect you'll slip inside two hours if that pace was over a good few miles.

SomeUnusedName

I dont know if I could have gone faster ( I dont really know how to pace myself) however I know I could have gone for longer.

SomeUnusedName

I did a half marathon 2 year ago, but I cant remember the times and I tried the website and all.
I recon I need to find a shorter race in the next few weeks

RoyMcC

Which Half are you planning to run?

SomeUnusedName

Clontarf, its on the 3rd of July

BigAl81

Hey,

Below is a great website, you put in the times of a few runs you've done and it works out your pace and finishing times for all the main distances.

www.mcmillanrunning.com/mcmillanrunningcalculator.htm

Go Team!

RoyMcC

BigAl81 wrote: »

Hey,

Below is a great website, you put in the times of a few runs you've done and it works out your pace and finishing times for all the main distances.

www.mcmillanrunning.com/mcmillanrunningcalculator.htm

Go Team!

Only he hasn't got any race times yet :rolleyes:

RoyMcC

SomeUnusedName wrote: »

Clontarf, its on the 3rd of July

Have a blast at the Dunshaughlin 10k eight days beforehand, see where you're at. Then you can use the McMillan calculators etc.

robinph

If you've not raced before then you have nothing to base a target on, so just go out and run. You WILL run faster than you have in training even if you think your taking it easy at the time. The momentum of those around you and adrenaline of being in a race will spur you on.

Don't worry about the time, just run, count down the mile numbers as you go past them enjoy it. Then next time you have a target to beat, you'll have a better idea of how much you can push yourself and you'll have something to plug into a pace calculator for the next race distance you try.

RayCun

There's a Sportsworld 5 mile in the middle of May, and Donore Harriers 5k at the end of May (I'm guessing you're in Dublin). They're both short enough that you can take a bit of a risk with going out fast, without really being stuck if you blow up. And they're far enough away from the Clontarf half that you'll have a whole month of training where you have a good idea of race pace.

SomeUnusedName

Those sound good,
I also found a race in UCD next weekend (5K) I think I just run it as a normal run and see what happens time wise and maybe I can see my progress with the may runs.
Thanks for all the tips and help

SomeUnusedName

Today I did the UCD Ras 5k. It was good to be on a race.
I did the terrible thing of going too fast initially so I ended at 27:58 Its not too bad but I think i can do better

Ruu_Old

SomeUnusedName wrote: »

Today I did the UCD Ras 5k. It was good to be on a race.
I did the terrible thing of going too fast initially so I ended at 27:58 Its not too bad but I think i can do better

Happens to us all at some stage or another, keep up the good work.