Half marathon time and sub 3 attempt/success

RayCun

Following on from career_moves's novices thread, and some discussion in the training logs...
How fast a half marathon did people have when they decided to go for a sub-3 marathon? How did it work out? How fast a half did they have when they ran that sub-3?

rom

RayCun wrote: »

Following on from career_moves's novices thread, and some discussion in the training logs...
How fast a half marathon did people have when they decided to go for a sub-3 marathon? How did it work out? How fast a half did they have when they ran that sub-3?

Can we wait till post Berlin please

RayCun

so what's your half marathon time?

Gavlor

82 mins for me..... It better be enough!

ThePiedPiper

I very ambitiously targeted sub 3 off a 1:26 half in 2010, wheels came off with 4 to go, finished in 3:05.. Don't know what half potential was on my 3:00:21 in 08 as I'd never raced any other distance at that time..

Ran a 1:23:50 half two months before my first sub 3 and a 1:23:30 5 weeks before my second, both were low 2:58 marathons..

Weekly mileage for all of those efforts was nearly always in the 50 - 65 range.

blockic

Ran the Meath HM in March in 81min and a month later DNF'd in Rotterdam in my second marathon...things going A1 until the 20 mile mark and then ended dramatically.

Back for more punishment in 3 weeks time with an improved PB of 79mins, things going well, but from previous experiences I know well to take nothing as a given until one crosses that glorious finish line, anything could happen on the day.

Peaked at 60mpw.

BeepBeep67

RunForestRun wrote: »

I very ambitiously targeted sub 3 off a 1:26 half in 2010, wheels came off with 4 to go, finished in 3:05.. Don't know what half potential was on my 3:00:21 in 08 as I'd never raced any other distance at that time..

Ran a 1:23:50 half two months before my first sub 3 and a 1:23:30 5 weeks before my second, both were low 2:58 marathons..

Pretty close 1:23:48 Wicklow HM, before sub 3 this year, Wicklow was hilly and windy though.

thewolf_ie

Great idea for a thread!

Be good if you could include what your weekly mileage was also???

TFBubendorfer

I had to get my half time down to about 1:23 to break 3 hours in the marathon. There is a slight disclaimer here as I did not actually run a half in the months before that marathon, but I knew I was in about 1:23 shape (I ran a very hill half in 83:36 a few months later).

I know one guy who managed to break 3 hours with a best half time of 86 minutes, but that's very much the exception.

Oh, and my weekly mileage was in the 80s for most weeks in full training.

slingerz

can i ask what happened why you say you did not finish a marathon after going 20 miles? would you just not walk the rest of the way at least just to finish it?

never done one or even a half so possibly dont understand as all i would want to do is to finish it

RayCun

blockic? click the link in his post, walking wasn't an option

opus

Can't help with a half-marathon time unfortunately but for myself I decided to chase a sub-3 when I ran 63:49 in the Ballycotton 10. It was a bit of a roll of the dice as the training had been for ~3:12 up 'til then but the running god(s) smiled on me that day as I made it with 10 secs to spare

tunguska

I'd say 83 mins is about right for a sub 3 attempt. I know there'll be lads who can run 88 for the half and on the day, run that for the first half of the marathon and still come out with a 2:57/58, but as a general guide, 83 should get you there. Having said that, even if you do run 83 its still not a done deal. I know a guy whos run 82, 81 consistantly the last few years and still hasnt cracked it.

robinph

My first half hearted attempt at a close to 3hr time was with a half PB of 1:53. I'd not actually run a half for ages though so I then broke that half PB in the first half of Rotterdam '10 with a 1:31:25. Wheels then came off and I staggered across the line and then to the pub.

A month after Rotterdam though I did a genuine half in 1:23:54, and then another in 1:23:34 just before breaking the 3hrs in DCM '10.

Weekly mileage is generally around about 35-45 miles.

Itziger

This is a good idea. My current half pb is a bit slow for a sub 3 attempt so I'm holding off. 1.24.58 on an ok but harder 2nd half Half course. I do know one lad who did 2.58 off a 1.25xx but I haven't got the confidence to go for it. The fact that all 4 previous marathons have been badly or slightly affected by cramps has me scared of going out hard. So this time round I'm aiming for 3.04/06.

Next year hopefully. Over the last 5 years the half times have gone from 1.36 to 1.24.58 and the fulls from 3.32 (Rotterdam, again!!!) to 3.12.xx. Fingers crossed the progress continues. What I have tried to do this time round is up the mileage a bit, from 55 to 65 or so a week.

Hopefully people post regularly here and give feedback. Just read the last bit of Blokic's experience in Rott. Mine pales into insignificance. I hit the deck alright but only from severe cramping. Funny thing was the second bad bout, that had me on the ground, was also only about 400 metres from finish line. Again like Blokic, I found the locals brilliant. Even when there were barriers near the end a woman rolled out a can of spray to me. Sprayed both calves and shuffled towards finish. One year I hope to go back. Not for revenge, but for a little justice yes.

Itziger

blockic wrote: »

Ran the Meath HM in March in 81min and a month later DNF'd in Rotterdam in my second marathon...things going A1 until the 20 mile mark and then ended dramatically.

Back for more punishment in 3 weeks time with an improved PB of 79mins, things going well, but from previous experiences I know well to take nothing as a given until one crosses that glorious finish line, anything could happen on the day.

Peaked at 60mpw.

Obviously after the April race you're right not to take it for granted but 79 min half gives ya loads of leeway. You planning to play it kinda safe or are you going to blast it?

blockic

Itziger wrote: »

Obviously after the April race you're right not to take it for granted but 79 min half gives ya loads of leeway. You planning to play it kinda safe or are you going to blast it?

Yeah, conservative route at the moment anyway, just want to give myself the best chance possible and "make sure" of the sub 3....hoping to take as much time as I can off then in the second half/ last 10km.

Plenty more opportunities to blast it next time out.

dublin runner

Is it fair to say that anything over 85 minutes usually indicates a marathon time of three-hours plus? Current time is 84min and hope to break the three-hour mark in Dublin.

Killerz

83:06 ish for me in Mount Juliet (plenty of hills in this one) in mid-February ahead of a 2:58:15 in Tralee (first time breaking 3) 4 weeks later (March 2013). I was chatting to Gerry Duffy shortly after the half and informing him of my target, he said 1:23 is about right for a sub 3 attempt. No hard and fast rules, and everyone is different, and I know he's not the oracle and all that, but it seems to correspond with what many have said (and experienced) here. I maxed out with 2 weeks of 70 miles as my biggest mileage weeks... a 14 mile PMP session as part of a longer run probably being the standout session.

Chances are I was in better shape than 2:58, so maybe 1:23 gives a safety net..... But to point to blockic's post, you want to just nail that time - use that as a springboard the next time to 'blast it'!

TFBubendorfer

dublin runner wrote: »

Is it fair to say that anything over 85 minutes usually indicates a marathon time of three-hours plus?

Generally yes, but there are some rare exceptions (lucky bastards! ).

dublin runner wrote:

Current time is 84min and hope to break the three-hour mark in Dublin.

That's there or thereabouts, I predict a close call. Obviously it requires you to be fully trained for a marathon, not a half.

dublin runner

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Obviously it requires you to be fully trained for a marathon, not a half.

Ran two 85min halfs the two previous weekends on tired legs and have got the long runs in. Twenty mile run on Sunday and then the Athlone ¾ Marathon next weekend. Still unsure how to run these if any advice is floating around.....

TFBubendorfer

dublin runner wrote: »

Ran two 85min halfs the two previous weekends on tired legs and have got the long runs in. Twenty mile run on Sunday and then the Athlone ¾ Marathon next weekend. Still unsure how to run these if any advice is floating around.....

My advice would be easy effort for the 20 miler and marathon pace (starting with an easier pace and gradually increasing the effort) for Athlone .

PaulieYifter

dublin runner wrote: »

Is it fair to say that anything over 85 minutes usually indicates a marathon time of three-hours plus? Current time is 84min and hope to break the three-hour mark in Dublin.

I did a 1:25:30 half and then 3:00:18 but there was a 3 month gap.
Borderline stuff I'd say.

dublin runner

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

My advice would be easy effort for the 20 miler and marathon pace (starting with an easier pace and gradually increasing the effort) for Athlone .

That's very close to what I was thinking. Thanks. Should be a good indicator

dublin runner

PaulieYifter wrote: »

I did a 1:25:30 half and then 3:00:18 but there was a 3 month gap.
Borderline stuff I'd say.

Did Athlone two weeks ago a minute faster than that so hopefully that will stand to me. Didn't run full tilt. Decided to run comfortably hardish so plenty more there....hopefully

PaulieYifter

dublin runner wrote: »

Did Athlone two weeks ago a minute faster than that so hopefully that will stand to me. Didn't run full tilt. Decided to run comfortably hardish so plenty more there....hopefully

Assuming you've done the marathon specific training you'll do it. Make sure you keep the focus though - for me the quickest part of DCM is from half-way to Milltown which is a bit of a no-mans land in a marathon where it's easy to drift behind pace.

dublin runner

PaulieYifter wrote: »

Assuming you've done the marathon specific training you'll do it. Make sure you keep the focus though - for me the quickest part of DCM is from half-way to Milltown which is a bit of a no-mans land in a marathon where it's easy to drift behind pace.

Good advice, thanks. Thinking of lining up with the 3hr pacers until 13-15 miles and see how i'm feeling. Will be happy with 02.59.59 but delighted with 02.57.xx. Training is going well with a few 70/75mile plus weeks. Plan is to nail Athlone 3/4 to have the confidence in Dublin.

claralara

I read this thread just before my DCM taper started and it scared the bejaysus out of me... post marathon and still on a high i just wanted to confirm that scare-mongering statistics are capable of being defied.

My HM PB is 85:34 from athlone in September. i could not have run faster that day
Lost the 1:25 pacers at 7 miles and talked myself home in a heap.

I just ran Dublin in 2:57.30 ten times more comfortably...

TFBubendorfer

claralara wrote: »

I read this thread just before my DCM taper started and it scared the bejaysus out of me... post marathon and still on a high i just wanted to confirm that scare-mongering statistics are capable of being defied.

My HM PB is 85:34 from athlone in September. i could not have run faster that day
Lost the 1:25 pacers at 7 miles and talked myself home in a heap.

I just ran Dublin in 2:57.30 ten times more comfortably...

That's an amazing result - congratulations!
Who's next to be eating your dust?

dazza21ie

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

That's an amazing result - congratulations!
Who's next to be eating your dust?

Art of Noise

claralara wrote: »

I read this thread just before my DCM taper started and it scared the bejaysus out of me... post marathon and still on a high i just wanted to confirm that scare-mongering statistics are capable of being defied.

My HM PB is 85:34 from athlone in September. i could not have run faster that day
Lost the 1:25 pacers at 7 miles and talked myself home in a heap.

I just ran Dublin in 2:57.30 ten times more comfortably...

That's similar to myself this time last year. I was only just under 1:26 for a PB in the Flatline and thought a sub 3 was not happening but managed 2:58:18 in DCM12.

dublin runner

claralara wrote: »

I read this thread just before my DCM taper started and it scared the bejaysus out of me... post marathon and still on a high i just wanted to confirm that scare-mongering statistics are capable of being defied.

My HM PB is 85:34 from athlone in September. i could not have run faster that day
Lost the 1:25 pacers at 7 miles and talked myself home in a heap.

I just ran Dublin in 2:57.30 ten times more comfortably...

Brilliant result. Congrats.

Quick question. Do you put your Dublin time down to improvements made since Athlone, Athlone just wasn't your best race, or is endurance and stamina your strong point?

aero2k

Okay, two very different stories:

Adidas Half '08 1:28:48 DCM '08 3:22:34 (1:32:24 at halfway)
Adidas Half '09 1:25:00 DCM '09 2:58:55 (1:29:31 at halfway)
I had been intending to go for 3:10 in '08 but I got carried away in the early miles due to a combination of perfect conditions and finding myself running comfortably with a small group. I didn't have a Garmin then either. The second half of the race involved a lot of walking!

I have a reverse comparison from 2010 with Edinburgh in May - 2:54:08 (1:25:17 at halfway) and the Adidas half in Sept 2010 - 1:21:53. McMillan is there or thereabouts for a lot of my times. The major outlier was the Liberties 6.5k of 2010 which predicts a 2:47 marathon - I've never got near that, despite a preference for the longer distances (no, Git101, you're not signing me up for an ultra!).
Of course, direct comparisons come with caveats: Edinburgh is a very fast course but it was 25 degrees for the last hour or so, the Adidas half course was tougher but conditions were more favourable.

TFBubendorfer

claralara wrote: »

I read this thread just before my DCM taper started and it scared the bejaysus out of me... post marathon and still on a high i just wanted to confirm that scare-mongering statistics are capable of being defied.

My HM PB is 85:34 from athlone in September. i could not have run faster that day
Lost the 1:25 pacers at 7 miles and talked myself home in a heap.

I just ran Dublin in 2:57.30 ten times more comfortably...

I'm hesitating even as I type this, but I think your coach can give himself a very large pat on the back for a job well done

claralara

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I'm hesitating even as I type this, but I think your coach can give himself a very large pat on the back for a job well done

I daresay! I posted when i had a free minute the other day and am currently doing my race report on a piece-meal basis everytime i have 5 free mins. Dublin runner - Will post full reply soon but my immediate and short answer is that while there May be work to do on a faster half, my strongEST asset is my endurance. Once (if) I get some more speed I'll hopefully successfully work on the endurance of that.