LSR for a Half marathon

Beef

Hi all,

Just wondering what kind of milage people are topping out at for their LSR when training for a Half marathon? I've signed up for a half in December and will probably get up to about 16 miles, but I'm wondering what other people are doing?

As a reference, Hal Higdon's advanced plan goes up to a time based maximum of 2 hrs. Decent runners could cover a lot of miles at LSR pace in that time I'd imagine - but I wouldn't get much more than 13.5/14 miles done at a push.

The reason I ask is that I've faded badly in my last 2 half marathon races and the only time I finished strongly was when I was marathon training and was running well above HM distance regularly each week during the LSR.

career_move

Check out these links. I would do at least 17/18m 4 weeks out from your goal race

http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/half-marathon-allure?page=2

http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/131-not-just-half-race

Beef

Great stuff - that second link is a great read, thanks!

Clearlier

Unless you're in sub-70 range your best half is likely to come off marathon style training so I would recommend 20 or more if you can manage it. If you're relatively experienced don't be afraid to do a long run session.

Beef

Thanks Clearlier.

I haven't run 20 miles or more in months, and with the race coming up in 4 weeks I think I'd run the risk of injury if I jump into that this weekend. I'll do 16 on Sunday and see how I feel after that. I reckon 18 is as far as I could push it the following week though, and that would be 3 weeks out from the race. I should have asked this question 3 weeks ago to give myself more time...

Clearlier

Beef wrote: »

Thanks Clearlier.

I haven't run 20 miles or more in months, and with the race coming up in 4 weeks I think I'd run the risk of injury if I jump into that this weekend. I'll do 16 on Sunday and see how I feel after that. I reckon 18 is as far as I could push it the following week though, and that would be 3 weeks out from the race. I should have asked this question 3 weeks ago to give myself more time...

You've nailed it!

For 4 weeks time there's not an awful lot that you can do other that identify your biggest weakness, do a little bit to help that, avoid injury and get to the start line fresh and ready to give it everything that you've got.

Wubble Wubble

I ran the Clontarf HM in 1:47 in July, and have signed up to do it again 3 weeks from now. However, since running the Frank Duffy 10 mile in August (1:16), between getting married and then getting injured playing Gaelic football the week I got back from honeymoon, I've only just resumed training.

The original plan was to target a 1:40 for Clontarf. However I've revised that and will be more than happy to stay with the 2:00 pacers for the first half and see how I feel when we turn around. Question is, I'd planned a slow trial run over the Dublin HM course in the Phoenix Park the week before....good or bad idea?