Half Marathon Advice

Hey folks, looking for some advice from experienced runners.

Outline of my running journey so far: Took up running about 3 years ago, never did anything more than 5k until March this year when I did my first 10k. The race went really well that day and I did it in 52 mins.

Signed up for my first Half Marathon in August, did a lot of training and even though it didn't go that well on the day (headwind in Phoenix Park and nervous energy were the main issues) I still finished in 1.57 which was under the 2 hour goal.

Optimistically signed up for the Dublin Half right away and promised myself I'd get sub 1.55 but got very little training done due to injuries and a bit of a pig out after being disciplined with training and eating before the first half, on the day I mentally was in a bad place for most of the race and struggled over in 2.03.

Since then I've hit new 5k and 10k PBs (21.50 and 48.10 respectively) and i've been keeping up the long runs doing 20k last week averaging 5.47 per km and found it relatively easy going for the most part.

I think I have a fear of blowing out early in races and mentally I find get a bit panicky if I'm struggling anywhere before the 15k mark!

I'm doing the Clontarf Half in 3 weeks and I'm wondering given my recent results above is it too optimistic to aim for 1.50? I'd be delighted with 1.50, relatively happy with 2 hours but if I aimed for 1.50 and paid for the pace late in the race and came in over 2 hours I'd be a bit gutted! I'm a bit unsure as to what improvements I can expect of myself.

Any advice would be very much appreciated guys thanks.

Van.Bosch

KeepTheFaith wrote: »

Hey folks, looking for some advice from experienced runners.

Outline of my running journey so far: Took up running about 3 years ago, never did anything more than 5k until March this year when I did my first 10k. The race went really well that day and I did it in 52 mins.

Signed up for my first Half Marathon in August, did a lot of training and even though it didn't go that well on the day (headwind in Phoenix Park and nervous energy were the main issues) I still finished in 1.57 which was under the 2 hour goal.

Optimistically signed up for the Dublin Half right away and promised myself I'd get sub 1.55 but got very little training done due to injuries and a bit of a pig out after being disciplined with training and eating before the first half, on the day I mentally was in a bad place for most of the race and struggled over in 2.03.

Since then I've hit new 5k and 10k PBs (21.50 and 48.10 respectively) and i've been keeping up the long runs doing 20k last week averaging 5.47 per km and found it relatively easy going for the most part.

I think I have a fear of blowing out early in races and mentally I find get a bit panicky if I'm struggling anywhere before the 15k mark!

I'm doing the Clontarf Half in 3 weeks and I'm wondering given my recent results above is it too optimistic to aim for 1.50? I'd be delighted with 1.50, relatively happy with 2 hours but if I aimed for 1.50 and paid for the pace late in the race and came in over 2 hours I'd be a bit gutted! I'm a bit unsure as to what improvements I can expect of myself.

Any advice would be very much appreciated guys thanks.

Based on the times I would say it's very do able but it depends what training you've done since the last half?

The last three weeks I've got in a 15k, a 16k, and a 20k (averaging about 5.45-5.50 per km pace). Swimming once a week as a cross training and doing one speed run (5k sub 24ish) and trying to get in a decent paced 10k in but that's only happened twice in 4 weeks.

I know conditions in Clontarf could end up tough with the wind off the coast so that could be a factor on the day too.

RayCun

Slow down on your long runs. Easy pace should be a good bit slower than your race pace , about 6 min/km