So... with my half-marathon just 6 days away, running is on the brain. All the time. Except when I'm trying to impart mathematical wisdom to teenagers. And even then, I try to work running in. (Example daily warm-up question: If Jenny averages 7:36 miles for 26.2 miles, what would her finish time be?)
The thing about half-marathons and marathons is that you usually only get one chance. If you mess it up, that's it. You might be able to come back in a few weeks and try again, but probably not. You train for weeks and weeks and you have one race.
This is very different from 1500m/5km training (like I did in college), where if you have a bad race, you can usually bounce back the next week. You're racing every weekend or at least every other weekend.
Okay, so what are my goals for this half-marathon? Let's look at a few things first.
My training cycle has gone well; I've seen decent times in the 5km and a 10km PR (40:53). I've finally overcome my fear of tempo runs and have completed three in the 5-mile range and two in the 6-mile range. (It used to be a 'good day' if I hit 4 miles at tempo pace.)
My PR in the half-marathon is 1:35:55, which I ran last November at the Indianapolis Monumental Half-Marathon. I trained for that race in just 6 weeks; it was kind of a last minute thing. I definitely surprised myself that day with my 7:19 pace because I didn't do any speed work whatsoever.
According to my v-dot of 50 (good ole Jack Daniels' running formula), I should be able to run a 1:31:35. A 6:59 pace. That is freakin' fast!
And according to my strands.com account, which takes into consideration my current workouts, mileage, etc..., I should be able to run a 1:29:07. A 6:48 pace. Even faster, yikes.
And then, if I use the RunnersWorld training calculator, it puts me at a 1:30:12. So 6:53 pace.
So I'm distraught. I would be absolutely ecstatic to run any of those times! But they scare me. If I go out at a 7:00 pace, will I crash and burn once I hit mile 8? Who knows?
So here's my plan... start out about a 7:10 pace. See how I feel. Hopefully I feel good, and I can negative split. Even if I just maintain 7:10's the whole race, I'll still finish around 1:34, a 2 minute PR.
[But can I tell you a secret? I really want to run sub-7:00 miles.]
So here's my goal line-up. Because in college, we always made multiple goals. So we could still be happy with how we finished, even if we only earned our C goal.
A goal - 1:31:35, sub-7:00 pace.
B goal - 1:34:00, around 7:10 pace.
C goal - beat my PR of 1:35:55.
D goal - do not pass out on the course, haha.
Here's where you come in!
What would you do? Start out fast? Start out conservative? Any advice from the half-marathon/marathon vets out there?
The thing about half-marathons and marathons is that you usually only get one chance. If you mess it up, that's it. You might be able to come back in a few weeks and try again, but probably not. You train for weeks and weeks and you have one race.
 |
| At my favorite race ever - Washington University STL under the lights. This was the first time I broke 20 in a 5km. One of my favorite running memories ever. |
Okay, so what are my goals for this half-marathon? Let's look at a few things first.
My training cycle has gone well; I've seen decent times in the 5km and a 10km PR (40:53). I've finally overcome my fear of tempo runs and have completed three in the 5-mile range and two in the 6-mile range. (It used to be a 'good day' if I hit 4 miles at tempo pace.)
My PR in the half-marathon is 1:35:55, which I ran last November at the Indianapolis Monumental Half-Marathon. I trained for that race in just 6 weeks; it was kind of a last minute thing. I definitely surprised myself that day with my 7:19 pace because I didn't do any speed work whatsoever.
According to my v-dot of 50 (good ole Jack Daniels' running formula), I should be able to run a 1:31:35. A 6:59 pace. That is freakin' fast!
And according to my strands.com account, which takes into consideration my current workouts, mileage, etc..., I should be able to run a 1:29:07. A 6:48 pace. Even faster, yikes.
And then, if I use the RunnersWorld training calculator, it puts me at a 1:30:12. So 6:53 pace.
 |
| The only time I was ever winning a race. No worries, it was the slow heat. And I was passed in the last 200 meters, haha. It sure felt good while it lasted though! ;-) |
So I'm distraught. I would be absolutely ecstatic to run any of those times! But they scare me. If I go out at a 7:00 pace, will I crash and burn once I hit mile 8? Who knows?
So here's my plan... start out about a 7:10 pace. See how I feel. Hopefully I feel good, and I can negative split. Even if I just maintain 7:10's the whole race, I'll still finish around 1:34, a 2 minute PR.
[But can I tell you a secret? I really want to run sub-7:00 miles.]
So here's my goal line-up. Because in college, we always made multiple goals. So we could still be happy with how we finished, even if we only earned our C goal.
A goal - 1:31:35, sub-7:00 pace.
B goal - 1:34:00, around 7:10 pace.
C goal - beat my PR of 1:35:55.
D goal - do not pass out on the course, haha.
 |
| This was a 1500m race. Man those were the most painful. As you can probably tell by this picture. |
Here's where you come in!
Comments
@Alissa - I know you are the queen of negative splits! I hope you have pace groups. Mine has pace groups for the full, not sure where the half splits off whether I would be able to run with them. Also, I just learned last night, that one of the guys I run with (who is running the full) might be shooting for the same pace. So we might start out together. Who knows at this point!
Also, I just saw that you live in OHIO--ME too :D