Help Fellow Marathon Runners

Topsking2010

I am training for my first half marathon in Mid October and I need your advice. My goal is to first finish and then make it in under 2 hours. In order to reach my goal I need to reduce my time from 10:30 to 9:00 per mile in the next 8 weeks.

What can I do to make that happen?


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RunningAddict

Just my oppinion but I would add in some speed runs, trail running, and hill running. Hill running will make you faster.

sufikitkat

Try to find a 5K in your area that you can aim for. Running 5K's has really helped me improve my times :-) Also, like above, speedwork such as sprint intervals will also help.

bkelley32148

Agreeing with both and its always fun!

TorridCutie

If this is your half-marathon and you are increasing the distance you are running and building endurance, I do not think trying to become faster is such a great idea. Doing both endurance training and speed work at the same time is an invitation to getting injured. If I were you, I would just enjoy my first half marathon and then incorporate speed work when I am training for my second. And yes, you will run a second, as they become addictive.

bunchesonothing

Unless you are just totally not trying with the 10:30's and it feels super slow(which means you're much faster anyway), there really isn't anything that could be promised to cut your time that significantly in that short of a time.

Speed work will help, but that is a SERIOUS decrease you are asking for in a VERY SHORT period of time.

If we could all get that much faster that quickly with a few quick tips, we'd all be Kara Goucher in no time.

Topsking2010

Thanks everyone for your advice. I plan to enjoy my first half marathon and continue to work on building my endurance.


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DontThinkJustRun

You might surprise yourself race day. My first I was training around 12:00 and on race day pulled 10:29. My advice since it's your first would be to just conquer the distance and then run a second to start to work on your PR. Get yourself a watch that calculates your pace. I just got one and can now see my pace constantly and it automatically shaved time. I ran my second at 10:23 last weekend and today I ran 9 at 10:09! Good luck!