1/2 marathon
fleetzz
Posts: 962 Member
My friend invited me to do the Echo 1/2 marathon June 8. The longest I have run is 8 miles. Mainly concerned about knee issues (tends to ache after longer runs) but really hasn't been longer than 1 day of mild discomfort lately.
I would not race for time. Would be willing to walk parts. Knees happier on trail runs, and this one is a paved trail. Temps in Florida during race likely low 70's and high humidity, race starts at 6:30 and is point-point with lots of water/gatorade stations.
Recent running log here under fleetzz (yes, I have wimped out in the heat):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkmK3myW0PepdGRRczlJUEdpaUxOUUVBeExkTzVXRXc
Thoughts? Doable? Stupid to do that distance?
I would not race for time. Would be willing to walk parts. Knees happier on trail runs, and this one is a paved trail. Temps in Florida during race likely low 70's and high humidity, race starts at 6:30 and is point-point with lots of water/gatorade stations.
Recent running log here under fleetzz (yes, I have wimped out in the heat):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkmK3myW0PepdGRRczlJUEdpaUxOUUVBeExkTzVXRXc
Thoughts? Doable? Stupid to do that distance?
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Replies
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If you are at an 8 mile LR then it is doable. Just take it easy and take walk breaks in a structured way....maybe 1 minute walks to every 1/2 mile ran, or more if needed. Don't go out fast...stick to the back of the pack so you don't get pulled into going out too fast too soon. The 1/2 is a much more forgiving race in regards to training than say a full.0
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If that 8 mile "longest run" (or at least something very close to it) is recent then I agree that the half is doable.
Definitely take it easy and don't go out too fast, but if you can do 8 miles, you can complete the half without it becoming a death march as long as you don't try to race the whole thing flat out.
Good luck!0 -
I signed up. Now I am wondering what I got myself into :frown:0
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I signed up. Now I am wondering what I got myself into :frown:
How did it go?0 -
It was actually ok--I decided to not race it but to run it like a long run. I walked at each aid station--there were 14 if you could believe it! I had water at each station, about 1-2 ounces I would guess, and twice I had gatorade. I tried the goo at mile 7, which just made me really thirsty. I also took advantage of the real bathroom with running water at mile 7. My friend stuck by me although I could tell that she was really holding back. I had some minor aches and pains in the knees and ankles toward the last few miles but had enough energy to pickup the pace (well, for me) the last 1-2 miles. I also stopped and took a photo of the 12 mile marker (which was the first one I saw after mile 8--took a photo because that was the first time I ran more than 8 miles or so). I finished in 2:29.01. So pretty happy! I am now looking at running more 1/2 marathons, to my shock! Well, running them in the winter; summer running in Florida is just miserable.
I don't think I needed the goo, should have skipped it...0 -
Way to go! 2:29:01 is a decent time for a half too.
Real bathroom with running water? That's a luxury - portaloos are all I've ever encountered lol!
Glad you enjoyed it, halfs are great achievements and yes, they get addictive!
Now you just need to take a week or so to rest easy and recover - gentle running only for a couple of weeks before getting back into a full-on workout plan/training schedule/whatveer you have planned next.
Good job!0 -
You're in Florida. The only reason I told my husband we could move to Florida (b/c of humidity) is if we lived close enough to Disney so I could do all the runDIsney events every year. You are so lucky!!!!0
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You're in Florida. The only reason I told my husband we could move to Florida (b/c of humidity) is if we lived close enough to Disney so I could do all the runDIsney events every year. You are so lucky!!!!
I agree, I am very lucky! We have passes to not only Disney (well sort of, hubby works for the Mouse so we can get in on non-black-out dates) and to Universal.
However kids have gotten bored of Disney since we have gone so much.
Since I just started running last year, my son and I have run only one Disney race and we are signed up for the Tower of Terror 10 mile race. We both agree that while the races are fun, there is too much time waiting for the start in the corrals and getting to parking, (and for me the cost) that the 10 mile race will likely be our last one. A contributing factor might be being cold and rained on for over an hour with the first race; oh, that was miserable!0 -
I skipped the Gu for my first half-marathon as well. I had tried it a couple of times in training, just in case for some reasons I was feeling especially fatigued on race day, but I don't think it's really necessary for a half, especially if you haven't already used it. I also skipped the nuun as well since I had trained with just water.
Great finish time! My first (and only) half had 7 water stations, and I walked every one of them (I tried to "run and drink" the first one, and that did not end well for me, I snorted more water than I drank).
I like half-marathons. They're long enough to be a challenge, but not so long that they seem overwhelming and impossible for less experienced runners like me. I'm thinking of signing up for another half this October to see if I can't finish it a little faster. Crossing that finish line was indescribable and I want to do it again!
Those Disney races are expensive! They look so fun, and then my bank account is all, "Whoa, calm down now, you have a mortgage, okay?"0
