Half Marathon training support group?

Anyone else run about a 10 or 11 minute mile for long runs? I'm very consistent with my pace, but I'm not very fast and I'm beginning to worry that I'll be the slowest one by far during my race. Being my first half, I wanted to concentrate on just completing the miles and then focus more on speed for the next one.

I am at your pace and totally okay with it. I slowed down when I found I could not run 4 miles without stopping. That was about 3 months ago and now I am up to 9 miles. So it totally worked. Like you, I just want to complete the race....time is not a focus for me for now. I guarantee you will not be the slowest. There will be plenty of 'gun jumping sprinters' that take off at the beginning of the race. I love it that I pass them around 3 miles because they have had to slow down and walk!

Good Luck

I run anywhere from a 10 to an 11:30 pace on long runs, just depends on my mood, how hydrated I am, the temp. Anyway, at that pace you will not be the slowest, I think it's a great pace for longer ones...here's to hoping I can keep it for a FULL instead of just a half

Thanks so much for the responses! I really needed that encouragement!!

hi guys!

im interested in signing up for a half marathon. can you tell me what sort of training you are doing? i can manage up to 10k now.

Anyone else run about a 10 or 11 minute mile for long runs? I'm very consistent with my pace, but I'm not very fast and I'm beginning to worry that I'll be the slowest one by far during my race. Being my first half, I wanted to concentrate on just completing the miles and then focus more on speed for the next one.

For my shorter runs I can manage a solid 10-10:10 min mile but I am considerably slower for my long runs (anything over 6). It is normal to be slower for the long runs especially starting out. Once you work on speed and increase that on the short runs you will find that the long run pace for you has increased too. I have noticed it a lot since I ran my first half in the spring. In the spring (april) I was super slow for most of my long runs pacing anywhere from 11:30-12+ min miles and now I am between 10:33-11:15.

I am running with a buddy this evening. I have an "EZ 3" on the training plan. My usually easy 3 milers are 10-10:15 min miles but she is slower and asked if we could do 11 min miles. So, I left my Garmin at home and plan to just go run!

Anyone else run about a 10 or 11 minute mile for long runs? I'm very consistent with my pace, but I'm not very fast and I'm beginning to worry that I'll be the slowest one by far during my race. Being my first half, I wanted to concentrate on just completing the miles and then focus more on speed for the next one.

Yes, I an right where you are. I am just focusing on distance.....then I will work on speed!! I am a slow runner, so I am not sure that speed will ever be my strength!

Very good info runnerdad!! Thanks! I am a very consistent 5mph runner(jogger). I have a hard time picking it up even though I probably could push a bit harder. Part of it for me is that I train in a small hilly town, no way to find just a flat course, which is good for training but makes me always wary of tiring out too soon and having to walk. I am one of those who finds it hard to run after slowing to a walk. Anyway, I got in a nice 6.5 miles today. Cool to start at only 5 degrees C, but beautiful with the mist rising off the river!!

They say 'if you always run the same (12 minute) pace, you will always run the same (12 minute) pace'. Said another way, if you don't work at pushing the pace, you will never get faster, no matter how much you run. The beauty of interval work is that you don't have to run long periods at the higher effort. Just pick a time interval or distance you find manageable. like 2 minutes hard, one minute jog / walk recovery, or 400 m hard 200 m recovery, Gradually increase to ratio of hard/recovery, or increase the distance of the work interval. I am also one of those who find it hard to get going again after a walk break. I find the key is to not take too long a break. Your recovery period should never be longer than 1/2 your work interval. When you get to longer intervals, like running a whole mile, let's say at 10-11 minute pace, I wouldn't rest longer than 4 minutes. You want to recover but not fall into cool down.

Thanks!! You explain things so well!

You've got me all in the dust!

I've just now gotten to 11:45-12 mm for anything under 4 miles... my long runs I average 12:30-13 mm.
But considering when I started all this 10 months ago I could barely run 2 minutes at a 14 mm pace, I think I've made great strides.

For my first half, the goal is only to finish

I am training for a half as well. I found a 17 week program and more than doubled it so I can draw out my training and avoid stress fractures in my tibias(again). I plan to run a half in May or June. Until then I plod on and throw in a few 5 and 10ks.

Where did you find the 17 week program? I can only find 12.

Want to do 1/2 in spring - just need to find time to run farther than 5 miles at one time lol

I am using an app - Half Coach by Running Method and that is an 18 week program. As I started with 24 weeks to go it also gives me pre-training runs which I'm doing currently.

It works ontime not distance, so I'm modifying a bit to suit my slow pace but still get the miles into my legs. Basically I'm running three times during the week by time, then measuring the long runs by distance. It's still increasing the length of runs gradually, but measuring them a different way.

One of the things I like about this app is the "report" function. It shows a visual graph of the runs you've done and the ones planned for the whole program. It also gives you a percentage done - and as my planned HM is not til Feb it doesn't feel like I'm doing much going for an 8 or 10km run, but I can see the progression on the graph and it tells me 15% complete already, so I can see that although I'm far from running 21km at the moment, I am progressing along the right path.

Oh, and it's a freebie. There is a paid version, but don't bother with it, the only difference with the paid version is that it has programs for different length races from 5k to marathon, but you can only setup/view one plan at a time anyway, just like the free version.

Hi,
Just thought I would say hello as I am training for my first half marathon on the 30th October. Its been going really well up until a few weeks ago when I twisted my ankle getting off the bus (of all things!) this seems to have impacted my foot in some way and it still hasn't come completely right.
I iced it, rested it, etc but whenever I return to running it seems to start hurting under my foot. I went for an 8km run today and about 3km in it started to hurt again (last time about a week ago this happened after just 500 metres) so not wanting to make things worse I stopped and walked but that was hurting a bit too. Then I tried running on the balls/front of my feet and that felt much better, so much so that I actually completed the run. I had been wondering about heal striking for some time now but figured that I might reassess my running style after the half, now however I think I might change straight away. It feels a bit strange but I think I'll get used to it, and I like the idea that less jarring occurs. My last concern now is my running shoes. I have a pair of "traditional" shoes they have average support and are relatively inflexible in the base. I have the impression that if I am going to change from heal striking that I may need to change shoes. Thoughts? advice?

Wow did this post just explode. Well i ran 8 and a half last week on wedensday and then did some speed work over 5 miles on friday. I havnt ran since then due to nursing a hurt hammy. Was able to bike 11 miles yesterday and its feeling better this morning then it has all week so i'm thinking i might try a easy run tomorrow to get back into things. Looking for a half marathon in sprring to do but having trouble finding one in michigan. Any suggestions?

Hi,
Just thought I would say hello as I am training for my first half marathon on the 30th October. Its been going really well up until a few weeks ago when I twisted my ankle getting off the bus (of all things!) this seems to have impacted my foot in some way and it still hasn't come completely right.
I iced it, rested it, etc but whenever I return to running it seems to start hurting under my foot. I went for an 8km run today and about 3km in it started to hurt again (last time about a week ago this happened after just 500 metres) so not wanting to make things worse I stopped and walked but that was hurting a bit too. Then I tried running on the balls/front of my feet and that felt much better, so much so that I actually completed the run. I had been wondering about heal striking for some time now but figured that I might reassess my running style after the half, now however I think I might change straight away. It feels a bit strange but I think I'll get used to it, and I like the idea that less jarring occurs. My last concern now is my running shoes. I have a pair of "traditional" shoes they have average support and are relatively inflexible in the base. I have the impression that if I am going to change from heal striking that I may need to change shoes. Thoughts? advice?

I am not sure if you need to change your shoes, BUT I do know that great running shoes make all the difference! You said you had traditional ones, not sure if they are just running sneakers. I had bought running nike sneakers from lady foot locker and was wondering why my feet would be COVERED in blisters by the end of a 5 mile run!
Then I went to the Running Company and they had me run around the store, and they checked out my foot and I got an awesome pair of Brooks running shoes. They are 395820385 times lighter, and no more blisters!

If you haven't been to a place where they assess your running to find you a shoe match, I recommend you go! It's totally worth it and it might help with your new running style, and you can always ask them about it too.

I ran with a friend last night. It was hard. The friends I usually run with are at a 9:45-10:30 pace. On my short, easy runs I am usually around 10-10:20 pace. We ran slow last night and I knew it. It was tough for me. I didn't take my Garmin but my friend had us at around 11 mm. I hate to admit but I barely was sweating and felt like I had wasted my time a little. I'm glad for calories burned and a running buddy though.

Tonight is a tempo run..5 miles with only 2 at tempo pace.

I can't believe how quickly my half marathon has gotten here! It's just over 2 weeks away.

So woke up this morning, my tire was flat right in my driveway. I have a run planned, but I also need to drop off my car, and I have no idea how long that will take. SO, I looked up a route by the tire place for 5 miles, and I plan on running while my car is in the shop! I am pretty proud of this multi-tasking!

anybody listen to Pandora while they run? Any good recommendations for stations?

Way to multi-task and still get the run in! Waking up to a flat tire could have quickly ruined your day but you've made the best of it! I listen to Pandora some, but have switched to Jango (another free music app) more frequently now...I have found the playlist on Jango to be more intuitive at times and its commercial free. The top 100 is actually pretty good if looking for a variety of newer songs on Jango. When I need to "just lose it" on my runs I listen to Eminem station on Pandora.