A good 1/2 marathon time on zero miles running

We had this discussion before. Many LRC poster believe that a good athlete can run sub 1h20m without training. I disagree.

Sub1h40m is not bad on 0 mpw. Nothing more, nothing less.

I'd guess that most fit people that don't run would struggle to run 1 mile at that pace, and probably couldn't hold on for 2 miles.

You likely have quite a bit of running talent.

don't you crossfit guys run or row in your training

On 0mpw of running? Are you cycling, roller-blading, xc skiing, swimming, pogo-sticking, race-walking or professional lumberjacking for long periods of time on a regular basis? One would need such information to answer your question.

If not, you're either a prodigy or...

I ran 1:16 HM on consistent 10 mpw, no cross training and no recent history of higher mileage. It's possible to run a decent half with minimal training if you are naturally fit aerobically

ridiculous1234 wrote:

naturally fit aerobically

What the hell does that even mean?

Naturally fit aerobically means you have a high baseline VO2max and other physiologic parameters that are important for endurance performance (resting heart rate, lactate clearance etc). These factors improve significantly with training, but some people have a naturally high VO2max for example and this is genetically determined to a large extent...That is what I mean.

haha YO wrote:

ridiculous1234 wrote:

naturally fit aerobically

What the hell does that even mean?

1:07 is a pretty good time.

1:07 is phenomenal for no running training. I bet sub- 1 hr HM guys could take a year off from running and run 1:07 just by maintaining fitness through intense cross training.

2:20 Running isn't easy. 13 miles is a lot of work when the body is not ready for the pounding.

While doing Crossfit we sometimes do run 200M/400M intervals during a workout, but not continuous running, and most definitely no more than 2 miles. Once in a blue moon we run a 5K or a 10K, but its all metabolic conditioning with Olympic barbell lifts. So I guess zero miles is not quite accurate, but I wouldn't consider the running we do as traditional runner's training (other than interval work, but we mix it up with other things, like pull-ups, push ups, etc.. so not exactly clean interval work, with very low volumes of running). We do hit the rowing machine a bit, so I guess that cardio endurance training, but again this during workouts.

Thanks for the replies...I was just wondering what would be a good time for a non-runner, since I felt terrible after 10 miles. I figured I was in decent shape to finish a 1/2 marathon on pure CrossFit type training, mission accomplished, but those las 3 miles really hurt!

I think you might be a miler. Ditch the cross-fit and find a mid-distance coach!

Might be a troll wrote:

I think you might be a miler. Ditch the cross-fit and find a mid-distance coach!

TROLL

Buddie of mine this last fourth of july ran 1:29 off 0 runs and 0 aerobic work (biking or swimming, ect). He does lift weights and stuff. It was pretty hilarious and kinda impressive. i did train and beat him pretty bad tho...

ridiculous1234 wrote:

I ran 1:16 HM on consistent 10 mpw, no cross training and no recent history of higher mileage. It's possible to run a decent half with minimal training if you are naturally fit aerobically

and 100 tonnes of BS a week

'no recent history of higher mileage'

Yes, but you have revealed that you did do high mileage. Some of that always stays with you

ukathleticscoach wrote:

ridiculous1234 wrote:

I ran 1:16 HM on consistent 10 mpw, no cross training and no recent history of higher mileage. It's possible to run a decent half with minimal training if you are naturally fit aerobically

and 100 tonnes of BS a week

'no recent history of higher mileage'

Yes, but you have revealed that you did do high mileage. Some of that always stays with you

First of all, there is no BS involved- and no, I never in my life ran high mileage. The highest mileage I ever ran consistently was 30 mpw, with an all time high of 45 mpw. I ran 1:16 off of 10 mpw, 0 tons of bs, and no cross training. My VO2max was tested at 73 mlO2/min/kg a few weeks before (while on 10 mpw). Clearly as a coach you don't have a good sense of what is possible for some people.

A friend of mine ran a 1:44 off of 10mps (miles for that semester). He was about 180 pounds at the time too. I was pretty impressed. He had apparently been an 18 minute ish guy in high school but mostly gave up fitness for beer in college.

I don't believe the 1:16 guy for sure, and even the 1:29 is really stretching it for me.

1:39 is believable if you are in good shape naturally, and it sounds like the OP did at least some sort of faster running which has to help in some way.

Just this year I ran 1:30:05 off little training. I had 4 weeks of running, starting with around 16 miles one week and ending with 36 the 4th week. I ran good for 7 miles then had a death march in.

cough, cough. . . bullshit. . . cough, cough