Can I really run a 1:20:19 half?

Sounds about right from an equivalency standpoint but remember the calculator is making some assumptions. You're coming from mid D background indicating you're going to be better at 8k than half marathon. Key will be what you do for endurance, long runs, etc.

by august, definitely.

Yes. Why would you be surprised?

I ran 1:20 with the same 8km time and no more mileage.

A half is just "more of the same" type of effort as an 8km.

Just a minute slower per 8km and it suddenly gets manageable for over an hour of effort.

The last 3km will seem long but a half doesn't chew you up to the point that you can't grind it out.

Probably optimistic if you are going to be aerobically undertrained (doing 30-40 MPW with a speed background).

well maybe

that calculator says those times are equivalent efforts given appropriate training - it doesn't mean the same person can do them all off the same training.

but you probably could run that half, if you ran 50-60 mpw - but prob not on 30-40.

Is an 8 km not aerobic? It's totally doable. Interesting to know the OP's 800 and 1500 times.

I was a 2:01/4:17/9:38 guy so you can see my aerobic ability plummet as the distance increases.

Still did it without too much trouble.

I also ran a 1:23 15 years before that on 20 miles a week as a much slower short distance runner.(2:11,4:30,10:00)

Thanks for the responses.

Since someone asked, 1:50.8 and 3:52.02 were my best 800 and 1500 times. I also ran one season of cross and ran 25:56 for 8k at a race that was at ~3,300ft elevation. Not sure if that matters though considering I'm not doing that intense of training anymore. I think I topped out at about 60-65mi a week during the seasons I ran those times. However all three PR's came towards the end of the season when my mileage had dropped.

And I do wish I had the time to bang out some higher mileage weeks, as I'm sure that would make going sub 1:20 much easier.

For what it is worth though, any advice on what I should be doing workout wise to give myself at least a shot of going ~1:20 at 30-40 MPW?

Retiredold23yo wrote:

For what it is worth though, any advice on what I should be doing workout wise to give myself at least a shot of going ~1:20 at 30-40 MPW?

Retiredold23yo wrote:

Thanks for the responses.

Since someone asked, 1:50.8 and 3:52.02 were my best 800 and 1500 times. I also ran one season of cross and ran 25:56 for 8k at a race that was at ~3,300ft elevation. Not sure if that matters though considering I'm not doing that intense of training anymore. I think I topped out at about 60-65mi a week during the seasons I ran those times. However all three PR's came towards the end of the season when my mileage had dropped.

And I do wish I had the time to bang out some higher mileage weeks, as I'm sure that would make going sub 1:20 much easier.

For what it is worth though, any advice on what I should be doing workout wise to give myself at least a shot of going ~1:20 at 30-40 MPW?

Run 4 miles a day and do a 10 miler on the weekend. Sometimes run faster if you feel like it. You can do 1:20 in your sleep.