How low can I go?

1:10 is fast. You need to shed a bit of weight. If you trained seriously and got down to around 155-160, I could see you approaching that 1:10.

You really didn't provide us with much info.

What has your training looked like over the last year or so. What will your future training look like? What were the conditions on the 1:18 time? Was it a 1:18:01 or 1:18:59? How motivated/ determined are you?

Not much info wrote:

You really didn't provide us with much info.

What has your training looked like over the last year or so. What will your future training look like? What were the conditions on the 1:18 time? Was it a 1:18:01 or 1:18:59? How motivated/ determined are you?

Good questions. I recovered from the ACL injury around early October. I was in full training mode by November and ran the race i mid February. It was a 1:18:45 (about 6:01 pace). I hadn't trained for about 6 months prior to that because of the boat and ACL injuries (2014 was a rough year).

Prior to the 1:18, I ran a 1:21 on about 4 months of training in January 2014. Prior to that, I had taken about 1 1/2 to two years off and was at the 1:28 mark.

In terms of motivation, I realize I only have about 2-3 years left before my age will probably be a real factor. So yeah, I'm motivated. I've got all the time in the world to train and focus on this. Besides work and my girlfriend, this is my life.

I should have mentioned, conditions were great for the 1:18:45...50 degrees, 50% humidity and winds 5-10 MPH.

howlow wrote:

I recently ran a 1:18 in a half marathon. I'm 31, a hair under 6 feet, and weigh 172-175 lbs when in running shape (hoping to get lighter).

Since starting to train seriously, I have dropped from a 1:28 to the above 1:18 time. This is over the course of 3 years and with multiple long breaks (got injured in a boat accident, tore my ACL, and at one point I just stopped running to focus on lifting - weird, I know).

As my training gets more consistent, I keep getting faster. Not that it's a surprise that is happening, but when a 6 minute pace starts feeling more like a jog, you wonder where this is going.

My question to the world is how fast can I go in a half marathon, given the above info? I would like to break 1:10 one day, so do you think that's possible?

1:18 is a different world from 1:28, and I would say sub 1:10 is yet another different world. It SEEMS that with more consistent training you should be able to dip under 1:10, but running and progress is a funny thing. You just never know. Sub 1:10 is 5:20 pace; that is significantly faster than 1:18 which is 5:57 pace (unless you actually ran 18:39 which is right on 6:00 pace).

Have you run ANY distance at 5:20 pace?

howlow wrote:

In terms of motivation, I realize I only have about 2-3 years left before my age will probably be a real factor. So yeah, I'm motivated. I've got all the time in the world to train and focus on this. Besides work and my girlfriend, this is my life.

Age won't be that much of a factor, even in 2-3 years' time. Proper, intensive training will completely overwhelm any age effect at that time.

'When a 6 min. pace feels like a jog? I'd say U R going places.

1:10 or better will certainly be in the cards. Keep training and stay injury free. The last point is such a factor!!

Run a few 5 km & 10 km's and see what is there.

Flagpole wrote:

1:18 is a different world from 1:28, and I would say sub 1:10 is yet another different world. It SEEMS that with more consistent training you should be able to dip under 1:10, but running and progress is a funny thing. You just never know. Sub 1:10 is 5:20 pace; that is significantly faster than 1:18 which is 5:57 pace (unless you actually ran 18:39 which is right on 6:00 pace).

Have you run ANY distance at 5:20 pace?

Completely agree they're worlds apart. I've run sub 5:00 in the mile, but that was before I had run my 1:21. In fact, it was around the time when I was running a 1:28 half.

I did a 15 miler the other day with 4x1 miles at 5:40 pace. The first mile I hit a 5:20, but felt fairly winded. 5:40 felt tough but good. My active rest pace was 7:20-7:30 (basically a jog).

T-Rex wrote:

'When a 6 min. pace feels like a jog? I'd say U R going places.

1:10 or better will certainly be in the cards. Keep training and stay injury free. The last point is such a factor!!

Run a few 5 km & 10 km's and see what is there.

Injury free is no doubt the most important part. Not doing any other sports besides running to make sure I don't get injured. I'm lifting legs, but once a week and carefully/not heavy weights. Thanks for the input!

1:08 - 1:10 - 1:11 If you were logging consistant

milage, and taper correctly. Quaters are your friend! And taking that speed and using it on other runs.

GnomeBe wrote:

1:08 - 1:10 - 1:11 If you were logging consistant

milage, and taper correctly. Quaters are your friend! And taking that speed and using it on other runs.

thanks! you mean quarter milers?

I am disappointed. I thought this might be a thread with Limbo videos.

Sorry nothing to add but good luck with the progress.

This is a good thread with good responses. You pose a tough question, even with further information about your training. Just looking at results, I would say getting under 1:10 is difficult. My coach is an excellent runner (ran NCAA Div. I), and his PR is 1:10:xx. It sounds, though, as if your lifestyle will support the necessary training. This is important. The most important thing is to remain injury free.

I wish you all the best. In fact, your thread has inspired me. Perhaps I will post a thread on how low I can go.

If you sit around at work, you need to do some cross training to keep from getting injured. You may feel fine now but you want to keep improving for years.

Interesting post, nircvx. Perhaps you have read some of my recent posts? I do sit around at work, and I am just coming off a groin/piriformis strain. Your point is well taken. I will incorporate some stationary biking. Is this what you have in mind? I am not one for swimming, though.

nlrcvx wrote:

If you sit around at work, you need to do some cross training to keep from getting injured. You may feel fine now but you want to keep improving for years.

I do core exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and some other exercises). What else do you recommend? I used to be a swimmer, but I find it really hard to get back in the pool after college.

Unless you are naturally large framed and heavily-muscled, you are at least 15 lbs overweight. For a medium/light frame running half marathon, 150 is where you would be to maximise results. Just losing 15 lbs could get you to 1:13-14 within a year.

nullset wrote:

Unless you are naturally large framed and heavily-muscled, you are at least 15 lbs overweight. For a medium/light frame running half marathon, 150 is where you would be to maximise results. Just losing 15 lbs could get you to 1:13-14 within a year.

I have naturally broad shoulders and am fairly built muscularly, but I have also been lifting consistently for a few years. I think 155-160 is a good target for me in the meantime. I'm by no means overweight, but I have some fat I could definitely lose. Muscle will be easier to lose as I stop lifting.

Just following this up with most recent results. Dropped weight before my race from 175 to 172. Also dropped down from a 1:18:45 to a 1:16:47 today in the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. One step closer to my ultimate goal! Check race results when they're posted if you'd like - name is Alex Demas.