Sub 1:30 Half Marathon Training

You probably just need to run a bit more. Get into 30-40 mpw without getting injured and see what happens. Don't be too focused on your next HM in March. Have a more long term approach.
It's more important to learn to run consistent and injury free than hitting a random time goal.
In a couple of years you might laugh about the 1:30 goal because you got so much faster.

Good luck.

Not bad for your first half. Perhaps take the next week off to recover, then for two weeks just run easy miles 4-5 times a week to build your base back up again, then go into a 12-13 ish week dedicated training cycle. Runners World has some free programs and you can adjust them as needed. Rotate between intervals and tempo/uptempo runs every other week for your workouts, and try to increase your peak week to 35-40 miles, longest run being 12 miles or more if you're adjusting well (at a steady pace)

If you started cramping ip at mile 11, you may need to look deeper into your nutrition and hydration plan. Drinking enough water everyday? Cutting out junk food a bit more? Those little things add up. And doing a lower body strength day once a week will help you develop the leg strength for the later miles.

Here’s my experience from a similarly situated runner. I am 30 and started running about 9 year ago. I ran my first 1/2 marathon about 7 years ago off 25 mpw and ran 1:45. I ran the same race the following years running similar mileage and more workouts, but only managed to run 1:34-ish.

This year I increased my mileage to 40 mpw. No structured workouts, just 5k and 10k races and the occasional fast finish long run. I ran 1:27 about 2 weeks ago.

It sounds cliche, but there really is no substitute for mileage.

Cheers everyone. I looked into Runner's World sub 1:30 and it's a bit out of my range now. It's also quite a bit of mileage to start and end with. I will try to build up some mileage first for the next month (again, apart from last 4 weeks I averaged 10 miles a week, so I am not really used to running 30-40 miles a week), mostly easy running and see what happens. I definitely did not train (probably don't know how to train) properly for the past half marathon. Just kept the same eating habits as always and didn't do much Half Marathon Pace training.

Would a coach be worth it? How much are coaches? Should i buy a training plan online? Is it worth it to buy shoes like vaporfly's or not worth it at my level / for a sub 1:30 attempt?

If you don't have spare cash, the Vaporfly's aren't going to be worth it imo. They are expensive even on sale. Are they great shoes? Hell yeah and I have a pair myself. But, do you need them to run a sub 1:30? No.

I ran my first sub 1:30 in a pair of Reebok Go Run Fast shoes that cost me $60 on clearence.

Training > Shoes

You have a long way to go.

Your first goal is to run 30 miles per week, every week for 3 months without getting injured. All runs 8-10 minutes per mile.

Should you get a coach? The answer depends on your goals, motivation, and--most important--your coach ability. A coach will design workouts for you that should improve your fitness, but you aren't too far off your goal. To get there, you need more pace-specific training, especially when you are tired. Try to think of a coach as a tool: if you use it the right way, you will get the job done. If you don't think you are capable (your line about only doing easy runs stands out), spend your Lira on something more valuable.

If you are paying a coach to get you sub 1:30 then you can pay me and I will get you to sub 80.

You don't need a coach or expensive shoes. As others said you just need to run more.

10 mpw is just not enough for any HM. Be patient. You will get there. Ramp up your mileage slowly and see what happens. Don't be too fixated on your sub 1:30 goal.

It is doable if your a patient and if you are not getting injured.

Thanks a lot everyone. Truly appreciate the advice. Will update this once in a while about my progress and will try to build up my mileage over the next couple of weeks, while staying injury-free.

Do you know who Pietro Riva is? I adviced him for some time before he won his first half Marathon in 1:04..You are welcome to discuss with me. My email magic@coachjs.se 🧙‍♂️🇸🇪

I am ok. It doesn't look like you have the best reviews around the forum.

Don't worry on nutrition that much on the cramps. The cramps were caused by you not running enough. I went from 1:48 to 1:20 for HM and 4:48 to 2:55 in the marathon. I have had history of cramps. I've tried all nutrition fixed. Tracked my intake of sodium and other electrolytes religiously. The cramps only went away when I started running more miles daily.

Get your 5k time down before doing 1/2 specific training. i was running 50mpw with 2 speed workouts with a 5k of 20:10 and just missed 1:30 by 20 seconds. when i was running closer to 19 and running 60+ i was at 1:28/1:29.

You need to change things up. 50 mpw with 2 workouts for 20:10 is an outrageous roi.

ya, not great but as a masters female who had been running for 25 years and on the backside of PRs, i was pretty happy with that.

Fools comment without knowing the full story, smh

I don’t think any one realizes how many older women are on the boards!

Run more, train more, as everyone has said. But if you are seeking a specific time goal, get yourself a pair of Vaporflies. Break them in with a few miles, then save them only for race day. They may make a couple minutes difference in a half marathon, assuming you properly pace, etc.