1:18 Half Marathon off low mileage

SMJO wrote:

I stopped running warm-ups for road races years ago and my performances got much better. Less likely to form an opinion about how I feel on the race day and much more sensible pacing by starting cold.

End up passing 95% of the people who do a full workout before the gun goes off and get so warmed up that they think it's an 800.

Well, that does it for me, with that little anecdote you've scientifically proven that warm-ups are useless!

(sure, some people over warm-up. But why don't you step to the line against some national class runners. You skip your warm-up, and they will all warm-up[which they ALL do] . Let's see how the #'s come out then)

For warmup, I'm going to do a mile at most. It's going to be about 25F and windy. I don't want to be freezing at the line.

I appreciate all the advice, I definitely got a better response than I expected. Trying to visualize the race...I'm going to come through 7 quick, but controlled and relaxed (hopefully around 42 minutes), pick it up to be around 59 minutes at 10, then let it rip with whatever's left for the last 5k. I'll make sure to give a post-race update.

I did it. 1:17:30. 3rd overall.

It was 25F out with a 9F windchill, so I even more happy with the place and time.

Unfortunately, I could not find my watch for the past few days, so I could not take splits. My friend said that I was just under 30 at 5 miles, and picked it up after that to about 5:48 pace. The winner started late, caught up to the lead pack and shook things up, so I started pushing at around 7 miles. I was doing well through 10 and even 11, but I felt it in those last 2.1 which were into wind. Felt like around 6:00 for the last 2 miles but I bet they were a lot slower.

Saw 1:16:xx when I crossed, but the clock must have been off (reset for the 5k). I was a little bummed that I didn't do as well as I initially thought but I cannot complain with the result.

Going to pack it in now. For a while, I have had what I think might be a bone spur at the base of my big toe. So I'll get that checked, take care of it, and I can't wait to get back at it. Besides freezing at awards and feeling like crap for most of the day after the race, it was a very satisfying experience.

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

Tyrannosaurus Rexing wrote:

(sure, some people over warm-up. But why don't you step to the line against some national class runners. You skip your warm-up, and they will all warm-up[which they ALL do] . Let's see how the #'s come out then)

I'm not "competing" against them. All my PB's for 5km and up are from non warm up races and I have won many races against people of my level.

I never suggested everyone had to do this. It could help some.