Is it possible to run a fast half marathon off Marathon Pace training

Unless you're really really really well trained, HM training and FM training are pretty much the same. There's some specific pace work involved in each; but unless you're truly elite, improvements to one time will be reflected in the other as well.

Also, there is no excuse for a 1:18 guy to not run sub3. There is even less excuse for a 1:18 girl. Furthermore, if you're a 1:18 guy or girl, 6:40s is not a tempo.

Thank you - but you should know that in between that 1:18 and now there was a pregnancy! That baby is now 2. So, while I have a marathon PR of 2:47, I am only shooting for sub 3 right now. And the training has gone really really well so far. 6:40's is my temp pace because I do them at marathon goal pace. So what does that say about my ability to race faster for the half? Thanks for your words - I like hearing any and all opinions!

Muscle memory. You'll be closer than you think to your 1:18.

I trained for my only Marathon by not doing any specific pace work at faster than roughly 3 hour pace and ran just a few minutes slower in a test half before I ran the Marathon.

A 2:58-2:59 marathoner will probably run 1:24ish 4-6 weeks prior. Now if you are thinking 2:55, then your half time will come down as well. You have obviously trained and raced at a very high level, so I would expect you could run on the faster side for the half.

If you have trained properly for a marathon and can just break 3 hours I wouldn't expect you to break 1:22 in the half. However, if you can run a sub 3h marathon on less than ideal training (as is most common) 1:22 may be in reach.

I'd rather run the first half at 1:25 pace and then start hammering in the second half. That will give you a lot more confidence.

Marathon training should include plenty of marathon pace, but also tempo runs at HM pace or better (technically, tempo is usually taken to mean 1 hr pace for 20-40 minutes), and track work at 3k-10k pace. My bet is that you'll feel like the pace is not that hard and will run closer to 1:20.

jjjjjjjjj wrote:

Marathon training should include plenty of marathon pace, but also tempo runs at HM pace or better (technically, tempo is usually taken to mean 1 hr pace for 20-40 minutes), and track work at 3k-10k pace. My bet is that you'll feel like the pace is not that hard and will run closer to 1:20.

If your marathon training can only turn a 1:20 hm into a 3:00 marathon you'd really not be talking about on a forum.

drivel alert! wrote:

If your marathon training can only turn a 1:20 hm into a 3:00 marathon you'd really not be talking about on a forum.

Why not? I couldn't turn a sub 1:20 into a sub 3:00 so why wouldn't I share the things I was wrong about?

Should have done more fast work, should have done more long runs, should have went out slower.

I love all of this talk. Thank you.

I should reconfirm that although my PR is 1:18 for the half, that was in 2011 - when I ran that half I was in 2:46ish shape for a full. That was then.

I'm saying that I would love 1:22 or something in the 1:21 range this time around. But I am wondering if that's possible on 2:55-3:00 training for Boston.

I mentioned my PR in the half because I wanted to put it out there that I have had success, so I am not stupid about this, but I'm no expert obviously! Right now, I know I wont run a PR but is it POSSIBLE for a person to run 6:15 pace for the half after 2 months of training for a 6:40ish-paced marathon?

SMJO wrote:

Why not? I couldn't turn a sub 1:20 into a sub 3:00 so why wouldn't I share the things I was wrong about?

Ok, I'll give you that...

NotNewToThis wrote:

is it POSSIBLE for a person to run 6:15 pace for the half after 2 months of training for a 6:40ish-paced marathon?

What you're training for doesn't say anything about what you can run. Tell us details of the workouts, mileage, etc you're doing now as well as what you ran for marathon or other distances when you ran a 1:18 hm.

I'm a master that runs similar times. Report back with your half time and I'll tell you what range your marathon will be. If you are 122 or below, you should be around 255 and faster. Assuming you are doing proper marathon training. By the way, agree you should have been doing half marathon pace training in your tempo runs/tempo pace workouts. You should be familiar with running those paces.

Ah - good point.

So over the past 2 months I've been putting in the necessary mileage for marathon training (I've never been a super high mileage girl, but with 1 day off each week I put in between 70-80/week).

Workouts range from repeat miles slightly faster than 2:55 marathon pace to 5 mile tempos at 2:55 marathon pace. Hill work too. A few farktleks with pickups at 6:00 pace.

Long runs so far have been building up and the past 3 have been 20, 21, and 22 - all done between 7:00 and 7:10 pace (chunks of mileage in the middle at goal marathon pace)

When I was running well before pregnancy, I ran that half just around 1:18, a 10 miler in the 59 minute range, and a 15K just under 55:00. But that was a completely different time....

I started getting back into this training thing last fall after pregnancy and baby. And now here I am.

Don't be coy! If you're running 22 milers at 7:00-7:10 pace with faster miles inside the run, you're going to run well under 3 hours at Boston.

I'd say shoot for 1:20 this weekend. Why not - if it goes well, you'll run the time. If it's not looking good with 10k to go, just ease off and you'll still run inside 1:23/24. With your background and mileage, even that would put you on track for a low to mid 2:50.

Asking for reaffirmation of stuff you already know is psyche out stuff - set your own parameters.

43 years old with several 'sub 3s' ranging from 2:54 - 2:58. Most of my halfs either just before or just after a marathon have been in the 1:23 - 1:24 range.

You sound a bit faster than me (nice 2:46) so I think you could hit 1:21 if not better.

Thank you! I know...second guessing myself and asking for affirmation...silly. But I know there are tons of smart runners/coaches/gurus out there.

I wanted to get opinions and I think I have!

THANKS!!!!

Oddly enough I have a marathon PB of 2:47 and 1:18 for the half...

Looking to run a conservative and fun 2:59 at Boston from Wave 1/ Corral 2...

See you there?!

Pictures?

TheCurlyQ wrote:

Oddly enough I have a marathon PB of 2:47 and 1:18 for the half...

Looking to run a conservative and fun 2:59 at Boston from Wave 1/ Corral 2...

See you there?!

Not necessary, everyone in that corral will be just as emaciated, look for the pretty face.