I have been running for a few years now, and this question still bugs me. I asked around with my friends, and got a mix of replies, yes, no, depends, maybe..., you get it.
So, I thought why not ask the community here, a place where I visit often. What's your take on this. If I run 13.1 miles in training, can I say that I have run a half marathon?
Tanks,
Tan
I would say you jogged a half marathon distance in training.
Most people would interpret the phrase "I ran a half marathon" to mean you ran a 13.1 mile race.
Tanvir wrote:
I have been running for a few years now, and this question still bugs me. I asked around with my friends, and got a mix of replies, yes, no, depends, maybe..., you get it.
So, I thought why not ask the community here, a place where I visit often. What's your take on this. If I run 13.1 miles in training, can I say that I have run a half marathon?
Tanks,
Tan
Why do you care what anybody thinks? Why do you need to label your run? Why are you so insecure?
I was doing a long run once out of town training for a marathon, was trying to do a 22-24 mile run (only really wanted to do 22 but was estimating the distance on trails), I ended up missing a trail and by the time I was back to my car I had run 32 miles. Really really crappy day. I don't tell people I ran an ultramarathon, I do say I once did a 32 mile training run.
(Side note, I did get a PB in the marathon I ran 4 weeks later. I do not however advocate a 32 mile training run, or the discomfort of being lost a long way from home.)
It's the year 2061. You sneak into the pharmacy area of your old folks home and pop a few dozen viagra. You wheel the first blue haired lady you can find in to your room and do the deed. Turns out it was 91 year old Cindy Crawford. Did you just nail a supermodel?
No. No you did not.
Two things.
1. I wrote this post as kind of expression my opinion. However, what I am echoing are thoughts of other runners.
2. My own opinion on this is that the two are different. And it's just wrong to say that you ran a half if you ran the half distance in training.
No. A half marathon is a race. Putting an article in front of a distance makes it an event rather than just that distance. There's a difference between running a 5k and running 5 kilometers. If my friend were to ask me if I wanted to run a half marathon I would assume he meant run a race with him, not go for a 13.1 mile run.
John Snow wrote:
No. A half marathon is a race. Putting an article in front of a distance makes it an event rather than just that distance. There's a difference between running a 5k and running 5 kilometers. If my friend were to ask me if I wanted to run a half marathon I would assume he meant run a race with him, not go for a 13.1 mile run.
This. I run over 13.1 miles twice a week but I've only run 1 half marathon
Yes, this counts as a legit half-marathon, and as such comes with responsibilities. You now must display a 13.1 oval decal on the back of your car.
A half marathon is either a mara or a thon. But both of those are 26.2 miles whereas you've only run 13.1. So no you haven't run a half marathon.
Tanvir wrote:
I have been running for a few years now, and this question still bugs me. I asked around with my friends, and got a mix of replies, yes, no, depends, maybe..., you get it.
So, I thought why not ask the community here, a place where I visit often. What's your take on this. If I run 13.1 miles in training, can I say that I have run a half marathon?
Tanks,
Tan
I guess. Every time you run 3.1 miles do tell everyone that just ran a 5k?
It is very important to distinguish between a half-marathon and a half-mary. While the former is a race, the latter is a training run. So, you have completed a half-mary. Be proud, go to the nearest Diary Queen and gorge yourself. You deserve it!
John Snow wrote:
No. A half marathon is a race. Putting an article in front of a distance makes it an event rather than just that distance. There's a difference between running a 5k and running 5 kilometers. If my friend were to ask me if I wanted to run a half marathon I would assume he meant run a race with him, not go for a 13.1 mile run.
I ran a 5k tempo this morning.
I was just looking at signing up for a $170 half marathon.
I typically do a long run of 13-14 miles every weekend. I don't care about racing, why would I spend $170 to say I "raced" a half marathon. I prefer running alone, don't have to drive anywhere.
My watch doesn't know the difference and when I set a PR for 13.1, I get an exclamation point!
Yeah, Right wrote:
Yes, this counts as a legit half-marathon, and as such comes with responsibilities. You now must display a 13.1 oval decal on the back of your car.
This post sums it up. So many people seem to think you can just go out and run 13.1 miles and that is that. But there are a lot of responsibilities that come with that achievement. You are now an ambassador of the 13.1. When people ask which one you did, you say "ALL. THIRTEEN. POINT. ONE. OF. THEM."
When people ask when you are going to do 26.2, you change the subject and talk about why Subarus are awesome.
Now let's talk about what constitutes a triathlon...
After work, I ride my bike home, then run it into the garage and immediately hop into a shower. Does that count as a tried, or am I tri-ing too hard?
So all these people running or cheating on consecutive marathons for charity are not running or cheating on marathons?
You ran half a marathon, but you did not run a half marathon.
blort wrote:
You ran half a marathon, but you did not run a half marathon.
Genius right there
Just because you didn't pay some greedy scumbag city $100 to run it on a specific day/time doesn't mean you didn't run a half marathon.