How should you feel at various points of a half marathon?

Same here. Would like to hear some input.

Male 42, 55mpw

My 1st marathon went like this:

1 mile feels too easy. Unsure if I'm going too fast.

2-5 feels comfortably hard.

6-10 I'm having serious doubts about maintaining pace

11-13 I start a second wind.

14-19 are my fastest splits, passing people like they're going backwards.

20-22 I now feel like I'm racing a marathon.

23-25 I feel tired, but miraculously keep pace

26 I want to be done but never bonked. Legs feel like lead.

26.2 a small burst of speed for the finish, then almost pass out.

2:37.59

Ive only run 2, but both were like

1-4 miles: how am i moving this fast but it feels like an easy run? I should slow down a hair but it feels sooooo easy.

4- 8: i feel like im moving fast but controlled. Like a tempo. I'll have no problem holding this until this end. I wonder how much ill be able to kick for the last 5k. I must be in way better shape than i thought.

8-11: this sucks pretty hard

11-13.1: omg, if i dont slow down, im going to be walking. Should i walk? I cant walk..... if i walk, ill hate myself. You've worked too hard to blow it. You won't die.... just try to not slow down TOO much.

Second HM:

Mile 1-2: It feels like I'm jogging, but I'll be patient.

Mile 3-4: That's funny, I'm not trying to run any faster. It's just happening by itself. I hope nothing bad happens.

Mile 5-8: I am effortlessly floating above the ground, flying along faster than I ever ran in my workouts. There is no fatigue. I could run this pace forever.

Mile 9-10: Ugh, a slight hill. I'm kind of tired. I'm slowing down.

Mile 11: This hurts. My slow twitch muscles are exhausted and I'm using my sprinting muscles to keep going.

Mile 12: If I can hit a 6:00 mile, I can run a great time. Let's go for it.

Mile 13.1: Clock ticking away....hurry, I don't want a finish line picture with me next to a tutu-clad 10K jogger....nailed it.

Third HM:

Mile 1: Right at goal pace. Stay on target, stay on target...

Mile 2-4: I'm working hard. That hill sucked.

Mile 5-7: I can't keep up this pace. I'm redlining.

Mile 8-10: Gotta fight till the end of this 10-mile race. What do you mean there's more?

Mile 11-12: Other guys are picking up the pace, but I've got nothing left. It's all I can do to maintain forward motion.

Mile 12-13.1: No gas left, nothing to kick with, just try not to stop before the finish line.

Choosing 13.1 miles of constant suffering with even splits, rather than 13.1 miles of negative-split elation, got me a 20 second PR. Not sure it was worth it.

Hmm. I ran one recently and managed a 2 min PB but it generally felt like a tempo the whole way through, with even splits. Training for a marathon next month but I wish I had the opportunity with this fitness to go out and run a half where I actually would redline and see what time I can run.

Noticeable discomfort rising exponentially from mile 7

You should begin questioning whether your goal pace was correct by mile 8. At that point, I start thinking "I don't think I have this in me." By mile 11 you are completely redlining and just hanging on for dear life. I say this as someone who negative splits almost all of his halves. If at mile 10 you think "I feel great, let's pick it up" you ran the first 10 too slowly.

swedishbasteve wrote:

Male 42, 55mpw

My 1st marathon went like this:

1 mile feels too easy. Unsure if I'm going too fast.

2-5 feels comfortably hard.

6-10 I'm having serious doubts about maintaining pace

11-13 I start a second wind.

14-19 are my fastest splits, passing people like they're going backwards.

20-22 I now feel like I'm racing a marathon.

23-25 I feel tired, but miraculously keep pace

26 I want to be done but never bonked. Legs feel like lead.

26.2 a small burst of speed for the finish, then almost pass out.

2:37.59

I know this thread was on half marathons, but I found this to be pretty spot on for marathons, especially the part about miles 6-10 being strangely difficult. I always go through a stretch around there where I think that today is not my day, but I always get through it. It's usually a stomach cramp, a leg cramp, or just something with the way my legs feel that doesn't feel right.

0-2: Okay, slow down there, big guy... Easy... I SAID SLOW DOWN!... okay... nice, right ther.... what are you doing? You have a GPS watch! Use it, you idiot!

2-10: Now that you've found a groove, let's find someone to follow... There's a strong runner, good form, steady, smooth... Check the pace, looks good... Settle in...

Okay, he's fading, find someone else... Alright there's someone with some experience! Very consistent... This guy looks like he knows what he's doing...

Nope! Dude it's only mile 7, fading already? Who else we got... There's a bobbing ponytail... Nice, uh, form... It's the right pace, so what if she's 19?.... Please don't give up running and gain 80 pounds... Youth is wasted on the young...

Silly girl, you started way too fast, and now bald guy is passing you... A-ha! Now I will chase down 19 year old guy...

Nope, he's gone.... He's using excess testosterone anyways. CHEATER!

[For the most part, following other runners on my target pace keeps me distracted. I don't warm up fully for 2-4 miles, so everything at the beginning feels awkward and derpy. Then, up to mile 10, it's smooth sailing, with the pace inching up ever so slightly, if the course cooperates.]

10: Things are starting to hurt. Let's get this thing finished. Let's see what you got. Push the pace.

11: New things are starting to hurt. Focus on form. Light touch. Smooth as butter. Ow.

12: More pain. Not quite cramping but almost. Still pushing.

13: You're practically done, you wuss. Crank it.

If I’m healthy, confident in my training and don’t run into surprises on the course it’s roughly—

1-7/8 Feel in control. May have moments of physical/mental discomfort but usually just moments.

7/8-11/12 starting to feel rising physical discomfort, which stirs up feelings of suffering. My mental battles usually happen here.

Final stretch physical pain peaks but proximity to finishing makes this last little bit easier mentally and ideally can really stay focused to hit goal etc.

I would describe it as slightly uncomfortable in that I would want to feel like I am putting forth a solid effort with a little "strain" the entire way.

Last 5K should be more uncomfortable.

Easy Peasy wrote:

If at mile 10 you think "I feel great, let's pick it up" you ran the first 10 too slowly.

LOL, that's how I run most of my half;)