I’m terrified about my race.

I'm terrified for my race as well. I feel like we're losing everything. Scratch that, not losing everything, but willingly giving everything away in order to appear politically correct and satisfy the SJWs.

If the millennials have their way, my race will be a historic footnote before long.

Pebs wrote:

That's pretty ambitious for your first half, and for only have trained for 5 months for it.

What did your training look like leading up to this? What did your long runs look like? Tempo runs?

Either you're way in over your head or you'll do just fine. It's really impossible to give a reasoned response when we don't know what your training looks like.

As for your nerves, that's normal. Just think of it as any other run. It sounds like you're putting too much pressure on your anticipated performance. It's your first half, so use this as benchmark on how to improve on your next one.

Been running 45 - 50 miles a week, 6 days a week.

Recent workouts:

6 X 1 mile w/3 in 5:40 (last one 5:30)

8 X 1K w/3 in 3:17

8 x 800 w/3 in 2:32/2:33

10K tempo in 36:10

8 X 1 mile w/60 at 5:50-6:00

4 X 2 mile w/2 at 5:50-6:00

3 X 5K w/90 at 5:55-6:00 (this was last Thursday, and was getting pretty tough the last mile, although I hit it on pace. Was starting to become a bit harder than a tempo effort).

Longest run run was 16.5 miles in 1:55:00ish.

My original goal was to break 1:30, but from looking at this I can clearly go quite a bit faster than 1:30. Indeed, I ran 1:28:30 in a 14 mile long run, in which I did 8 miles steady at about 7:03 pace and then cut about 10 seconds per mile off for the next 6. I just think that I should run about 1:18:30, and feel like I'd be disappointing people if I didn't.

Bruin1996 wrote:

I ran a 1:18:25 last year which I paced by running the first 3 around 6:05, miles 4-10 around 6:00, and Miles 11-12 around 5:55 and the last mile as fast as I could go. My pacing plan was steady tempo (Uncomfortable but manageable) for 10 with a slightly conservative start and then to pick it up gradually over the last 5K depending on how I felt. I hope to use a similar strategy to PR/sub-1:17:30 next weekend in my tuneup half before NYC Marathon.

Did you feel like that racing strategy worked well for you? That sounds like a great idea, I'll probably start at about 6:05 pace then.

Showdown at the O.K. Corral wrote:

Well, try going out the first mile about 10-15 secs slower than your goal pace. Over your next few miles, gradually settle into your goal pace. The first mile is going to be the hardest to stay disciplined because you'll get a rush of adrenaline at the start.

I agree with the posters who are suggesting you negative split it. Conservative first half, then turn it on with about 3-4 miles to go, assuming you have gas left in the tank.

It's only a race, not a life or death scenario. Have fun.

I can see that negative splitting is clearly the way to go, I'm just worried that if I go off 10 seconds behind pace in the first mile then I'm throwing at least 5 seconds away, surely about 5 seconds off pace for mile one is slow enough? Or is that extra 5 seconds going to help me run much quicker at the end?

TheBanaman wrote:

[quote]Pebs wrote:

3 X 5K w/90 at 5:55-6:00 (this was last Thursday, and was getting pretty tough the last mile, although I hit it on pace. Was starting to become a bit harder than a tempo effort).

Oh when I did this workout I hadn't run the previous three days and felt really flat and lethargic, so today I ran 10 x 600m W/3:00 just to get my legs moving quickly, but nothing so hard that it'd take anything out of me. I ran them all at 1:49-1:50.

Chill, man. It's clear that you're fit enough. The thing to remember about a HM is to let the pace come to you. The first couple miles, you can easily run 10 seconds slower than your goal pace. You'll feel like you're jogging. Then over the next few miles, you'll find yourself on goal pace, and it will still feel easy. If you run smart, you might even surprise yourself with what you're capable of at the end. Just keep it easy that first 1-2 miles.

Also, the one part of your training you overlooked was learning to race. It's a real skill that has to be practiced, and relearned if you let it go a few years. Next time, race some low-key 5Ks and miles just so you can get familiar with what it's like to get ready for a race without going into a panic.

It seems you have the speed and volume to run 1:18:XX. The hay is in the barn at this point. I wouldn't stress about it. Who do you feel you would be disappointing?

I feel it definitely worked out well for me as I got a 6 1/2 minute PR in the half marathon. You could ease into it with a 6:10, 6:05 for your first 2 miles as well and then go with race pace and try to finish strong the last 3.1 and especially in the last mile. You don’t want to be that runner who starts out too fast and fades badly at the end of the race. I did a similar strategy in my last half (local downhill “Revel-like” half) keeping a fairly consistent pace for 10 miles (5:35-5:40) and then picking it up in the last 3 miles for a strong finish to get a 1:13:08.

Solid paces for your track speedwork with relatively little recovery by the way.

start here wrote:

Chill, man. It's clear that you're fit enough. The thing to remember about a HM is to let the pace come to you. The first couple miles, you can easily run 10 seconds slower than your goal pace. You'll feel like you're jogging. Then over the next few miles, you'll find yourself on goal pace, and it will still feel easy. If you run smart, you might even surprise yourself with what you're capable of at the end. Just keep it easy that first 1-2 miles.

Also, the one part of your training you overlooked was learning to race. It's a real skill that has to be practiced, and relearned if you let it go a few years. Next time, race some low-key 5Ks and miles just so you can get familiar with what it's like to get ready for a race without going into a panic.

People's confidence in me being able to run the time based off my workouts had calmed me down a little bit, so thanks for that. I'll do that, I start somewhat conservatively over the first two miles and then pick things up to goal pace.

I think you're right, that's a very good point. I should make a point of racing some 5Ks and 10Ks in my next half marathon buildup. Thanks a lot for the advice!

Bruin1996 wrote:

I feel it definitely worked out well for me as I got a 6 1/2 minute PR in the half marathon. You could ease into it with a 6:10, 6:05 for your first 2 miles as well and then go with race pace and try to finish strong the last 3.1 and especially in the last mile. You don’t want to be that runner who starts out too fast and fades badly at the end of the race. I did a similar strategy in my last half (local downhill “Revel-like” half) keeping a fairly consistent pace for 10 miles (5:35-5:40) and then picking it up in the last 3 miles for a strong finish to get a 1:13:08.

Great, well I'll probably just do that then. Go out at about 6:10 pace for the first mile, dropping it to 6:05 the second mile and then to 6:00 the third mile before trying to run the rest at 5:58-5:59 pace. I really hope being conservative at the beginning will pay of and I'll be able to hammer the last four miles.

Yeah, I think I'm more a speed person than an endurance monster. Awesome half marathon PR btw. If this half marathon goes well I'll probably run a couple more next March/April, hopefully I'll be able to run a similar time to you then. Thanks again for the advice.

It sounds like you have a sound plan and that'll help with the nerves. I have found that I only really get nervous when my expectations are based on what I WANT to run rather than what I have TRAINED to run. It sounds lame, but it's an easy trap to fall into.

But I really wanted to say that someone earlier in the tread had some very good advice. He said that "no one cares about your running but you." That sounds really harsh and dismissive but it is a very important thing to remember. We all run for ourselves. The crowds will cheer for you no matter how fast or slow you run. Your parents and loved ones will love you and cheer for you no matter how fast or slow you run. And others in the race are focused on themselves and don't care whether you hold six minute pace or not. So run as you feel and if it gets difficult and you fear "failure," just remember that failure is a construct in your mind only. You are running for the pleasure it gives you; not for anything else. So enjoy every moment, even when it starts to hurt. You might slow down, but you won't die, and no one will really care or judge you. Except maybe the good people of LetsRun ;-)

Oh, and your goal is awesome. Good luck!

TheBanaman wrote:

I just think that I should run about 1:18:30, and feel like I'd be disappointing people if I didn't.

I think you have the fitness, but honestly statements like that make you sound like a complete headcase. Chance of success, minimal given where your head is. I mean you are freaking out over 3-5 seconds in a mile run on the road in a 13 mile race.

Good luck, if you get your head outta your @ss you'll be darned close to the goal.

Oh, I'll judge him.

More seriously - that's not just good running advice, but good life advice as well.

Thanks so much Old Walker. I'll stick to my plan tomorrow and hopefully execute a good race. Hopefully I'll manage to stay on top of my nerves. I'll let everyone know how it goes tomorrow, hopefully I can come back tomorrow afternoon and let everyone know that I smashed it out there.

When I ran my best half in 1:09:40 it was a scary experience. It hurt from mile one. I was breathing like I was running a 5 K. Except I had the fitness to keep going. That is how all halves went for me around that time, and to some extent even the marathons - except the pain would gradually decrease as the race progressed because I did not have enough fuel to make it hurt quite as much.

My take on this - there is no such thing as starting a half too fast. If you physically can, it means you still lack the fitness. But when you are fit, the pain of the pace and the fear of the distance will be something you will have to fight in the early miles just to hit them on target.

So if you go out hard and then blow up, take it this way - you potentially are able to race the half at whatever you had the ability and the guts to hit the first 3 miles in. But not yet. So keep working on your endurance.

With 36:10 solo 10 K I would have no reservations about running the first 10 K of the half in 37:30. It might even be too slow. I've had lots of experiences where I looked at my 10 K split in a half race, and wondered why I could not do it in a workout for just a 10 K a couple of weeks ago. There is something magic about coming to a race tapered (but not overtapered), tucking yourself into a fast pack, and just running by faith with them.

No way I was able to replicate your workouts. I ran a 36:30 tune-up and somewhat controlled 10k 2-3 weeks before my half marathon and then the race day magic worked for me as I dipped under 1:18, basically running the pace for twice the distance. Felt tired and briefly considered dropping out after 10k, things got even harder after 15k but eventually my last 5k split was the fastest. Believe in yourself and don't forget it is only running, your life does not depend on it.

So I ran 1:19:34. My splits were 6:04, 6:02, 6:00, 5:59, 5:57, 6:04, 5:51, 6:14, 6:09, 5:56, 6:10, 6:10, 6:06, 50 seconds.

I’m happy because I still ran under 1:20, even if I reckon I had the potential to go faster.

I came down with a cold like two-three days before the race and I had a bad stomach this morning, but nothing too serious, so I just had a couple of stomach tablets and headed off to the race.

Mile one felt great. It was quite crowded at the beginning, and I was a good few rows back. I ran the first 200-300 meters st like 6:20 pace, and was a bit worried than I was going too slowly. I pick it up to about 6:15 pace and the we headed up the first hill. I ran up the hill steadily, passing lots of people. I passed even more people stretching out down the other side of the hill, making the first mile split quicker than I had planned, a 6:04 mile.

Mile two felt great. I was still passing people and just kept at like 6:05ish pace, I pushed up the hills a little to keep my pace more constant and was happy to see a 6:02 second mile.

Mile three felt great too, I was barely breathing (especially compared to those around me), and was sticking to my plan, a 6:00 mile.

Mile four was up hill, so I knew I’d have to pick it up here. It was also quite windy which was annoying. People were slowing already, probably from starting way too hard, and so I couldn’t really use anyone as a windshield. Anyway, a 5:59 mile right on pace.

Mile five flattened out a bit and I wa starting to catch club runners who didn’t go out too fast and were therefore running a constant pace, which helped. I kept my effort the same and was happy to see a 5:57 mile.

Mile six went into a park with some ups and downs. I kept pushing a little on the uphills and stretching out a little on the downhills, but I took it slightly too easy, a 6:04 mile.

Mile seven had the biggest uphill and the biggest downhill on the course. I made a deliberate effort to work harder on the big uphill and catch a few people in front of me, which I did. I then made an effort to stretch out on the downhill, which I did too. Probably went up the hill a bit too hard, a 5:51 mile.

Mile eight is where things changed. I started to have some serious doubts about whether I would be able to continue running this pace for another 6 miles, and ended up easing up a bit, not entirely deliberately. Two Germans that I passed on the downhill caught up to me and we ran as a 3 for a while. A 6:14 mile.

Mile nine went into another park. I was still going through a bad patch, so kept my foot off the gas peddle. However, about half way through this mile when we went up a slight hill I had a second wind, and put a gap on the Germans, a 6:09 mile.

I felt better again now. We left the park early into the tenth mile, and we started along a long slightly downhill straight road. I deliberately didn’t pick it up too much in case I blew up at the end. A 5:56 mile.

Mile eleven started well, I was holding my pace, kind of. But I soon started feeling too hot (I was wearing a thin wind jacket), and light headed, so I eased off a little. I also lost a good 2-5 seconds by almost running the wrong way, stopping and starting again. A 6:10 mile.

Mile twelve started well, but I started to become very light headed at about 11.3 miles. I was thinking “oh dear, I still have a long way to go”. I checked my watch and saw that I had averaged 6:03 pace up to this point, so knew I would break 1:20:00 even if I slowed a little, so I did to ensure that I didn’t faint or anything. I had basically been passing people the entire race, but people started coming past me now. My Garmin was showing 6:30 pace a points, so although it was a slow mile at 6:10, I was pleasantly surprised.

I was feeling very light headed now in mile thirteen and just wanted to safely finish. More people were passing me (including one of the two Germans) but I tried to keep things consistent. Again, I was expecting a 6:30 mile or something, but was amazed when I saw I ran a 6:06.

I started to pick things up with just over 200m to go, and passed a bunch of people (including that German) for a fast(ish) finish. I felt weak and dizzy when I really picked it up, but crossed the finish line. I saw 1:19:38 on the clock, but the official time was 4 seconds quicker because I started so far back.

I suddenly started to feel unwell on the train home, and after I got home I had really bad dirrahea. I still feel pretty awful now, but I’m on a train back to university. Hopefully I’ll get some sleep on this train.

All in all, I’m happy I achieved my sun 1:20:00 goal, and hope to run much quicker (perhaps sub 1:15) in Paris next March.