Can I break 1:25 in the half?

Yes, you can. My HM PR is 1:25:40. At the time my 5-mile tempo at the time was only 6:30, and 4xMile intervals were at 5:50. Long runs of up to 14 miles were at 7:10ish. Your recent workouts are a touch faster.

How many miles are you averaging a week?

That tempo is your half pace.

Is it up a mountain?

If not, absolutely yes.

Yes Yes Yes

Runnerofruns wrote:

Last 3 workouts:

12 miles at 7:00 pace, pretty easy

5 mile tempo at 6:05 pace, pretty hard

6x2k with 2 minutes rest in 7:05-7:10 (5:40 pace)

PRs:

4:35, 9:39, 15:56 (in another life)

37:10 last year

1:29:55 last year

Can I break 1:25? 1:20 probably is unreasonable. Help?!?!

Definitely sub 1:25 . Close to 1:20 …..maybe sub . Good luck! :)

- Magic Easter Hare -

About 25-30 miles a week. Wanna put in more but residency is rough man!

Thanks for the input homies. Last year I went for it and ate it HARD the last 3 miles. Thinking I’ll go out at 6:20-6:30 pace and see what happens!

Runnerofruns wrote:

Last 3 workouts:

12 miles at 7:00 pace, pretty easy

5 mile tempo at 6:05 pace, pretty hard

6x2k with 2 minutes rest in 7:05-7:10 (5:40 pace)

PRs:

4:35, 9:39, 15:56 (in another life)

37:10 last year

1:29:55 last year

Can I break 1:25? 1:20 probably is unreasonable. Help?!?!

I've broken 1:25 twice, most recently about a month ago. And I could not possibly do either your 5 mile tempo or your 6x2k.

So yes, you should break 1:25 easily unless the course is ridiculous or the weather is awful.

I broke 1:25 last year and was doing 25-30 mpw as you were (i was more of a speed runner in another life, but our PRs aren't too different). That being said, I wasn't doing specific workouts so I'd give you the edge on where I was, so I think you got this unless you go out way too hard.

Runnerofruns wrote:

Last 3 workouts:

12 miles at 7:00 pace, pretty easy

5 mile tempo at 6:05 pace, pretty hard

6x2k with 2 minutes rest in 7:05-7:10 (5:40 pace)

PRs:

4:35, 9:39, 15:56 (in another life)

37:10 last year

1:29:55 last year

Can I break 1:25? 1:20 probably is unreasonable. Help?!?!

Your workouts are WAY faster than needed for 1:25. But your mileage is low, so you won't perform what you "should" based on workouts. Your 5k and 10k will be much better.

I would recommend going out conservatively. Do not go faster than 6:30 at the start, which will feel like a slow jog based on those 2k repeats.

The real question is what did you do before that 1:29 last year? If it was a lot less, then you'll break 1:25 easy. If it was similar...then doubtful. 37:10 is a lot better than 1:29

Also, I fell you on the residency. I ran 1:22 in med school and will probably be high 1:20s next month when I try a half. It's sad.

When I was 17 I ran a half on about 20 miles per week. I did 1:23 and my workouts would have been about half what you're doing.

The sensation of 'eating it hard" in the last three miles can be plowed through. The half is just not far enough to chew you up or drain all your energy at that pace.

Go for it early. People who tiptoe along in the early miles usually still don't pick it up enough to run any faster or even as fast as they would by going out hard and crashing a bit.

You have to remember that you have been practicing running faster. Running 6:30 to start is a pace you likely hardly ever do so it can wear on your legs with the unfamiliarity of the pace.

I ran 1:20 not long ago and I would struggle with that tempo run and be entirely incapable of your 6 x 2k workout. Taking a crack at 1:20 is not unreasonable. Your low mileage is the big question mark.

my 2c wrote:

I ran 1:20 not long ago and I would struggle with that tempo run and be entirely incapable of your 6 x 2k workout. Taking a crack at 1:20 is not unreasonable. Your low mileage is the big question mark.

At least he's approached the distance and running time in training.

I had never done a step over 10 miles.

I actually ran a half off of similar mileage. I basically ran 12-13 miles on Saturday; 5 on Sunday; and then 3 miles 3-4 days a week.

My 12-13 milers were harder about 6:45 pace and felt kind of tough. I actually did a workout the weekend before the race. 6xmile at 5:55-6:05 roughly. I want to say it was 90-120 seconds rest.

I ran 1:23 on a decidedly average day (bit cold/windy) on a fair course (not hard not easy).

I certainly believe you can do that. I don't think I could have run that tempo you listed when I did that.

Update:

1:21:47! Went out a bit fast (18:48 5k), held on through the middle (38 flat 10k), and steadied home.

Thanks for the help guys!

I thought I was wrong in going out too fast in my half but some people adjust better to going out and hanging on.

At the shorter distances, like 5k and 10k, I'm better at hanging back. (5:58, 5:58, 5:59, 0:36) for 5k.

But for the longer races, I want to go out and try to hang on.