15 replies to this topic

[aap1966]

Did my first 15 km rum today (1:15:09), suddenly longer runs are no longer unobtainable.
Is there a consensus as to whether your first half-marathon (or marathon) distance should be in training or in a race?
My inclination is to do the 21.1 km a few times in training first before doing a race, but maybe I'm doing myself a disservice.
Input from the "been there, done that" crowd eagerly awaited. Thanks

[runhard]

When I did my first half, I only ran 21k once before hand as a mental thing to ensure I could make the distance. I did it really slow but ran the whole way.

As for my first full, 36k was the furtherest I did before it and made it easily.

Totally up to you whether you want to run the distance before hand but I dont think it is needed. 15k in 75min is pretty good pace for a training run. what time are you going for?

RH

[mutk]

aap1966, on 21 June 2012 - 12:53 PM, said:

Did my first 15 km rum today (1:15:09), suddenly longer runs are no longer unobtainable.
Is there a consensus as to whether your first half-marathon (or marathon) distance should be in training or in a race?
My inclination is to do the 21.1 km a few times in training first before doing a race, but maybe I'm doing myself a disservice.
Input from the "been there, done that" crowd eagerly awaited. Thanks

When I did my first HM I had done a couple of runs 21km+. This was as a result of the training program I followed - It did not specify distance, only time. I had a couple of 2hr+  training runs and my pace happened to get me 21km+

In the race I managed 1hr39.

My partner did her first HM the following year, after having managed to do only 18km longest run. She managed to finish in fine form too
So what is your goal?  To finish? Or to run to a goal time?  I am personally goal motivated so I choose time.

I recon its entirely possible for you right now to step out and do a HM, based on the fact you were capable of 15km's already. Especially given the time you did it in, it is pretty handy for a first go at it.

So, don't hold back, HM distance is well within your grasp as is a race.

[42junkie]

I did 18km before my first half marathon, just once. And I did 30km just once before my first full. But I generally go to races undertrained. I think it would be perfectly ok to do a couple of 20km runs before a half marathon, and up to 35km before a full. You would know after doing this that you can certainly complete the race.

[johnnyboyrun]

No, you dont need to that. Some people do it for confidence, Whatever you feel comfortable with. just make sure your training is somewhat structured

[Ponytail]

The hm is not that hard. My first hm I decided to do a few Weeks prior and hadn't run
runa few weeks prior and hadn't run more than 12k. I did a 17 the week before and got through the distance in just under 2 hours

[mytym]

If your inclination is to do a few half-distance training runs before hand, then you should do them.  It doesn't take that long to recover from a half (3 or 4 days to get back to 100%), so you won't be doing yourself a disservice.  You'll also have an accurate idea of how you'll fare in the race (No Surprises).  Having said that, it is certainly not essential to running well on race day.  As far as the marathon goes, it depends what your goal is.  If it's just to finish the race, then full distance training runs are not necessary.  If you gunning for a fast time, then I think at least one full distance run about 6 weeks before hand is beneficial.  Mind you, I haven't tried this yet and am in the vast minority with this view.

[Running Angel]

Like ponytail I decided to do my first HM a few weeks out, I was actually training for my first 10k at the time, which ended up being the week after the HM. I had run one 16k training run beforehand and finished ok having run the whole way. I don't agree that the HM distance is "not that hard" though. Is all relative I guess but I actually find it the hardest distance to do well at

[runningphysio]

I'm a firm believer that mileage is accumulative and that there is no need for everyone to work on the same philosophy of having to have completed a long run of 'x'km before being ready to tackle a HM or FM. If you feel, both physically and mentally, that 15km is now easily accomplished, then I believe 21km will come to you no worries. With that said, I would recommend completing several runs of that new 15km distance in training before doing the half. Like i said - mileage is accumulative. I'm currently training for my first 100km event and there is no way i'll be doing a 100km training run haha!

[KiaKaha]

my longest run before run melb will be 18km i think 15km is fine. Halfs can be hard or fairly cosy depending on how hard you run them.

Just enjoy this one run comfortable and have fun

[speedmeup]

Hi app1966,
I agree with others in that it's not essential to run the full 21km prior to your first HM - but it will certainly be a mental (and physical) bonus if you can . .

When i first stared doing longer kilometres, i found that a 5km "loop" course was much easier than an out and back course. . . In a loop course, pretty soon a 5km loop turns into 10, 10 into 15, 15 into 20 and so on. . . Once you conquer 4 laps of the "loop" your 21km will seem much easier.

my loop theory is based on a tenuous association with a scientific trial using rats (ewwwww ! - sorry for the horrible connotations) : see: http://www.dmconfide...eting_Tips/431/) .. a rat placed in a tub of water will swim for about 7 hours before drowning ... but if you take the same rat out for a few seconds at 6.5 hours, then put it back in the tub .. it will swim for 20 hours.. The same concept occurs with loop training .. if you think that "it's only a couple km's to the finish (or end of loop)" it's much easier to deal with than "I've still got 15km to run" ..

All the best with your half.

PS no animals were harmed in the preparation of this post.

Edited by speedmeup, 22 June 2012 - 11:00 PM.

[aap1966]

runhard, on 21 June 2012 - 03:13 PM, said:

........what time are you going for?
RH

mutk, on 21 June 2012 - 03:24 PM, said:

.........So what is your goal?  To finish? Or to run to a goal time?  

Finishing was my primary goal, less than 2 hours I'd be happy with, anything less than 1:50 I'd be ecstatc. I do find the idea of a "half-marathon" intimidating, which is why I'm leaning toward upping the training until 21 km is my regular "long run". Running your training distance (without hills or traffic) is a lot less intimidating than running anything with the word "marathon" in it!
Thanks for the input guys. I'm operating from a position of enthusiastic ignorance, so input is appreciated.

Edited by aap1966, 23 June 2012 - 01:11 AM.

[aap1966]

BornToRunFree, on 22 June 2012 - 09:27 AM, said:

.... I'm currently training for my first 100km event

  

What's a good 100km time?

[speedmeup]

Any time. . if you can finish 100km without breaking down. . it is a good time !

[runningphysio]

Thoroughly agree with speedmeup...any finishing time for an ultra is a good. Definitely an individual thing though, similar to every other race. However i'm hoping for sub 9hrs at this stage

[Davo]

speedmeup, on 22 June 2012 - 08:29 PM, said:

Hi app1966,
I agree with others in that it's not essential to run the full 21km prior to your first HM - but it will certainly be a mental (and physical) bonus if you can . .

When i first stared doing longer kilometres, i found that a 5km "loop" course was much easier than an out and back course. . . In a loop course, pretty soon a 5km loop turns into 10, 10 into 15, 15 into 20 and so on. . . Once you conquer 4 laps of the "loop" your 21km will seem much easier.

my loop theory is based on a tenuous association with a scientific trial using rats (ewwwww ! - sorry for the horrible connotations) : see: http://www.dmconfide...eting_Tips/431/) .. a rat placed in a tub of water will swim for about 7 hours before drowning ... but if you take the same rat out for a few seconds at 6.5 hours, then put it back in the tub .. it will swim for 20 hours.. The same concept occurs with loop training .. if you think that "it's only a couple km's to the finish (or end of loop)" it's much easier to deal with than "I've still got 15km to run" ..

All the best with your half.

PS no animals were harmed in the preparation of this post.

Very interesting, speedmeup. It's a good philosophy especially in ultra events, to break it into short-term goals. It's much easier to say "only a few more minutes and I can have a walk" than to say "oh no, I've still got hours and hours to go."