Forums >Racing>Sub 1:30 Half Marathon in 2018
Mark next time I run with you I will make sure its my workout day it can be your slow day
Watson I think crowd support goes a long way to helping you keep up effort in a marathon. Ive signed up for Brighton UK. Although not London there are 12000 runners. Tauranga has no draw for me. They completely changed it from the 1st year and running up a big staircase in a marathon is a complete turnoff. Course length is pretty dodgy too. They have finally changed the name of our local City to Surf 12k to 11k which I have known was wrong for years.
55+ PBs 5k 18:36 June 3rd TT
" If you don't use it you lose it, but if you use it, it wears out.
Somewhere in between is about right "
Hot Weather Complainer
I do like the big races, Melbourne being the biggest I've done, but I have to admit the smaller ones with not many obstacles are fine with me. I don't really care about running around other people.
I had a look at the results from the 5km last night and it was a much shallower field than last year. My goal time of 19:30 would have had me 12th and on the podium in my AG...coulda shoulda woulda
5km: 18:34 11/23 │ 10km: 39:10 8/23 │ HM: 1:26:48 9/23 │ M: 3:34:49 6/23
2024 Races:
Motorway Half Marathon February 25, 2024 1:29:55
Christchurch Half-Marathon April 21, 2024
Selwyn Marathon June 2, 2024
Dunedin Half Marathon September 15, 2024
I'm in Tauranga for my partner's family reunion in late January - staying in a house full of people I don't know so I may need to escape for beer/run so we add to the meet ups.
Steve - I think that’s why I like Auckland HM (or at least one of the reasons). It’s big enough to have a big race atmosphere to it, but it’s still easy enough to get a good spot on the start line and not have to mess around with corrals etc. I think it was around 6,000 for the half this year.
I could come down join you and Piwi haha Tauranga is nice that time of year!
3,000m: 9:07.7 (Nov-21) | 5,000m: 15:39 (Dec-19) | 10,000m: 32:34 (Mar-20)
10km: 33:15 (Sep-19) | HM: 1:09:41 (May-21)* | FM: 2:41:41 (Oct-20)
* Net downhill course
Last race: Waterfront HM, 7 Apr, 1:15:48
Up next: Runway5, 4 May
"CONSISTENCY IS KING"
RIP Milkman
Forum meetups - I had a plan to meet Andres over in the sub 3 at NYC but it fell apart when I got to the starting village way too late. Great that there are so many meetups going on. I also agree that New Zealand is not located on the map.
MJ - Thanks! The great thing about marathon training is that you peak a lot later in your life, unlike many other sports.
Small Races - Not sure I could do a marathon with under 500 people in it. I said that I'm not a pack runner, but that doesn't mean I would enjoy being out there all alone for effectively a time trial. Passing people does give you a boost. 5K/10K in smaller fields is completely okay.
Me - My foot pain is still bothering me (see it was real!) so I've been taking a bunch of days off. May get out there tomorrow for a few miles but then will take another 4 days off as I will be on holiday. After that though, I have to get started back up so I hope this metatarsalgia responds to the break in running.
5K: 16:37 (11/20) | 10K: 34:49 (10/19) | HM: 1:14:57 (5/22) | FM: 2:36:31 (12/19)
Cobra Commander Keen
Small races - With the exception of the two big marathons (OKC & Tulsa) there are only a few races that I know of that attract more than just 2-300 people. My upcoming race currently has 270 spots remaining out of 750 total among the M + HM + 5k - with ~160-225 likely for the marathon. Even accounting for a few HM'ers who may be close for the first half, I'm fully expecting to run most of this race Kipchoge style (read: alone, not fast!). The vast majority of my runs are solo anyway, so I'm prepared for it. Even in the marathons I've done with thousands of finishers people always get so strung out by the half that it's mostly deserted anyway.
Overall I've come to like smaller races over the larger ones I've done. Organization can be simpler, easier to navigate and get to the start line, while still offering good support.
Speaking of my upcoming event, start time is now officially on the extended forecast! 40F/4.4C, some cloud cover, and negligible wind. Is there a way I can lock that in??
JMac - Bummer about the foot. Still using the metatarsal pads? Hopefully it does all go away with your post-huge PR break.
5k: 17:58 11/22 │ 10k: 37:55 9/21 │ HM: 1:23:22 4/22 │ M: 2:56:05 12/22
Upcoming Races:
OKC Memorial 5k - April 27
Bun Run 5k - May 4
Mark - Sounds good, we can make it a long run with a few pub stops.
JMac - If my experiences with niggles have taught me anything, you're much better off taking an extra week than pushing it and taking another few days...and then another few days.
Me - Frustrating week with sore calf so have stuck to the bike. Up until yesterday I felt pain even when walking but it feels much better today. I might give it a try tomorrow but will be cautious - I don't think this week will hurt my race in 4 weeks too much but if damage it again then I will struggle to make the start line.
Christchurch is a "big" race which I quite like. The new course back in town after the earthquakes does go through Hagley Park after 3km though which I think is too early - the paths are about 3-4 people wide so it's a bit frustrating but helps those of us who go out too fast manage the pace. The second half around the river can be a bit lonely. There are always some people around but with the houses all wiped out by the earthquake you might as well be in the middle of nowhere. Before the earthquake all the residents in that area would be out supporting. My last race in Ashburton was pretty small - I came 38th out of 350, and even with a much faster second half of the race, I didn't pass many people. The last person I passed was at the 18km mark and he finished nearly 3 minutes back, he must have been hurting.
Piwi/Watson/Steve - According the Queenstown Marathon's facebook page it's now the biggest marathon in NZ with 2,360 entrants this year for the full marathon.
This actually surprised me. Although it's a big destination race with great scenery, it's a pretty slow course (mainly trails) and has no interest for me. Auckland (big race, great event), Christchurch (good course, well-known event, good time of year) and Rotorua (pretty famous and a lot of history) all have much more to offer. There is no way I'd do Queenstown over any of those three.
I did the Queenstown Half last year and, even though I was sick, I have to admit I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The first 3km was down roads so there was enough room and I can remember only 2 parts of the trail that were too narrow - 1 when it's easy enough to step on to grass and 1 in the last 2 km around the gardens heading into town. Not ideal to start mixing through 10km walkers on a narrow track towards the end but then running through town for 1km with so many people around is amazing. I wouldn't recommend it for a PB but it's a nice occasion (and the trails are very well packed!).
If you count all entrants over all distances, Auckland would be way out in front I would have thought? Christchurch probably second.
Steve for sure if you come up let me know and we can go for a run up the Mount or Papamoa hills. You will need to get up early though to beat the heat !
Mark I also lean more towards Marathons with a history. So many come and go. I thought Auckland would be around 3000.
Jmac your down time should help that injury and hopefully kick it away.
Keen nice forecast fingers crossed.
Going to pick up my race pack this afternoon. Forecast looks good not too windy. Race starts at 8.45am. It was quite hot today before the breeze kicked in so Im hoping for a bit of cloud cover tomorrow.
Steve - I agree re Queenstown having a very scenic and enjoyable course (and a well organised event)... it's just not that quick! For the half you can probably live with the high amount of trail but I reckon for a full it would be pretty hard work. I would say it's worth doing the half there once just for the experience, but that'll do me (given flight/accommodation costs, too). Hawkes Bay is in a very similar category IMO.
Auckland was over 15,000 this year across all distances so probably easily the biggest. The 12km nudges that up a lot because a lot of people do it just for the novelty of walking/running over the Harbour Bridge and it basically always sells out. Queenstown I think is pushing ~10,000 now mostly due to being a well-marketed destination/lifestyle event. Christchurch I would guess is probably ~4,000 and Rotorua maybe slightly less.
I'm still trying to figure out my plans for next year. I want to do CHC HM at some point but with a stacked calendar ending with Waterfront in mid-April I'll likely look to log some training over winter and then hit a race in Aug/Sept. Although I don't think Athletics NZ have decided yet where NZ Half Marathon Champs will be next year so that could be a factor too.
Piwi - good luck!!
Keen - I have yet to find a way to successfully bribe the weather gods...
Yep, Queenstown is pricey but luckily for me my partners parents live there...that probably helped the event for me, not having to get the shuttle to the start, having someone willing to pick me up at the finish then drive me back into town to the pub!
Christchurch is a good one - pretty cold time of year but *usually* the weather is good. The last 2 years have broken this rule though. I think if you do ChCh in your current form you could end up with a lifetime PB
Picked up my bib. Saw one of my running buddies who is running the 10k and is a 31 min guy
I ran Christchurch half this year. Conditions were very good. Although it got worse soon after so the marathon would have been tough. All races start the same time.
Agree with Steve re Hagley Park being too early with narrow paths.
PRs: 5km 18:43 (Dec 2015), 10km 39:59 (Sep 2020), half 1:26:16 (Sep 2016), full 3:09:28 (Jun 2015)
40+ PRs: 5km 19:31 (Oct 2020), 10km 39:59 (Sep 2020), half 1:29:39 (Jun 2018), full 3:13:55 (Sep 2022)
2023 PRs (hope to beat in 2024): 5km 20:34, 10km 41:37, half 1:32:32, full 3:21:05
2024 PRs: 5km 20:25
Really surprised on Queenstown - 1555 full finishers last year.