Anyone here run a HM in 2:30 or more? (Read 976 times)

It's actually the : followed by x that invokes the emoticon...

I think you will find the half both a physically challenging and a rewarding experience.

There are lots of nice people to share the experience with and a spirit of mutual encouragement is common among runners towards the middle and back of the field.

Since your log is public I took a peek and could not help noticing you are not preparing for your event- if you want to improve you know what to do.

I've been dealing with an injury, but thanks for your concern.  I am working on getting back out there, and my 12 week training plan (I think I'm following Higdon's Novice 2 with a little tweaking) will begin in Feb. 

My first HM was 2:24. I was very conservative and didn't push much, ran it almost as slow as my long run pace (which would have meant a 2:35 finish). I had a good time, finished ahead of lots and lots of people, and wasn't any more beat up than I was for my long runs. My number one goal, other than finishing, was to run the whole way, and I did that – didn't walk a single step and I was very happy about that.

Di, hope your injury is getting better.

I echo what everyone else said. Just get out there and have fun. And even if you are 2:30+ I

guarantee you will be proud of your accomplishment and you will have lots of company

with other great folks having fun!

Di,

I ran my first half on December 9 and finished in 2:55.  I was really happy to finish in less than three hours.  Of course, to give some perspective, my DH finished in 1:43 at the same race and had plenty of time to go back to our hotel room, shower, change, and return to the finish line to see me finish.  If I think too much about that fact, I would feel bad about how slow I was, but instead I focus on the amazing accomplishments I have made in the last year of running.

Run your own race, Di, and be proud of what you accomplish.  I guarantee that no one is worried about your time except for you.

Good luck!  

Yay Diana!!!! How exciting! When is your HM? I'm freaking out. I haven't ran a good run for a month and my HM is May 5th.

My HM is the same day. =)  18 weeks to go!  Eek. =)

Thanks, everybody.  Right now I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to build up my mileage without killing myself.  Oh, well.  13.1 or bust. =)

When I first started running, I said I'd never run a HM, because I'm pretty slow, and I had no desire to spend 3 hours running (unless, of course, I magically got fast and could cover the full 26.2 in that time).   Almost a year later, I've changed my tune, and despite my slowness, I've signed up for a HM.  

 

Now, though, I'm wondering if I'm crazy.  Has anyone here run a HM that took over 2:30?  Maybe even closer to 3 hours?  I'm just wondering how the experience was.    

 

Thanks! 

Yes, 1 one was 2:31. I was 13 weeks pregnant, had to stop 5 times thinking I had to pee and ran a bit slower because I was afraid that I would pee. Second one was 2:36, I was just a week from 6 months post pregnant, over trained a still recovering body and tore either my groin or upper/inner quad muscle and limped pretty much the whole race. The year I have 4 HMs, first one is Go! St. Louis Half which supposedly has a lot of hills so I don't expect a PR although I am hoping for a close to 10:30 minute pace (negative split).  2nd one is the Cincinnati Flying Pig Half, I don't really know much about that course so eh. 3rd is the one I've ran twice now and I expect a decent PR, under 2:20 and my 4th race will be the Indy Monumental Half which I heard has a great course so I will be expecting another PR under 2:20 (crossing fingers).