Sub 1:30 Half Marathon 2021 Edition (Read 448 times)

My hobby jogger statement is basically stating we are just amateurs.

On that basis, there are probably only four current NZ distance runners who aren't hobby joggers - the Robertsons, Nick Willis and Camille Buscomb.  Even Malcolm Hicks, who made the world champs and the Olympics, has a full-time job.

Nice Job Flavio! a great effort, looking forward to reading your race report.

Flavio - the relative effort/reward of the marathon was the key factor for me.  4-5 months training, 2 months down afterwards.  Much greater potential for injury issues than training for shorter distances.  That's at least a 6 month commitment, potentially to have the whole thing wrecked by bad weather on race day, or a Covid cancellation/postponement, or any number of other things.  At least 2 of those 6 months, I'll be hating running and/or frustrated.  For me, it's just not worth it.  It's nice to still have the energy to play with my daughter on the weekend because I haven't been out doing 35km long runs with quality efforts.  I want to be out enjoying a heap of different races when things start to open up here again!

But that's just my point of view and JMac and others are much bigger marathon fans than me.  Once you're out of the post-marathon funk, take the time to think about what you love about running.  That's probably where you'll find your answer.

Steve - not trying to put you off marathons.  I do think every runner needs to do at least one.  And maybe you'll love it!

Zebano - race / holiday combo's are great!  70.3 is pretty popular over here, I know a bunch of triathletes who love them.

But that's just my point of view and JMac and others are much bigger marathon fans than me.  Once you're out of the post-marathon funk, take the time to think about what you love about running.  That's probably where you'll find your answer.

 

Bat signal sent out, here to answer.

I am a big fan of it personally because it seems to suit me. If you asked me 5 years ago what my best distane was, it was clearly the Half. I outperformed there vs. other distances. But it turned out I outperform even more at the marathon. I cannot run those equivalent times of my marathon PR, even with dedicated 5K training blocks. Part of that though, I think, is that we are all definitely past our 5K prime, almost certainly past 10K, and probably past Half too. The marathon is the one distance where you can run it very well into your late 30s (and obviously older if you get started later).

ETA: one other point related to above after reading Steve's post again: I actually really enjoy marathon quality days. Probably not the 21-22 mile long runs as much, but I love a 16-18 mile quality day with some LT work mixed in. I've never gotten that sense of accomplishment from half marathon workouts like I do there, and most of those would qualify as overkill for a half marathon.

I also think marathon training makes you a better half runner. Mark you are more of an exception to the rule, but most people run their best half times during marathon buildups because you are putting in so many miles. Not many people run 100K+ per week for 3 straight months just to run a half marathon. I dont think I can break 75 minutes in a half by running a "dedicated" half marathon cycle, but I do think I can get there in a marathon cycle.

I just continue to rag on you about the marathon not because I think it's the best race for everyone, but that you will at some point realize lifetime PRs in the shorter distances are no longer possible as we all must as we age, but the marathon still has potential for a PR. Maybe you won't care about that, but my money is on you running another one because you're going to go for that "high" one more time of getting a PR in a distance.

Corey - thank you, how's it going, how's the new house?

Keen - I've just hired a nutritionist and she told me I was not eating enough to sustain my training.

That got me wondering: what exactly do you eat in a day to fuel your weeks?

You can only get so far with steaks, cheese and eggs.

Do you have any super caloric dense cheat foods to top up the calories in a day?

You're about my size so your base caloric comsumption should be over 2500 already.

Then you spend nearly 1000 calories daily on running.

What kind of dark magic do you do LOL

Did someone say bacon grease 😋 Everything is better with bacon right ?

My diet running 70+ MPW is a lot of carbs. Keen and I are polar opposites. I can eat 3/4 a box of pasta, and then still be hungry enough to eat a pint of ice cream after dinner. When the oven is hot...

And that's EXACTLY one of the reasons I eat the way I do. Years ago I'd do a big run and eat "good post long run breakfast" and eat a couple cups of oatmeal made with milk and topped with nuts. 800+ calories of "good carbs" and fiber in a bowl. Not much protein, and a good deal of the fats being what I avoid now. 2 hours later I'd be ravenously hungry again, and that cycle would just continue throughout the day.

Prioritizing protein now I recover better overall and also don't have anywhere near the soreness I used to after hard or long runs. I truly credit this as being a big reason I can put up the mileage I am without so much as a niggle. Not to mention that I'm much more satiated and don't suffer through the day hungry all the time. Not to mention the micronutrient increases that come along with more protein + fats.

Did someone say bacon grease 😋 Everything is better with bacon right ?

I do a great mac n cheese which also involves bacon grease.  Perfect for Sunday dinner after a long run that morning!  This is literally one of two things I can cook (toasted sandwiches being the other).