Goal of sub 1:40 half. (Read 3802 times)

Flyer, you're not going to be out there long enough to need water at all.  I never take water during a half marathon.  Drink to thirst before the race, maybe a couple of sips of water close to start time.  Eat a light breakfast, maybe a bagel or a banana.  You'll be fine.

 

If this is your first half I think your biggest concern should be going out too fast.  Adrenaline and the crowd will being pulling at you.  First mile should feel ridiculously easy.

 

Hmm, I usually feel like I need water during a half marathon. Even the 1-hour half marathon guys drink during the race, don't they?

Flyer, you're not going to be out there long enough to need water at all.  I never take water during a half marathon.  Drink to thirst before the race, maybe a couple of sips of water close to start time.  Eat a light breakfast, maybe a bagel or a banana.  You'll be fine.

 

If this is your first half I think your biggest concern should be going out too fast.  Adrenaline and the crowd will being pulling at you.  First mile should feel ridiculously easy.

 

I am concerned because on Labor Day I ran 13.1 miles for a training run and I took a 16 ounce bottle of water for the run and drank it all over the course of the run. I lost 7 pounds during the run (about 6% of my body weight). I know this can be dangerous if it is a hot and humid day. I felt pretty weak the rest of the day sipping all the water I could. Luckily it should not be warm in Michigan by next Sundays race but I feel I need to drink a couple times during the race. I usually drink nothing in 5ks just pour water over my head if it is hot so I am not used to drinking huge gulps of water. I never have run with water sloshing in my stomach so if I do take water from a voulunteer it would probably be a short sip or two and dump over my head.

 

I don't think I will run with a bottle from the start of the half race because I think is too big a hassle and could be a detriment to my form (or at least I will think that it is).

 

This afternoon I just ran 7 miles at 7:45 pace. I called it a tempo run on my log but it was closer to easy than a tempo. I felt terrific. The temp is 72 and it should be no where near that warm for my 8:30 am marathon. This could be a very good sign that the longer runs are working well with me.

I disagree with the last post. An hour and 40 minutes is too long to go without water. Part of your preparation is getting used to hydrating while on the move. Having ran a similar distance last week and losing 6% of your body weight proves that you sweat quite a bit and the 16 ounces of water wasn't nearly enough. People have certainly had severe dehydration problems in half marathons (although they aren't as frequent as in full marathons) but, they certainly happen. That's why they have 5 or 6 water stops and first aid tents. If you were a Kenyan who could be done in an hour and this was a walk in the park maybe....but, you are not and 100 minutes is a considerable workout.

 

Not for me.  I've done it too many times to count.

 

 

I've never said that dehydration problems don't happen.  I said that Flyer should be OK if temperatures are moderate and he is sufficiently hydrated at the start of the race.

 

 

I've seen water stations at 5K's.  Does that mean that 30 minutes or so is too long to go without water?

 

I am not disagreeing with you. But I see others are just trying to protect me because I have never raced the distance before.

 

Yes you can run 13 miles without water but you probably drink a lot the day before and right after the race.

I intend to hydrate well the day before the race.

 

I think some posters just want me to know this could be dangerous. If a runner loses 10% of your body weight they probably will end up in the hospital. I was quite surprised when I went from 146 to 139 pounds just by running 13.1 miles (and I drank a whole bottle of water on that run). Had I run a full marathon I probably would have lost 10% of my body weight. I have only run 5ks so this 7 pound weight loss really caused me to sit up and take notice...I realize a half marathon is not a game...when you sign a waiver for a 5k it is like yeah all right....but the half marathon is not a joke and should be taken seriously. I can see a lot of new runners to the distance who don't get alot of good advise could read your comments and think they can manage 13 miles without water. I think that is where we must be careful and why some have questioned you. I know enough to hydrate the day before but I have no clue about drinking during a race this long...because I always skip the 5k water stops because as you note - who needs water for a 30 minute run? Well I just figure you need 20 ounces for every 1/2 hour of running so I will finish my 5k and drink the 20 ounces after I finish.

 

I have run 10 miles before without water. I believe Jack Daniels book says to drink 20 ounces for every 1/2 hour of racetime? That ain't going to happen but I think I will need about 16 ounces during the race to stay hydrated, provided that I hydrate well the day before and some the morning of the race. Then after the race I will get some Gatoraide into me.

 

So that is my question...if they hand out 8 ounce cups...I am not running with a cup for 2 miles. I am gonna drink the whole thing and throw it off the path. Now is 8 ounces of water going to mess with my system? I usually sip a 16 ounce bottle over the course of 10 mile training runs so it is a little at a time.

The fact is at half marathon race pace you really can't drink enough to prevent dehydration anyway.  Take some water at the water tables if you're thirsty--drinking to thirst is the best way to regulate hydration--but pretty much no matter what  when running half marathon pace you'll likely be somewhat dehydrated when you finish, moreso if it's hot out.

 

Like MrPH I regularly do 2+ hour training runs with no water with no ill effects.  Yeah I'm dehydrated when I'm done, big whoop.  Dehydration is not the big bad bogeyman that the "sports nutrition" industry would have you believe.

 

Weighing yourself isn't a great measure of how dehydrated you are and your body is not wired to regulate weight as a means to hydrate anyway, it tries to regulate osmolality.  Science of Sport did a great series on exercise and dehydration a while back if you're interested.

I did it! I ran the San Francisco Dolphin South End Club's Lake Merced Half Marathon this morning in 1:38:53.

 

My first attempt to go below 1:40 at the San Francisco Marathon (first Half) was unsuccessful, due to some steep hills that I wasn't ready for. I slowed badly at the end and ended up finishing in 1:44x. My consolation was that I finished within the window that 1st corrall runners were supposed to be able to do. I didn't want to be one of those people who start up front and get in the way.

 

I had an opportunity to run another race this weekend and thought the Lake Merced course looked flat enough to give it another go. That, plus I've been doing a lot more hill running to try to get stronger.

 

The weather this morning was perfect (60's I think) with some cool fog and the race was run smoothly. The course was a little hillier than I thought but today I ran a good pace for my current conditioning and was able to maintain it the whole way without slowing down much. I was definitely looking  forward to the race being over after mile 10 though.

 

I have to admit, this was a tougher goal than I thought it would be. Good luck to everyone.

I did it! I ran the San Francisco Dolphin South End Club's Lake Merced Half Marathon this morning in 1:38:53.

 

Congratulations!!!