Forums >Racing>Sub 1:30 Half Marathon in 2020
Jmacs 2:36 is really impressive.
Wairarapa in spring is always a big risk with wind. It could have been much worse.
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
Mark I have no desire to run a full in the near future. I've done 2 that were near perfect for my ability. I also hate the longer training.
Did you see Hayden Wildes run ?
Flavio that's a great photo. What shoes are you in ?
Coaching has worked well for you. I cant commit to a coach due to having lots of other bills
Keen your short long run is like my normal long run
I had no energy last sunday so ran my longrun at recovery pace and it still sucked towards the end.
Zebano as long as you are fat and happy
Jmac that's crazy. Suffocating while running sounds horrible.
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 "
Mark I have no desire to run a full in the near future. I've done 2 that were near perfect for my ability. I also hate the longer training. Did you see Hayden Wildes run ?
No but caught some of the highlights. Almost everyone I know in Auckland on Strava was complaining about how windy it was that day so I'm really surprised they didn't defer it. Hell of an effort in tough conditions.
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"
Hot Weather Complainer
Mark - Nice RR. You won't get me trying to talk you into doing another one....however it will be interesting to see whether you absolutely smash your next half with this base. I'm targeting a full next April and I already sense I will never do another one but looking forward to it helping me do a half a few months later.
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
Mark - Nice RR. You won't get me trying to talk you into doing another on....however it will be interesting to see whether you absolutely smash your next half with this base. I'm targeting a full next April and I already sense I will never do another one but looking forward to it helping me do a half a few months later.
It definitely helped me last time around. About 4 months after my first full I PR'ed in the half by around 30 seconds on one of the hilliest half courses in the country (Coatesville). Then 1 month after that I knocked another minute and a half off at Waterfront. You've got to allow time for proper recovery after a marathon but I've no doubt that it catalysed a lot of improvement in my shorter distance races.
I don't think Mt. Maunganui Half next month will be especially quick for me because it's just too close - I just want to go out and enjoy that race. But with a good platform to work on my speed over the summer, I really want to have a good crack at Southern Lakes HM on May 1. There's every chance I could set an even-more-ludicrous downhill PR there, it looks like such a fun course and going stupidly fast would make it even more fun.
Is Steve targeting Christchurch full in April.
Marathon training in February in Christchurch
Is Steve targeting Christchurch full in April. Marathon training in February in Christchurch
Fair point Watson, it could work in Steve's favour though. I remember JMac struggling through NY summer temps in training before crushing his marathon PR in fall races like NYC and CIM with the benefit of cooler temps. I know I found those 30km long runs with tempo blocks significantly tougher back in January than I did in April/May.
On that note, NZ Road Race Champs next month (rescheduled from its normal September window) is using the normal full-day schedule which has the Masters Mens race at... 12:30pm. It could easily be 20C / 70F if not higher if it's a sunny day, and it will probably feel hotter right in the middle of the day. Assuming I come through the next week or two of marathon recovery OK, I'll intentionally run some workouts in the middle of the day to force some acclimatisation - otherwise it could be a really tough day.
Yeah...I've already bought a hydration pack and planned 5-6am Saturday runs, but we'll see how we go. Maybe I'll do the half in ChCh and target a later full. I was really disappointed they changed the date which takes out April and May - my favourite training months.
Mt. Maunganui in late November could be warm too as that's the start of summer. Also the Mount base track will cost some time.
Yeah it's a late-ish start for that time of year too, 8:30am. Most races at that time of year are normally 7:30am.
I assume they close that off to the public piwi? The one time I ran through there it would have been very difficult to run fast with the number of people, and along with the ups and downs and winding track. Although given Mark is just targeting a fun day out it shouldn't really matter. And there's some great places to socialise at afterwards. Queenstown is on a Saturday too, it's great not having to go to work the next day.
I had a 9am half last November. Heat was too much from 30 minutes in. I should have downgraded my aim by several minutes due to the heat.
Christchurch marathon event end of May / start of June was so good for an autumn training block.
Also I race next Tuesday, 20 October
Wellington Waterfront 5km Summer Series
Aim TBD
Watson - agree re the previous timing for Christchurch being great for autumn training, the only risk was a winter storm like we copped in 2019. The new date for 2021 is actually the same day as Waterfront Half which is just terrible because they're the two fastest flat courses in the country.
RIP Milkman
Mark with a great memory on my training.
My opinion is that fall marathons are much better than spring marathons. Yes, the training in hot weather sucks, and long tempos (e.g. marathon paced) can be brutal, but if you adjust appropriately, the trainign pays off in spades during the race. When you're coming out of a brutal summer, even a marathon at 60F/15C feels nice and cool. A 60F/15C marathon in the spring, after you've done all of your MP work around freezing, feels downright hot.
This was true for all of my NYCMs, but even true for CIM this past December. The weather was not perfect. It was 55F with 100% humidity. However, because I trained in temperatures 25+ with brutal NYC humidity, it felt pretty good. I remember Brew mentioning it was too humid for him because he trains in super dry conditions in Nevada.
No idea what Christchurch weather is for February, but as long as it's not crazy hot, you'll do well.
Mark - what's your road 5K, you dont have it listed. Also thanks regarding my marathon (and Watson). You absolutely destroy me in every other distance, so I'll take this small victory in our incredibly friendly not-really-a-competition competition
5K: 16:37 (11/20) | 10K: 34:49 (10/19) | HM: 1:14:57 (5/22) | FM: 2:36:31 (12/19)