Sub 1:30 Half Marathon in 2020 (Read 618 times)

Vaporfly - at this point, is a must in my opinion, unless you absolutely cannot wear that type of shoe because it doesn't fit your feet. I use 4MM drop shoes every day in training, and yet I race in them. You can't worry about the drop when you're only wearing them for a few races a year. You won't get injured from one single run: it's the cumulative impact of multiple runs in improper shoes. Other competitors will come out with shoes over the next few months, but until I see evidence otherwise, I will be running in them.

Steve - when I said allowed, I meant allowed to enjoy myself, e.g. she was DD so I had a few extra beers while watching 

Racing - Agree with Watson, you absolutely need to race more frequently to know how to race. That's why I'm racing this weekend: it's a rust buster. It serves two purposes: 1) are my training paces in line with my current fitness at this point? and 2) remembering what the pink unicorn looks like. For goal races, I always try to race 3 times: one rust buster, one sharpening race, and then the goal race itself. For marathons, that's usually a 5K/10K about 10 weeks out from the race, and then a half marathon 3-5 weeks out.

In every race, there is a point where you ask yourself a question, and then answer it.  Racing regularly lets you practice answering that question correctly.  

This is gold, never heard it phrased this way. Should be a rule on the front page.

Cosigning all of the above on the need to RACE.

 

In every race, there is a point where you ask yourself a question, and then answer it.  Racing regularly lets you practice answering that question correctly.  Using races as workouts does not.

I completely agree with this as well - very well articulated Darkwave.  I also agree with JMac's suggestion that it should be a rule on the front page!

I don't normally post in this thread but I am shooting for a sub 1:30 half at some point this year, and I couldn't resist a good weather conversation!

I think everyone has their own point at which the cold will start to negatively affect performance. I find my performance suffers when it creeps above 50, but I have raced really well in 20 degree weather. My first BQ was 25 degrees, and my 10K PR (which I haven't been able to beat in 3 years) was in 20 degree weather. I would prefer 21 over 51, unless it was really windy. All of my current PRs were set when it was 35 or colder. I vote for winter year round, or maybe I need to move to Maine.

I have yet to figure out what "too cold" is for me but I ran a race with darkwave once that was only 12 degrees, and that was too cold.

It's a 3 miler for the local track club. An 18:15 last year would finish around 20th overall. Hoping to use that as a way to push me hard enough to shock myself.

 

 

Rakers - 7x800 is super impressive, you’ve got that 3 mile target locked unless something bizarre happens.

 

 

I'm definitely 100% human. Still laugh. Sometimes at things that people don't expect me to.

 

 

I'm sure Pastors are allowed a sense of humour Watson.

 

 

 

Welcome. A bit of a random question - any chance you ran CIM this year? I feel like I saw someone that looked like you at the expo (I recognized you as I used to lurk on multiple RWOL threads), but wasn't really sure so didn't want to be a creep.

Why yes! And no surprise, CIM was too warm/humid for me so I did not have a good race.  How was your race? I was a huge RWOL person back in the 2008-2010 time frame. This was me at the expo:

Vaporfly - at this point, is a must in my opinion, unless you absolutely cannot wear that type of shoe because it doesn't fit your feet. I use 4MM drop shoes every day in training, and yet I race in them. You can't worry about the drop when you're only wearing them for a few races a year. You won't get injured from one single run: it's the cumulative impact of multiple runs in improper shoes. Other competitors will come out with shoes over the next few months, but until I see evidence otherwise, I will be running in them.

I've done some googling and there are some examples of people getting injured from a single run.  I don't know if I'm willing to lose a month or more of training to save 30-60 seconds in a race.  And flavio makes a good point too.  But clearly I want to get the best result possible.  I'm a bit torn on this one.