Forums >Racing>Sub 1:30 Half Marathon in 2019
I was going off your signature and assumed your PR were 1987. But breaking a 41 year old PR is something.
Oh, now I think I see what you meant, that in the footer I list my post-1987 PRs. During my brief return to running in 1986-87 I ran a three-mile time trial that was significantly faster than my old-guy 5K PR, so it seems fairer to call at least the 5K a post-1987 PR.
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
JMac - I'd be lying if I said the marathon wasn't calling, even more so after Sunday. On a flat course, I'd be maybe 30 seconds faster for a half I reckon. Anything else is going to be pretty hard-won. That's a far cry from my marathon time which I should be able to knock 15 minutes off, maybe more - I know my potential is way better than what my current PB says and that doesn't sit well with me. When I told my wife she was initially against it, but as an athlete she did get the point.
I think maybe I'll just try and ramp the volume a little more leading up to Kerikeri in November and see how the body handles it.
As for you catching my half time... never say never. It was only a year ago I ran 1:15:40 (at the same race, on a slightly faster course). If I've learned one thing over the past year it's that generally the days where I run really good times are the days I go in focusing on running a really good race, without necessarily having a time goal in mind. I don't think the improvement in your marathon time has fully translated to the half yet simply because you don't run a lot of them.
Anyway, a few more updates for the board:
Goal for NZ Road Champs is 33:59
Kerikeri Half Marathon, 11/23, goal TBD (it's a net downhill course so something ridiculous isn't out of the question)
Bays Night of 5's 5000m, 12/20, goal 15:59
There's also a 10,000m event in Wellington in early November that I'm considering, would be a good hitout before Kerikeri if I can make the logistics work.
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"
Mark - what is the Wellington 10k?
I picked it up on the Distance Running NZ Facebook group. It's The Agency Group 10,000m in early November. Apparently they run it every year at the Newtown track and it looks like it has gone pretty well. Entry is free (although you are expected to supply a lap counter if you're not in the A race) and they provide pacers as well. Apparently last year 40% of entrants ran a PB(!) although if they are comparing that to road 10km times it's not a big surprise. There are three different races that they basically group based on target times but the range of runners last year looked pretty broad (ranging from a sub-30 through to some in the high-40's).
It's 2 weeks before Kerikeri HM so timing works out pretty well, although it's on a Saturday night so I will probably fly down Sat, stay overnight and fly back on Sun morning.
RIP Milkman
Tanzania trip was great. I found it amazing how many people were running at 5 am in the streets when we arrived. It's such a cultural difference in east Africa compared to the states. Even if you find people running in the morning in the states, it's completely different there. Every single person had graceful form, thin, running in track suits. It was like every single person looked like a professional. I can't imagine what it's like in their neighboring countries which are more known for their distance runners.
5K: 16:37 (11/20) | 10K: 34:49 (10/19) | HM: 1:14:57 (5/22) | FM: 2:36:31 (12/19)
Cobra Commander Keen
JMac - I'd LOVE to see something like that, but I don't think I could swing a trip all the way there just for that. Perhaps I'd have to arrange some sightseeing to make it seem more reasonable.
I know I'm in a pretty rural area, but it's incredibly rare for me to see even 1 adult runner while I'm out - 2 or three on a run is the most I've ever seen out here (obviously that changes when I go in to OKC). Even the XC/track kids tend to either walk (girls) or hide under a bridge (boys) unless they're really driven. It would just be awesome to see so many people out and moving like that.
5k: 17:58 11/22 │ 10k: 37:55 9/21 │ HM: 1:23:22 4/22 │ M: 2:56:05 12/22
Upcoming Races:
OKC Memorial 5k - April 27
Bun Run 5k - May 4
Mmmm Bop
Mark - Great race! I did find it weird that you guys have your masters starting at age 35, when the rest of the world considers it at age 40. Re: VFs, you're exactly right. There is no feel there, and because of the much higher heel to toe drop than you train in, makes complete sense that your quads are destroyed. I reckon they get you about 60 seconds in a half marathon (mikkey claims much higher, but he's an outlier), which means you were in PB shape no matter what, which is amazing. Watson - they're worth it and you should go out and buy a pair now.
I wouldn’t say that much higher....it felt about 20sec per 5k advantage and my buddy who is similar standard to me agreed and he races frequently and alternates from VFs to other race shoes. You and Marky are considerably faster than me so if you look at the percentage then you’d both see less of a time advantage.
Are VFs worth it? It depends on what you think is important in your running budget and how badly you want to improve your PBs. I wouldn’t have PBd in the 5k and marathon this year in any other shoes so I think they’re worth it. I don’t blow a lot of money on tune up races and haven’t needed to stay in a hotel this year....so I might even treat myself to another pair next year and donate my old ones to Piwi. 😜
Marco - That sounds like a tough 10k and I’m sure you’ll get Sub40 on a flatter course. 👍
5k - 17:53 (4/19) 10k - 37:53 (11/18) Half - 1:23:18 (4/19) Full - 2:50:43 (4/19)
I wouldn’t say that much higher....it felt about 20sec per 5k advantage and my buddy who is similar standard to me agreed and he races frequently and alternates from VFs to other race shoes. You and Marky are considerably faster than me so if you look at the percentage then you’d both see less of a time advantage. Are VFs worth it? It depends on what you think is important in your running budget and how badly you want to improve your PBs. I wouldn’t have PBd in the 5k and marathon this year in any other shoes so I think they’re worth it. I don’t blow a lot of money on tune up races and haven’t needed to stay in a hotel this year....so I might even treat myself to another pair next year and donate my old ones to Piwi. 😜 Marco - That sounds like a tough 10k and I’m sure you’ll get Sub40 on a flatter course. 👍
A minute +/- a bit sounds about right to me for a half. If a add a minute to my Dunedin time, I'm about 30 seconds ahead of my time from Christchurch. That feels about right given that Christchurch was an absolutely horrendous day weather-wise, but Dunedin has a couple of hills (and I had a pretty good 3 months of training in between those two races).
Intl. correspondent
Jmac - I suspect those runners were pros. If Tanzania is anything like here, running is a middle/upper class hobby. Unlike the US, middle class here is a tiny fraction at the top of the pyramid. If they didn't look like hobby joggers, they were most likely pros, or aspiring pros at least.
me - Back from the 1500m time trial with a new shiny PR of 4:54.10 (2.9seconds PR). I'm very, very happy about it and I've posted the race report here -> https://www.runningahead.com/forums/post/a0e2ef419b3a483e9602451a2e363269#focus
PRs: 1500 4:54.1 2019 - 5K 17:53 2023 - 10K 37:55 2023 - HM 1:21:59 2021
Up next: some 800m race (or time trials) / Also place in the top 20% in a trail race
Tool to generate Strava weekly
Flavio - Congratulations on the new PR! Off to read the RR/watch the video now.
3 months til Masters
Great job flavio!!!
2023 Goals
Marathon Sub 2:37 (CIM) 2:41:18
10k Sub 35:00 (Victory 10k 34:19)
5k Sub 16:00 (Hot Dash 5k in March (16:48), Brian Kraft in May (16:20), Twilight 5000 in July and August (16:20/16:25 Both heat index 102-103F)
Sub 1:16 Half Marathon City of Lakes Half Marathon 1:15:47)
Sub 56:30 in 10 mile (Twin Cities 10 mile, Canceled due to weather, 56:35 as a workout)
2024 Goals
Sub 2:37 Marathon
Sub 1:15 Half
Sub 34 10k
Sub 16 5k
Great Flavio!!! well done!!!
PRs since re-started in 2013:
5km: 19:43 (Belfast park run Sep-16) | 10km: 40:16 (Belfast Lagan side 10K Sep-18)
HM: 1:30:09 (Belfast city Half Marathon, September-18) | FM: 3:25:05 (official chip time Belfast city Marathon, May-19, marathon was 0.3/4 longer, original time 3:27:20 for 26.5/6...)
Upcoming races:
???
Great job Flavio. We keep telling you to race more, now you see why. Get those new PRs while the iron is hot!
Flavio - congratulations.
The last few weeks on the board have quite a few PRs.
Flavio - well done!!! You were definitely gunning for this one and it's so good that you managed to smash it.
Watson is right, it's like the board has collectively hit PR form!