Sub 2hour Half-Marathon debut (Unofficial, Garmin measured)
Yesterday I was a little depressed to have a series of unfortunate events in my first week of running this 2009. The week wasn’t over yet, and I was careful for possible worse things to come. I had a scheduled weekend long run of 13 miles, but I figured I had to redeem myself and do a half-marathon in a fast time. Before I slept, I realized my weekly mileage was very low compared to the previous weeks. As you can see in the graph below, it looks like the US economy during the bubble burst.
But then I realized, I have just done a “taper” this week. It’s useless if I’m not going to race, so with a 13miler scheduled this Sunday, why not run it faster than usual? So I planned to do a sub 2hour halfie, just before bedtime, I “carbo-loaded” with a chocolate flavored oatmeal. Yum! Then I slept earlier than usual.
This morning when I woke up, I felt a lot better, feeling fresh, no sore muscles. My right foot was better. I drank coffee to keep me awake, and a cup of gatorade to hydrate myself. I then filled 4 bottles of Nike Hydra belt, equivalent to 1-1/3 bottle of 500mL Gatorade. I went out, the temperature was cool. I was wearing a singlet, so It’s ok to feel colder than usual. There weren’t much wind, but my hands felt a little cold. I said to myself, this is just perfect for a sub 2hour half-marathon. It’s a no-sweat workout. Hehehe…
I started running at around 10minutes per mile pace (6:15/km). I felt a little heavy due to the hydra belts, but probably also because my muscles weren’t warm yet. In my calculations, I had to run below 9min/mile (5:37/km) to achieve my sub2hour goal. After 1.5miles, I felt my legs getting stronger and my breathing getting into rhytm, so I picked up the pace to around 9min/mile. I had to constantly monitor my pace (thank God for Garmin!) on my GF405. There were lots of hills and my route was to the fort. During uphills, I had to struggle to be in 9min/mile pace, but I was able to relax downhill, but I tried to increase my leg cadence/turn-over speed in order to take advantage of the downhills. During downhills, I saw my pace to sometimes peak 7mins/mile (4:22/km). Alright!!!
On my way, I met Rico “sheerwill” running with his friend, Karen, whom according to him, chatted with him to reduce boredom and distract him from his foot pain. He’s also probably enjoying his garmin again on a very Long run!
When I arrived in Bonifacio High Street, my average pace was 9:30min/mile (5:56/km), so I knew I have to run faster on my way back. The distance I’ve run to BHS according to Garmin, was 5.4miles, so I had to do a quick mental calculation: I needed to go back home as soon as I reach 7.7 miles. It was then I met my friend Jessie Sacaylie who is a 54yr old runner and who also runs near my neighborhood. All I have to say is this old man is a real fast runner. Real fast. He’s gifted. We ran together at 8min/mile but I told him the pace was too fast for me so we slowed down to 9min/mile. He told me he started running at 50years of age, and after a year of running, did a 36minute 10K at 51yrs old. Oh my God. He said his time at the latest Milo Marathon Finals was around 3:30, while his qualifying/eliminations was 3:45. His marathon debut was 4:15. I looked at his wrist, he wasn’t wearing any watch. He said all he has is a cellphone with him to keep track of time, and he was running for hours already. He has no garmin GPS, nor a nice timex watch with him. He’s just a jogger concerned of his health, who happens to be a blistering fast runner. He never ran before he turned 50, and wasn’t an athlete when he was young. What more if he ran in his twenties? He could probably win some Milo Marathon races. After 3 loops in the BHS block, I headed back home.
In my way back home, my average pace increased to 9:30/mile. I said to myself, I still needed to run faster. Anyway, I only drank gatorade at miles 4, 7, and 10. I felt like it I wasn’t thirsty at all, thank God for the great weather. At 10 miles, I was already confident I’ll break 2hours. I constantly looked at my Garmin and had to force myself to run 8:30minute miles on the way back home, but had to slow down on uphills and road traffics to 9min/mile. At 13.12miles, I had a time of 1:57:27.68…. Great Success!!! Oh by the way, this is just a moderate long run workout. I should be faster in a real half-marathon race, I’ll be ready for the Condura 21Km Skyway run. I’m so excited.
Half-Marathon Debut, Unofficial, Garmin Measured.
Comments (4)
Congratulations, Natz. You deserve the euphoria you are in, especially in the light of recent unfortunate events. I hope you will have more of these moments. But you have to rest in between the highs. Keep your hopes up, and your expectations low. That way, you will always be pleasantly surprised with your running outcomes. See you on the roads.
>Thanks Sir Rico. I’ve updated the blog – included your friend Karen.
Yeah, you’re right about highs and lows. Now I’m low coz I’m now feeling kinda sore after the half-marathon. Wow, the word sounds nice! Half-marathon–at least it has the marathon word in it.
Congrats Nathaniel. During my training for a marathon, if I have a low mileage week after several high ones, it’s probably a blessing because the legs and body are recovering.
However looking at the graph, you were running better at the end than at the beginning with your strength being in the last six miles. This will be a good tool for future long runs. I agree with Rico about the highs and lows. I’m going through a high right now with the last 10 days of training. However, it’s a long way to go this year.
Anyway, take care and have a good week ahead!
>Thank you Wayne. Yeah, I think it’s the recovery part that our bodies actually get stronger, right? I see you’re looking at my datalogs. Thanks. It’s there for intelligent guys like you to comment and help me.
If you also look at it, my first 2 miles were slow. It takes my body time to warm-up, like a diesel engine. Also the last six miles, the reason could be because my way back home is generally more downhill than uphills. So I take advantage of the downhills to make up for the slow uphills. I find my knees a little sore during downhills, but I make a conscious effort to lean slightly forward, reduce my stride length but increase my leg turn-over, and let gravity pull me down. Is this also what you do in downhills? I’ve heard Paula Radcliffe say downhills were her strength during her cross country days, where her dad taught her how to run fast downhill, and she still does this on her marathons. Unfortunately, she didn’t reveal her technique.
Wow Congrats! Mukhang ready ka na for the real half!
>magaling ako sa half-life1 and half-life2. hehehe.
Hi Nathaniel. In answer to the downhills, though I have longer legs, I try not to overstride but I do lean slightly forward. It has helped. Like Paula, I don’t have great technique but it seems to work.