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Patrick O.
Patrick O. Sendmail

Half Marathon Starting Pace

posted 4 months ago | Report

Hello, I will be doing my first Half Marathon March 31st and was just wondering what the starting pace is for most Half Marathoners. I've ran a ton of 5k's so i'm used to the starting fast out of the blocks, but just curious what the norm is for the Half Marathon.

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  • Branson S.
    Branson S. Sendmail

    try running distances close to a half like 8 to 10 mile run. this will help you look at your pace. You dont wang to go out too fast but want to be competitive. Try timing yourself and check you pace on s long run and go from there.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Patrick O.
    Patrick O. Sendmail

    I did almost 13 miles yesterday, finished at a 7:44 pace and that was taking it easy. Just more or less curious if the "norm" is for people to take off like a bat out of hell or more their pace they would maintain throughout the race.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Erik G.
    Erik G. Sendmail

    Hi Patrick, I usually like jumping out of the gates on halfs and marathons, I learned to start off 15-30 secs wont hurt my overall pace. For Marathons I use the first 3 miles as warm up then go run at race pace. For my half Id probably do 1-2 miles as warm up pace then switch to race pace. For my next half marathon Im running the 1st 2 miles at a 7:45 pace and the rest I will be doing 7:20 to 7:30 pace.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Patrick O.
    Patrick O. Sendmail

    Thanks i'll follow a similar approach

    posted 4 months ago

  • Nanette V.
    Nanette V. Sendmail

    My first half is next week, and my target is 2:15....so starting at 10min/mile and then seeing how things progress.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Ted K.
    Ted K. Sendmail

    Another approach might be to break this into 5Ks. I did that, and focused on running fairly consistent 5K splits. I added 1.5-2 mins onto my 'fast' 5K pace. Since you're familiar with the distance, you could vary intensity by course conditions or distance to finish.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Paul
    Paul Sendmail

    Patrick, youll probably get the best result by running a very slight negative split, However as this is your first one youll probably not pace it ideally anyway... If you have your eyes set on further HM's then treat it as a learning experience, your guaranteed a PR the first time anyway, The second will also almost certainly be faster. and after that you can start to develope your feel for how to pace this distance and what works best for you.

    If its just going to be a one off, and your going to focus back on the 5k again, then dont try to be too aggresive, pick a pace that you know will allow you to enjoy the event.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Dan M.
    Dan M. Sendmail
    in reply to what Paul said:Patrick, youll probably get the best result by running a very slight negative split, However as this is your first one youll probably not pace it ideally anyway... If you have your eyes set on further HM's then treat it as a learning experience, y... read more

    Paul hit the nail on the head...

    You don't mention if the 13 you ran, finishing with a 7:44 pace, if you slowed to that pace or sped up to that pace. If you slowed, start at that pace, check how you feel at the half, and again at 8 then 10, picking it up if you feel you have more. You will end with a negative split, and possibly have more left in the tank, that is the problem with the first race at any distance. I would rather have some left in the tank, than bonk, on a first race at a new distance.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Colleen P.
    Colleen P. Sendmail

    check out www.mcmillanrunning.com they have a really good calculator for race pace. Also the Jack Daniels running formula is good. If you google that, I found a spreadsheet that is really detailed and gives lots of good instruction. Best of luck to you!

    posted 4 months ago

  • Michael G.
    Michael G. Sendmail

    +1 for the McMillan calculator. No one here can tell you your exact pace because it's based on you. Go to the calculator and put in the results from your best past race and it will bring up your projected pace for your half. I'd take that pace and make sure you don't go out too fast. I usually break my races up into thirds. I do the first part at a pace a little slower, the middle part right at my target pace and the last a little faster.

    posted 4 months ago | edited 4 months ago

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