Forums/

Competitive Running

Andrea J.
Andrea J. Sendmail

In running a half, when do YOU hit a wall?

posted 5 months ago | Report

Or what is the toughest mile YOU usually encounter?

Respond

16 posts

scroll to bottom
  • Lamond V.
    Lamond V. Sendmail

    I don't really hit a wall, like you would in a full. In training each mile seems to get a little tougher. However, in a race, between miles 9 and 10 is the toughest for me. Once I get to the last 3.1 mi I think about how I'm down to the last 5k and the run gets a little easier. Additionally, as I get closer to the end there seems to be more people, and that adds to my motivation.

    posted 5 months ago

  • Mike D.
    Mike D. Sendmail

    I don't hit the wall but always slow perceptibly after 10 miles and gut it out to the finish.

    posted 5 months ago

  • Harris A.
    Harris A. Sendmail

    I have never hit the wall in a half, but the 13th mile is usually the hardest for me.

    posted 5 months ago

  • Chad D.
    Chad D. Sendmail

    Usually depends on what the first few miles look like. If my pace is a little too optimistic early on mile 9 or 10 is when the unpleasantness usually becomes noticeable, but if I'm cautious (read: smart) early on then I know all I have to do is make it to 11, which is when I can start to smell the finish line.

    posted 5 months ago

  • Reverend Run V.
    Reverend Run V. Sendmail

    No wall in a half, but mile 12 is hardest for me.

    posted 5 months ago

  • David C.
    David C. Sendmail

    From what I understand, theoretically, you could hit a wall at any distance. I think of it more in terms of the time spent running. The wall is when you’ve used up the sugar in your muscles, blood, and liver. Your body has to turn to fat only (primarily) for energy. (I could be wrong I’m still learning) Myself, I haven’t even worked up to 10miles yet, much less 13.1 miles…but from what I read and what I interpret it to mean is in a half I won’t be burning sugar long enough to use it all up, therefore no wall. My toughest miles are the ones under 7:00. :) Good luck in your training.

    posted 5 months ago

  • David K.
    David K. Sendmail

    U should probably hit 'the wall' around mile 9~10....And at that pooint u tell urself 'its just a 5k race' !!!!

    posted 5 months ago

  • Paul
    Paul Sendmail

    when running a half i ususally try to turn before i hit a wall... :)

    Most runners wont 'hit the wall' running a half, as David C said the 'hitting the wall' in a marathon comes when all the available glycogen stores have been depleted. However some runners may well burn so many calories at the start and per mile that they do deplete their glycogen stores in a halfmarathon.

    In a half and shorter races whats much more common is to run too quickly and build up the lactate levels until your forced to stop or slow down.

    For me the hardest part is the very end, where I push the pace and try to time my own Lactate Flood to coincide with crossing the finishline... getting that wrong is not pleasant.

    posted 5 months ago

  • Amber J.
    Amber J. Sendmail

    I don't know if I'd really call it a wall, but miles 9-10 are the hardest for me (not counting that danged .1 at end end!).

    posted 5 months ago

  • Denny H.
    Denny H. Sendmail

    No wall, but mile 9-10 is when I start getting a little uncomfortable, but like others have said, mentally I just think "5k" and I'm done.

    posted 5 months ago

  • Ted
    Ted Sendmail

    I try to turn before I get to it :p

    posted 5 months ago

  • Krista R.
    Krista R. Sendmail

    I didn't when I did my first, but miles 10-13 became trance-like, in a good way though.

    posted 5 months ago

  • Chaz H.
    Chaz H. Sendmail

    I'll letya know if it ever happens ;-) Generally speaking, the "wall" is as much a function of time as it is of distance... As a result it's not really as common to hit the wall in a half since time-wise it's just not long enough.

    posted 5 months ago

  • Tim M.
    Tim M. Sendmail

    I have only run one half. In a sense I hit the wall, because I pushed myself a little to hard for the first 12 miles. In my race, I didn't realize there was a long , mile long hill at mile 11 (or at least I didn't realize it was such a steep hill that lasted that long:) Consequently my last 1 and 1/2 was very difficult. I was about a half mile from the finish, and my mind had me veering off to the left to let others pass....thinking that I was going to shut it down and walk. Instead of walking though, I just ended up with a stutter step. And finished without walking....at a noticeably slower pace in the final mile.

    I'd say that was about as close to a wall as I could hit for a half marathon. Long story short, I thought I was going to run in a half a little later in the month...couldn't do that, then stopped training for a few weeks before I signed up for another half that came up quicker in the calendar. Consequently, I just hadn't stretched out my training to incorporate enough 10 mile runs. Wasn't ready for the finish due to the training issue, and lack of knowledge about the course.

    I won't make that mistake again though. Next time a half comes up, I'll run those long runs and be truly prepared to finish strong.

    posted 5 months ago | edited 5 months ago

  • Todd T.
    Todd T. Sendmail

    There is no wall.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Dave N.
    Dave N. Sendmail

    I have only run 3 half marathons but for me the first 1 1/2 - 2 miles are the hardest because it takes me a mile or so to get my breathing and pace settled and consistant. I have the same problem on most training runs. Seems after I get my breathing right I can maintain an even pace.

    posted 4 months ago

Similar Discussions in Running - Competitive Running