# I ran a half marathon today!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 28, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547 "2006-05-28T16:01:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/1 "2006-05-28T16:01:54Z")
Thats 13 miles right there! A year ago I couldn’t run a block, and I was 50 pounds overweight. Now I’ve lost 40 pounds after taking up running. I’m happy! To anyone who said I couldn’t do it, all I have to say is I now own a half marathon medal!
I don’t know my time yet but I think it’s close to 2:00.
I can’t wait for the next one, it was so cool running with all those people.
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/2 "2006-05-28T16:44:06Z")
Congrats!
Want to tell us about the course? Any hills that kicked your butt?
2:00 is a great time!
Did they have some tasty smackies for you to pig out on afterwards?
IMO, the 1/2 marathon is a great distance. Training for and running a full marathon takes too much out of you. Wish there were more 1/2 marathons around.
Now take a nap, will ya?
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### Author:  [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/3 "2006-05-28T17:07:11Z")
It was a flat course, the Saskatchewan Marathon to be precise. There were some long hills though that lasted a good chunk of a kilometer. It was raining and cool, which was nice. Wind at about 20kph. The hardest part was running up a bridge at the end which was another long hill up. I conqured it though. So many supporting volunteers too. Kudos to them for bringing their positivity.
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### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/4 "2006-05-28T17:53:04Z")
Way cool.
My record is about 10.5 miles (nothing official, I just ran my normal 4ish mile course 2.5 times), and at that point my legs started feeling like jelly, so I quit. I’d love to be able to work up to something like this.
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### Author:  [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/5 "2006-05-28T23:28:04Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> Way cool.
>
> My record is about 10.5 miles (nothing official, I just ran my normal 4ish mile course 2.5 times), and at that point my legs started feeling like jelly, so I quit. I’d love to be able to work up to something like this.
If you can run 10.5, you could to the half. My longest run before this was 9 miles. Adrenaline is an amazing thing. You should go for it!
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### Author:  [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/6 "2006-05-28T23:30:18Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#):
>
> Thats 13 miles right there! A year ago I couldn’t run a block, and I was 50 pounds overweight. Now I’ve lost 40 pounds after taking up running. I’m happy! To anyone who said I couldn’t do it, all I have to say is I now own a half marathon medal!
That is _so_ cool. Kudos for getting up and doing what you want, not giving up in the face of adversity, and reaching your goals.
> [@](#):
>
> I don’t know my time yet but I think it’s close to 2:00.
That’s an excellent time for one’s first half-marathon.
Damn, I miss exercise.
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### Author:  [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/7 "2006-05-29T03:21:06Z")
How did your foot feel??
Did you beat your friend? Did he race?
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### Author:  [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/8 "2006-05-29T05:47:50Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#):
>
> How did your foot feel??
>
> Did you beat your friend? Did he race?
New insoles and shoes this month allowed my foot to work near 100% In fact it’s not even sore right now.
As for the “friend” he didn’t race. Theres no way I’m letting him forget this. 😃
The official time was 2:06
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### Author:  [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/9 "2006-05-29T14:40:59Z")
**Quasimodal** , that is awesome! I am training for a half in October. I was supposed to run one with my brother this past March, but I had been out for a few months due to injury. I’m glad your foot healed up well.
Did you follow a training program? Like you, I just started running about a year ago, and I don’t really train smart, if you know what I mean. Did you have any trouble (mental or physical) with miles 9-13.1, if your longest run to date was 9 miles? I’m currently running 7.5 or 8 as my long runs, and it seems like the mental block I have every time I try to increase mileage is just killer. Of course, the same thing was happening last year when I was trying to increase to 4 miles per run, so I know just time and patience and being consistent is what will help.
Sorry for the long post—I just really like to talk about running!
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### Author:  [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/10 "2006-05-29T16:29:07Z")
> [@lorene](#):
>
> **Quasimodal** , that is awesome! I am training for a half in October. I was supposed to run one with my brother this past March, but I had been out for a few months due to injury. I’m glad your foot healed up well.
>
> Did you follow a training program? Like you, I just started running about a year ago, and I don’t really train smart, if you know what I mean. Did you have any trouble (mental or physical) with miles 9-13.1, if your longest run to date was 9 miles? I’m currently running 7.5 or 8 as my long runs, and it seems like the mental block I have every time I try to increase mileage is just killer. Of course, the same thing was happening last year when I was trying to increase to 4 miles per run, so I know just time and patience and being consistent is what will help.
>
> Sorry for the long post—I just really like to talk about running!
I love talking about this stuff so it’s okay.
I followed a training program on Hal Higdon’s website. The novice training program for a half marathon worked well for me. Essentially it’s a 12 week program, and every sunday you do a long a run, which increases in length each week. The goal is to be able to run 80% of the total half marathon distance. Adrenaline will do the rest on race day.
During the race miles 10-13 or so became pretty grueling. My breathing was easy, which showed my cardio system was in good shape, but my legs became so tight, sore and heavy. Essentially it was just a matter of saying to myself “I’ve gotten this far and theres no way I’ll quit now” In the race it helps to have people running with you, it helps set a pace.
You can do it, If I had to do it again I would of done more strength training, especially for my upper body. I was told you only run as fast as your arms move. My arms move pretty slow!
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### Author:  [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/11 "2006-05-30T00:38:28Z")
Interesting about the upper body strength. I have been trying to do more in that area, since I, too, am fairly unbalanced in upper vs. lower body strength.
I have checked out Hal Higdon’s site in the past and will again. My biggest problem is that I’m someone who just likes to go out and run, not think about speedwork and training runs versus tempo runsversus recovery runs, or what have you. I like to clock my miles, and as I said, I’m not always smart about it. It feels to me that working the kinks out of essentially a year’s worth of training “mistakes” (not that it has been all bad) takes some effort, but building a goal into like like a HM might help me make the change.
So, thanks for the advice and, again, congrats on your huge accomplishment! I was pretty tickled to read that your big-talking friend didn’t run, either. 😃
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/12 "2006-05-30T01:00:54Z")
I couldn’t run 13 miles if a pack of dogs were chasing me.
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### Author:  [@633squadron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/633squadron)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/13 "2006-05-30T03:14:12Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#):
>
> Thats 13 miles right there! A year ago I couldn’t run a block, and I was 50 pounds overweight. Now I’ve lost 40 pounds after taking up running. I’m happy! To anyone who said I couldn’t do it, all I have to say is I now own a half marathon medal!
Congratulations! I applaud you for the determination and extra work you did to get to that point. Doing the 13 miles is _your_ reward. 😃
Next stop, triathlons!
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### Author:  [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/14 "2006-05-30T12:14:54Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#):
>
> Thats 13 miles right there! A year ago I couldn’t run a block, and I was 50 pounds overweight. Now I’ve lost 40 pounds after taking up running. I’m happy!
Everyone in those Doper “Weight Loss” threads ought to read that part of your post, and then read it again, and then read it again, and then read it again.
Way to go on the half.
If you really want to get FASTER, there’s nothing like sprints and intervals that leave you winded and bent over with a heart rate of 175.
It’s easy to fall into a rut of adding more and more length without increasing speed. But, a 3-4 mile run with wind sprints thrown in will make those 6-8 miles runs easier and faster.
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/15 "2006-05-30T13:56:32Z")
Hal Higdon’s the man! Strongly recommend his website.
Someon who wants to “just run” might check out Galloway’s LSD (long, slow, distance.)
Step back and think what you want to get out of running/fitness.
It is very easy to get caught up in the running community, and think you have to keep running longer distances, and faster times.
But realize that a good number of the folk recommending this are already committed to running. You don’t necessarily have to follow the same program they have.
If you want to just jog 3-5 miles 3-4 times a week, you’ll probably be getting more regular aerobic exercise than 80% of Americans. You don’t HAVE to emulate the top 5-10% who take it to the highest - and most demanding- level.
You can have a healthy and rewarding running career without ever running a marathon. If you want to race, there are tons of 5-10k races out there.
While you may derive considerable benefits from a serious committment to running, you also will increase your chances of injury.
IMO, at best, exercise such as running is a part of a healthy lifestyle. Just make sure it doesn’t take over your life.
Just a thought.
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### Author:  [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/16 "2006-05-30T14:05:22Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#):
>
> If you can run 10.5, you could to the half. My longest run before this was 9 miles. Adrenaline is an amazing thing. You should go for it!
Just don’t extend that hypothesis to the full marathon! If you’re going to go for the full 26.2, give yourself a bit of time to train up from 13. My guess is that you can probably run 15 or 16 without a problem, but it gets pretty ugly after that if you haven’t trained at long distances.
Speaking from the perspective of a guy who was throwing up between miles 22 and 24 in his most recent marathon because he had only trained up till 15 in the past year.
But, seriously, run a few more halfs, and then go for the full. It’s unforgetable. And then you’re hooked and traveling the country planning vacations around marathons.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/17 "2006-05-30T14:44:21Z")
Congratulations! Enjoy your victory. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/18 "2006-05-30T15:58:14Z")
The experience of it was so great, I felt like I was part of this massive migration. Theres another event nearby in September, I think I’m going to do another half and try to shave 10 minutes off my time. I’ve got twelve weeks, so I can do another half training program only this time a bit more aggressive.
I like running cause it’s more about personal best than it is competition. Other sports can get so bad for that sometimes.
As well, theres no better way to tour the world than to run it!
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### Author:  [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/19 "2006-05-30T17:41:08Z")
It’s been a while since I’ve participated in a run. Did you vuy a vest for the run (with the name of the run on the vest)? Several years ago, t-shirts were the “in” thing and a few years ago vests kinda took over.
Congratulations on losing all that weight and getting in shape for the half marathon. I’ve found that if you can run twenty miles in a week, you’re pretty much ready for a half marathon. At that point it’s just shifting how far you run throughout the course of the week.
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### Author:  [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ran-a-half-marathon-today/358547/20 "2006-05-31T01:00:45Z")
Congrats! As someone who is using Higdon’s training method to prepare for a race in October, I’m thrilled to hear it worked out so well for you.
I think what amazes me the most about all these training plans is how _short_ the mid-week runs need to be. I always figured that if you were training to race at “x” distance, you’d need to do most of your training at or near that distance. It seems that for 1/2 or full marathons the important thing is just getting out and running.
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