Amazing Runners World Show Amazing Runners World Show, there’s a lot to think about—from upcoming workouts to travel plans for race day. Some of the details to mull over are less than glamorous (see: figuring out which shorts won’t cause chafing over 13.1 miles). Others are more fun, like envisioning yourself crossing the finish line with a brag-worthy time.
But if this is your Amazing Runners World Show, how do you even set a time goal? And what makes for a “good” half marathon finish time for beginners?
Well, the Factors to Keep in Mind That Affect a Half Marathon Finish Time is 2:14:59, according to data from RunRepeat. Common Half-Marathon Training Mistakes.
Of course, a “good” time varies from one runner to the next, depending on fitness level, genetics, age, the race course itself, and other factors. It’s silly to take the finish time of any other runner and base your goal time on that.
half marathon training for you will be on race day. Plus, we explain when to shift to a backup goal and other aspects of your race that you should definitely celebrate.
How to Figure Out Your Goal Half Marathon Finish Time
During How to Figure Out Your Goal Half Marathon Finish Time, most runners overestimate how quickly they’ll be able to finish, says Amanda Brooks, Denver-based running coach and founder of A 3-Day-A-Week Half Marathon Training Schedule. “It’s easy to think, ‘If I can run six miles in 60 minutes, then it’s 120 minutes to run 12,’ but our endurance rarely works that way,” she says. “Most new runners haven’t experienced what it’s like to run for 90 minutes, let alone two hours—and they end up slowing down more than anticipated even in training runs.”
start too fast:
Use a Previous 10K Finish Time
Have at least one 10K in the books? That’s a great place to estimate a half-marathon time that you’re capable of achieving, says Andrew Kastor, Why You Should Run a Practice Race Everything to Know about Hammer Interval Training: “A good rule of thumb for dialing in a goal time based off of current 10K fitness is doubling the 10K time and adding 12 to 16 minutes.” That will give you some minutes for the extra distance (because doubling a 10K equals 12.4 miles, not quite the 13.1 miles of the half) with a little cushion for a bit of a slower pace overall.
If the longest race you’ve done so far is a 5K, though, taking that finish time and multiplying it by four is not advisable, says Kastor. Because a 5K is so much shorter than the half, it’s “like comparing apples and oranges,” he says. “Both are fruit, nutritious and delicious, but they’re different species all together.”
When you do choose your goal, you may find a training plan that helps you reach it or close to it. For example, if your 10K predicts you to finish around two hours, follow our half marathon training Best Workouts to Set Race Day Goals.
Do a Time Trial
If you haven’t run a 10K race, that’s okay; mimic one on your own. “A time-trial is essentially a solo race to help indicate a current fitness level,” says Kastor.
For this to be a good gauge for your goal half pace, though, you need to make sure to run this 10K hard. Then, plug that into Kastor’s recommended equation above for your estimated half time.
“The effort of the time-trial should be that of racing—pushing the physical and mental limits to get the best possible mark, and it should be done in conditions—like weather and course profile—similar to that of the goal half marathon,” he adds.
So, if your upcoming race is hilly, don’t take it easy on mostly flat ground if you want your time trial to be an actual predictor of how you’ll run the half.
which means the body is working harder at every
Several factors that can affect your race pace and finish time. These can be internal—like your motivation level, dedication to training, and prerace meals—and external—like temperature, wind, altitude, the course profile, and how crowded the race is—says Kastor.
Encounter issues with any of these on race morning and you might need to adjust your finish goal. For instance, “Hotter weather, especially when humid, increases our heart rate, How to Make the Most of the Non-Running Days pace,” says Brooks, who notes that your adjustment might be to slow your goal pace by 10 to 20 seconds per mile.
When that happens, give yourself some grace. No matter how hard you prep for a certain finish time, some things are out of every runner’s control on race day.
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We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back race pace, having a secondary goal is a great idea. Your A goal could be to hit a certain (realistic) time or to win a friendly competition with a running buddy; your B goal could be a slower finish time or even simply to finish the race strong—a very admirable goal for those running their Amazing Runners World Show.
During the race, gauge your effort around the 10K mark to see which goal you should stick with for the rest of the race, advises Kastor. “If by halfway, the A-goal pace becomes too hard to maintain and the fear of not finishing kicks in, that’s the time to pump the brakes, walk through the next aid station, and focusing on crossing the almighty finish line with your arms up in celebration,” he says.
Most coaches would even suggest half marathon newbies aim for a positive experience rather than holding themselves to any particular numbers for their first longer race. “I’ve always said that for a Amazing Runners World Show the primary goal should be to finish with a smile, meaning uninjured and proud that you’ve done something brand new,” says Brooks.
Other Goals to Set for Race Day
Crossing the finish line is a great moment of triumph, but that’s a tiny fraction of the meaningful moments you’ll encounter during (and leading up to!) your Amazing Runners World Show. “I’m a big fan of celebrating every single milestone, which means in training, it’s a party each time you hit a new long run or total mileage for the week,” says Brooks. “All of that leads to consistency in training, which is going to make race day feel even better.”
For the race itself, she recommends having small goals throughout to keep yourself on track. For example: Don’t start too fast, take fuel every 30 minutes, and walk through aid stations to sip water. “Checking those off the list means we’re doing all the right things and are going to finish, no matter the pace,” Brooks says.
At the end of the day, focus on having fun and knowing this Amazing Runners World Show is just the start. “Not one race defines us or is the end all, be all,” says Kastor. “Keep in mind that running throughout our lives is a process. It’s a journey.”
