Half Marathon Pace - Getting It Right For
You!
If you’re
training for your first race, your half marathon
pace will be an important factor.
But just how do you work out
a half marathon
pace that‘s right for you?
Don’t worry, it’s actually very
simple. You won’t suddenly decide what pace you’ll
be running at, it will gradually evolve throughout the course of your
training.
For a first time half marathon runner, this is how it
should work:
PHASE 1
You start your training, gradually building up your distances and the speeds
that you can run at. At this point you shouldn’t be concerned with the pace you are running at,
you are simply building and improving your stamina.
PHASE 2
You are now at the point where you can comfortably run every session. Because
simply keeping going is no longer an issue, you now need to set yourself new
targets.
Some of the most obvious ones are to run certain distances or to keep track of
your speed. You can monitor your running speed by using a GPS wrist watch to give you exact
times per mile/kilometer or using an advanced pedometer or by measuring the distance in a car
beforehand.
Once you know your average running pace per mile, you can then start to work on this.
PHASE 3
At this point you are an
accomplished runner and can comfortably run
over 5 miles. Now you need to start planning for the race. You need to work out a comfortable
running speed for you that you can then continue to build up to the 13.1 miles of a half
marathon race.
Your half marathon
pace should be comfortable enough so you’re
able to hold a conversation, you feel warmer and your breathing rate increases, but not getting
to the stage where you need to stop due to fatigue.
13.1 miles is a long way if you use sudden bursts of speed which quickly take
it out of your body. You need to maintain a comfortable, steady pace throughout the
race.
To find out more about half
marathon training, click here
now.
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