Gulp. The cutoff time for Oxford half in October is 3.30. Due to age and old injuries, I’m pretty slow, I run at between 8&9min/km except for short bursts. I CAN run faster but not over distance. In fact I would expect to drop at least a minute a km on any distance over 10k. My fastest 10k was the Blenheim race for BHF, which I did in 1.23 over a hilly course. The 15k race I did in April took me 2.25.30 and I averaged 9.41min/km - mind you, I was hobbling with a massively swollen knee for the last third of that. My predicted time for a half is 3.35, and I think that’s optimistic at the present time.
I begin HM training Tuesday after weeks of hardly running due to injury. How realistic is it to expect to improve on pace and time sufficiently to beat that cutoff time? They have to stop then because the traffic in Oxford is diverted for the race.
You sound very close though. Abi found a link for me that said you could defer your place to 2020, up to a month before the event. Maybe see how you're doing then?
Because of where the finish line is in Oxford (it's on one of the roads near the town centre), I'm sorry but I think they will be clearing it away at 3h 30m 😞💗
However at 9 min/km you could make it, and with time to spare. Also, how is your walking pace? Have you considered a run-walk pattern?
I did consider it but it doesn’t seem to make me any faster, mostly because I find walking fast enough more tiring than running. I don’t know if I could average 9 over such a long distance. Having said that, the plan I start Tuesday - and which adapts to my level of ability as it goes along- is hr based, and I find after just a few days of trying to keep my heart rate down, I’m running better
My first HM..my predicted time was 2.45... I did it in 2.53...I think if you can move on steadily from where you are now....you could well do this...
You are following a training plan... although the one I used was that which roseabi organised... and it was so steady and structured and easy to tweak...I missed weekly schedules because of bad weather but still managed to tweak it to suit me.. and I made the HM time I was pleased with ... maybe take a look?
I am sure more experienced folk than I, will advise..but knowing you as I do Flick... barring dire injury issues..I think you could do this
That’s encouraging. I think I will see how my Polar plan goes. I really like the heart rate basis, especially as I need to get myself out of zones 4/5 more if I want to last the distance.
You find what works for you...just a steady build up...finishing is the plan..it was what I wanted most..also do keep posting here..the support and the wealth of sound advice is amazing...it kept me going right through training and the HM..
It's October that gives you time to improve your pace a 9 min Km is about 3.15 so is doable and if you have done a half in 2.25 I think you'd come under the 3.15. Just get a longer run in once a week I am currently increasing mine by 1 k a week. Is there a club locally you could run? with when I booked my first half that's what I did it really helped with my pace running with others can keep you motivated.
Also don't forget it is very hot.
I ran Run Gatwick after being laid low with a chest infection but got round, you probably have the fitness there. I wouldn't think it would take you a whole hour more to get round than your last half. Remember the atmosphere on the day will probably help pull you round much easier than training runs.
Thank you that’s inspiring - though I haven’t one a half yet. My longest run to date was 15k. The heat suits me. I was stronger last summer in the heatvwave
That was the cut off time for my hm and it really worried me.
As it turned out, despite truly horrendous hills, losing my fruit Pastilles "fuel" and being completely befuddled by the last minute course change and having to walk a mile or two I got in comfortably under three hours.
My "set in stone" 5k time on the flat and level is 47 minutes but the "extra" training for a hm plus the adrenaline boost from the crowds ups your game
All you can do is your best - and that will always be better than "Couch Sitting Perfection"
Thank you, really encouraging. My fastest 5k was 32.34 but that was on the treadmill. It’s usually about 42/43 outside. I hear you regarding doing my best, but I’ve paid £48 to enter, and I’m raising money for charity, so it would be a blow to have no medal and cheat people who sponsored me
Honestly, if they are like me and my lot when we sponser someone its just an excuse to give to the cause No way do we care if the guy survives the Sahara Death Run or not LOL
One day, if we live that long, we will be fortunate if we can answer the door let alone go out it and run In the meantime we just do what we can and to the best of our present ability - and I bet you a years pay nobody will feel cheated IF you don't run the whole way
As IJ says, it's amazing what a difference race magic can make to your pace, so long as you aren't carryin an injury as in your 15k. If you can get through your training injury free, race magic will likely take care of that cut off time with no problem 🙂
I agree with others that it’s probably a hard and fast cutoff rather than a move to pavements. The main thing is going to be knowing what it translates into as an actual close time. As you will know it takes an age to get everyone over the start line, and you will presumably want to be far enough back to not be jostled at your pace. Is it 3.5 hours after the scheduled start time for a particular wave, or something else? It will be locked in with whoever is doing the clear up so will be a real clock time which may give you less, or more time to finish, depending on what it is.
Flick give the polar heartrate training a chance. I think as you get fitter you move faster but a slower heart rate, so basically within a month you could find you are naturally running further at a comfortable pace. A mix of training, strength training and just overall improvement as well as atmosphere and determination on the day.... I think you will well be able to do this. October is still quite a distance away to make progress and run the distance needed too. (Although I say all this to you and I am bricking it about my Marathon so I do understand your concerns!) Does your watch have the running index on it? That transfers into progress and predicted times. I've improved in a month and I haven't done any big distances yet. Believe Flick. You can do it. Xx
Aww thanks Claire. Yes, I’m placing my faith in the plan. I’ve found I’m faster at a lower hr just after a few days of consciously watching the zones and trying to keep the rate down. I couldn’t do that with the Garmin as I couldn’t read the screen. Yes my watch has all that stuff - I think it’s standard Polar flow. The running index is VO2 Max in disguise. It started off at 31 (which puts me in the elite range for my age) and slipped to 29 on the next run lol- it’s what they predict your race time from. Garmin put me higher at 33 but I think, judging from their HM time prediction, that was a bit optimistic.
I’m actually really looking forward to starting the plan. Xx
You need to find out for sure. My HM in March also had a 3:30 cut off, I doubted I could get round in that time. I contacted the organiser who said it would be fine, I would just have to move onto the foot path for the last stretch. In the end, I surprised my self massively with a time of three hours. I wasn't last, the last lady came in at four hours with the outriders escorting her.
See how you go on some of your longer training runs before you make a decision.
I’m going to do the race. I can’t really back out because I’ve started fundraising, and I really want to do it. I don’t think it’s going to get easier, at my age, if I defer it. I think the cutoff time is probably strict as it starts and finishes in the city centre. Your time is very reassuring. I did surprise myself at Blenheim,knocking 8 or more minutes of my pb
Good luck with the plan Flick. I can understand your concerns - I nearly stopped half way through my training for my Derby HM - so glad I didn't. I initially predicted a finish of 3 hours, during training I actually started to think (ha ha) I could do it in nearer to 2:30!! In the end 2:50.
The point is that before you start the training you get an idea of where you are but with the increased distance and training plan you do improve.
Find out what the latest is that you can defer and keep training and see where you are. But if your predicted time is only 5 minutes longer than the cut off I think you will be fine 👍👍
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