HM training question

[backintime]

So I set off on a "check out my 22k loop" intending to run my 10k for the week and ended up getting a bit lost and running 12k. I could have carried on but it seemed like a good place to stop lol.

I have my eye on a HM in early March but there is a cut off of 3 hours. I have run 10k in 1hr 25 but that was on a nice flat paved road. This 12k took me 1hr 52. I was on a trail like riverside run...a bit uppy and downy but reasonably flat-ish with stones, tree roots, etc.

My pace was "reasonably" consistent. It's kind of my happy pace.

I would have 6 months to speed up, do you think it's possible for me to find enough time to make it in 3 hours ?

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Definitely. Speed will come naturally, over time, so best not to force it. For now I would enjoy the “happy pace”.

I say this as someone who keeps running a bit too fast (not intentionally; it just happens) and ending up on the injury couch. Stay off that couch!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Trails are considerably slower than roads so it makes sense you would be slower on the hilly trails. Is your race a road race or trail based race? That may make the difference for you. Adding once a week on hills and/or intervals should also help your pace over time. You have lots of time to improve pace a bit to be safely in your cutoff zone. If you can get your pace around 8:18 or less you should be good. I used this pace calculator for a 2:55 time: polar.com/blog/running-pace...

[Hidden]

My pace has gone down with half marathon training. Others have noticed the same. Check with the race organisers if the 3 hours cutoff is them hoovering you up with a van and not letting you finish, or if it’s just that they open the roads again and you have to continue on the pavements. I stressed no end about the Oxford half, but the cutoff time was the latter, so it’s ok.

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to Hidden]

Thanks...I will check

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to Hidden]

Not sure I could get too much slower though

[Hidden]

You run around the same pace as me. I was faster before training - sometimes ...