My First Half Marathon

[5km]

I’d been thinking it was time I ran a half marathon. I’d run the Around the Bay back in 1982 but nothing that long since. Compared to the bulk of you on the forum, I am a low mileage runner. I try to run about three times a week at a fairly high intensity level. At 67 years of age, it’s pretty much all I can handle without breaking down.

This summer my runs had been mostly in the 6 to 8 K range, although I had been running 10 K’s and the odd 12 K in the spring. At the end of August, I had bumped them back up to 10 K. It was then I decided that this fall was an optimal time for an attempt at the half marathon distance. I decided that the Oakville Half Marathon was the best choice for me. Over the next three weeks, I increased my running distances to 12 K, then 14 K and finally one run at 16 K. After a few days of rest, I ran the race today. My goal was to break two hours.

Running conditions were perfect, sunny and cool. Not having a Garmin, my pacing was a bit sketchy for the first couple of K’s but I soon settled into a nice rhythm, slowing here and there for hills and Gatorade. By in large, the running was not problematic although parts of the race seemed to take forever. The race was well organized and everyone seemed to be having fun. I was in my own little world just motoring along ahead of my goal pace for most of the way. At 20 K I was feeling tired but good when my right leg started giving me problems. I slowed a bit but kept going. I sprinted, sort of, down the finishing straight and heard the announcer call out my name. I finished in a gun time of 1:53:22.4 and a chip time of 1:53:02.9.

Thanks for reading.

[Spirit Unleashed]

Wow! you are fast!

[orleansrunner1962]

Awesome job -- you clearly have some natural speed since you are able to run a strong half on relatively low mileage!

[scrumhalfgirl]

congrats! was it worth the wait?

[oobinsnaffa]

Congrats! You did a fantastic job!

[Doonst]

Good going!

[Habs4ever]

Congratulations!

[purdy65]

Wow! Great job!

[Robinandamelia]

That's a fantastic result, even more so since it's your first and you are a low mileage runner...well done!

[Joe Dwarf]

1:53 first time out at 67? Well done seems a bit of an understatement!

[Nicholas]

1:53 first time out at 67? Well done seems a bit of an understatement!

Absolutely....

[barebuns1]

Congrats on the great time. Great race report.

[5km]

Thanks guys.

[runJrun]

That is just awesome! So...any more halfs on the radar? Or maybe a full

[5km]

That is just awesome! So...any more halfs on the radar? Or maybe a full

I don't think a full marathon is in the cards for me. I think the training would be too hard on my old body. Another half? - who knows. The Chilly Half is a possibility but I'll wait and see how things are going closer to the time.

I'm seriously thinking of running the Robbie Burns 8K in January as my next race, as I've run it for the last two years. It's a tough distance in which to get a good time and it's soooo cold. However, it's a fun time and lots of excellent runners enter every year.

[La]

Excellent! Congrats on a great time for your first 1/2M!

[Stampie]

1:53 first time out at 67? Well done seems a bit of an understatement!

This!

With a goal of breaking 2hrs, you just didn't do that, you shattered it! Congrats!

[Ken B]

Wow! Dynamite running! Congratulations!!