Running half a marathon for the untrained in 3 weeks?

Question

So I have the opportunity to run half a marathon or 5 K. The thing is I have only started training 2 weeks ago just for fun. I haven't had any exercise for 5 years at all. I did a 5 K race and that took me 35mins. For the shape I'm in I think it's alright.

Now I get to choose to do 5 K or half a marathon on June 24. 5 K to me doesn't seem like much. I would love to try the half marathon, we have 3 hours...but..can I do it?

I train my running 8K 5 days a week. What do you guys think? am I do out of shape do even attempt the half marathon and what if I can't finish? I feel shameful for how people will see me and also how do I get back to the finish if I can't finish it and the course closes

Answer 1

Let's see here.. You can comfortably run 8K (5 miles), and you have no problems with a 5K (3.1 miles), which you can run in 35 minutes (11:17 per mile pace). I would say that you are at a decent fitness level for running. Nothing spectacular, but still good. And in three weeks, you want to run a half marathon (13.1 miles). And your only goal is to finish it in the 3 hour time limit, which breaks down to 13:44 per mile pace. If you're determined enough, I am certain that you will be able to finish in the allotted time -- probably just under the 3 hour mark.

However, I have no doubt that you're not going to enjoy the experience at all. In all likeliness, you will start struggling a lot after about 6-7 miles, which is only the halfway point. By the time you reach the end, you will probably end up with an injury of some sort, most likely your feet or your knees. After you cross the finish line, you will have to recover from the soreness and perhaps some injury. You will likely be sidelined for a few days at best to a few weeks or months at worst. All that for a shiny medal that will come around next year anyway and bragging rights that will start becoming old in a couple of days.

Personally, I would go with the 5K route. The point of any race is not just reaching the distance but to enjoy doing it. You cannot do that with inadequate training. There will always be another half marathon because they never seem to run out of road. There are plenty of great half marathon training programs out there (see link below for an example), and they only take about 12 weeks to be fully prepared. I highly recommend completing one of them before attempting a half marathon.

Good luck on your continued runnings~!

Answer 2

Sam (first poster) is dead on. A half marathon is not something just jump into one day because you feel like it. Endurance running of that sort requires training and nutrition prior to the event. If you DO run it you are putting yourself in a very risky position and I do not reocmmend it.

What would be worse, finishing the 5K in a great time or NOT finishing the 13.1 miles in 3hours?? I've seen some of the best athletes bonk after mile 8 because they just weren't on target with their training and pacing. There are always chase vehicles driving the course waiting to pick up the injured and otherwise incapacitated athletes.

Your best bet is to do the 5K and save the half-mary for next year or sometime in the fall when you've trained properly. 13.1 miles is a lot longer than it seems, trust me!!!

Good luck!

Answer 3

I wouldn't go for it, part of the whole point of running is the enjoyment, everyone has hard times but all good runners enjoy the sport first off. If you go in for a half unprepared, which you currently are, and 3 weeks isn't long enough (1-2 of them should be taper anyway), then you won't enjoy it. Every time you looked for a half marathon you'ld subconsciously be thinking of your first truely horrible expereince. Because when you get halfway round and feel you can't go any further it truely will be a horrible experience, even worse if you ahd to stop, I can't think of anything worse than having to DNF due to lack of preparation, doing it through injury's bad enough.

Stick to what you know you can do, feel proud for your acchievment in the 5K. You have a PB for a 5K so go out and try and do it, you know you can get round in a decent time so you know you'll enjoy the whole experience.

Answer 4

You do not want to run a half. You do not have the conditioning to run 13 miles. You can not compare running 5 or 8K with this race. If your only goal is to finish within 3 hours you may be able to walk/run within that time, but you may well injure yourself and not finish.

Answer 5

you can totally do it. if you're running about 5 miles 5 times per week. nxt week run 7 miles one of the days and then 3 days later run 9. the next week run your 5's and rest and you'll be great. good luck!