How to Run a Sub 1:30 Half Marathon (training & tips!)

This is how to run a half marathon in 1 hour 30! Going under 90 minutes in the half is a great milestone and big goal for a lot of runners so here is everything you need to help you achieve it and run your fastest ever time!

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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:34 Training
2:40 Choosing a fast course
3:11 Pacing strategy
4:22 Fuelling & hydration
5:21 General tips

[MartinCharlton-dsro]

Ran my 76:25 PB back in 1987 on the Ranelagh Harriers course - went off too fast, probably ran a PB for 10 miles and then hung on for grim death - no splits I’m afraid - no chip time - no GPS watch, and I can’t for the life of me remember what shoes I wore - small but strong field including a number of International runners - still got the results sheet!
Now I’m in my 70’s I am happy to still run around 1.45 for the half and looking forward to LLHM at the beginning of April.

[Leeroy]

My first sub 90 was kind of a happy accident. 10 months later I got my 4th sub 90. Thanks for all your help. ❤ Actual PB is from Berlin last year.

[grgr]

It surprises me when people talk about flat (half)marathons they always forget the flattest country in Europe...
Netherlands people!
Tons of amazing races in dead flat courses.

[mgd]

55 year old Australian here that managed an 87min last year. Agree and basically did everything along the lines of your recommendations. A huge improvement on previous efforts and very happy. Best ‘fast’ courses here include Gold Coast and Melbourne - both large, wide road courses that are flat and fast and held in cooler conditions. Now for my first Marathon!

[JapanJacques]

Running my next half in exactly one month! Going to aim for 1:35 but may try to push for 1:30 depending on how I feel! Greetings from here in Tokyo, Japan 👋

[Welshstreets]

Hi Ben.I ran the Oxford Marathon 1:28 last October, really enjoyed the race.Ive been chasing a sub 90 for 6 yrs, when I started competitive running.Its a fast course, fastest I've ran yet.felt strong throughout.Ive always been languishing around the 1:30 -1:35 mark, so that race was would be a memorable one.Ive been watching your videos for the last couple of years and hopefully I'll bump into you at a race one day.My next race will be the Liverpool Half, in the run up to The Jolster Marathon in Vassenden, Norway🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴Be my 3rd Marathon in this beautiful country.

[Gormador]

Currently at week 9 of Ben's L4 HM training plan... Not at Sub 1h30 pace just yet, aiming for a 1h35 finish time March 3rd at Paris' half marathon, after a PB of 1h39 at the end of last November (down from 1h48 last April, my first official HM).
The plan is absolutely brutal... in a good way! Lots of km to go through, especially weeks 9 & 10, but it has been a blast.

Mostly though, it's giving me the new confidence that I might be able to run a marathon next year, which seemed impossible a year ago due to repeat injuries.
Still, looking forward to taking it easy the rest of March 😀

[philipeick-vocalmusic]

Great video!
Did actually achieve my 1:30 last year in Berlin also thanks to your videos and L4 plan - thank you for that!

[Jonathan-teamslgr]

Brighton Half this weekend 😊 looking forward to using your tips and getting me over that line

[shaylorcyclingwahoolecol]

16% achieve it seems high. I did it in Oxford in Oct and was ~600/12k starters (5%). Now building to do the same speed at London full

[ScootsRuns]

Ran a sub 90 at the Philly Half in Philadelphia, PA!

[Ninja-Cake]

I’m doing my comrades marathon qualifier this Sunday at the Hillcrest marathon, going for a sub 4 hour to get a D batch for comrades 🎉

[chrispowell]

Riyadh is a fast course. I did it on Saturday and it rained!! People are super friendly and helpful. Great city to visit.

[nilsma]

I will run Prague in April, and am currently Training with your L3 Training Plan. A-Goal is Sub 1:30 B-Goal Sub 1:35

[jezsang]

Hey Ben, I bought your $14AUD program for a sub 1:30 half marathon about 11 weeks before my race. Stuck to the program and yesterday's half marathon in Joondalup, Western Australia was completed in 1:28:20. Bargain price... Thanks for the guidance.

[RunningWithDanny]

Perfect timing Ben…im shooting for sub 90 mins at the Paddock Wood HM on the 3rd of March

[GideonVan]

Two Oceans Half, Winelands Half Marathon - Cape Town, South Africa

[jeanines_channel]

My next Half is the Indy Mini in May. I have a coach to help me finish at 2:00. I was around 2:30 last year.

[jababijamovi]

Perfect timing! Running HM in few weeks trying to break 90minutes (but i wanna run around 1:25). My marathon split was 1:33 so i think i can get close to 1:25. Keep up the nice content!

[FenboyTim]

Boston UK Spring HM and Great Eastern Autumn HM (p’boro) both quite flat, very flat…best tip for me in achieving sub 1:30 - keep ahead of the 1:30 race pacer! There is normally a decent group. 😎