Half Marathon Pacing: How Fast Should I Run?

Ready to race your first half marathon? Knowing how to pace a new distance can be a challenge, getting it right can make the most of all the training effort you’ve put in, and getting it wrong can waste all that effort! If you’re worried about how to execute the perfect race, we are here to guide you to a perfectly paced half marathon.

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[gtn]

What is your Half Marathon target? Let us know 🏃‍♀️

[Aeronwor]

I ran my first half marathon this spring, my goal being 2 hours. I went with some people from work, found myself running next to one of them, asked what pace he was aiming for (5:20), said that should be good for me too, and promptly ran past him. Getting carried away on race day is a real danger, but I did have fun.
I ended up finishing at 2:00:30, the last 4k being at a much slower pace than the first 17k. The next goal is sub 1:50.

[aeriegrove]

my first ever half, and first ever running race, is on in a few hours – just needed a final bit of insight! Thanks a lot and wish me luck :D

[mclovinlife]

Just did my first half marathon and I got it done in 2:17! Definitely want to do it again and shoot for 1:50ish! It wasn’t too bad, but I couldn’t imagine doing double what I just did.

[gzfashions]

Can you all do an extensive video in regards to effects of high temperature high humidity for a long distance run?

[JoelZieve]

I'm getting ready for my 1st 1/2 marathon in a few weeks so the timing of this video (and content) was perfect. Thank you!

[emmag]

Did my first half marathon earlier this year and finished in 1:28. Managed to negative split the race too! It was hard to hold back in the earlier stages but definitely paid off. I haven't got another half marathon booked in yet but I'd like to aim for sub 1:25 for next time.

[matt.baller]

Great video thanks! Doing my first half next month at Kenilworth. Aiming for 1:55 (UK average for men apparently). Can’t wait.

[rebeccametcalf]

Literally just started training for my first half-marathon in September. This was definitely a useful video 👍

[lindelystables]

I'm hugely grateful for these videos. So much quality information that would take hours to scare up on my own, or years of training and competing. THANK YOU!

[sergiirybakov]

Thank you very nice overview and useful tips!
When I make my half marathon I calculate my goal pace as -10% from my anaerobic threshold

[danielh]

oh yes, cheers mate. this video helped me for my first HM. Let me know if anyone needs some details. I nailed it 95-100% thanks to your and other tipps. Valuable Cheers.

[HaraldHofer]

51yrs. Last week I did my first "official" HM and aimed for 1:57. I hit the wall at km 16 and lost almost 20secs per km so I ended up with 1:58:54. I really have to fix this for the next one. Preparation was good, but I should have eaten more gels and I should have had more electrolytes. It's a process 😆

[hurricane]

I've run two half marathons, and in the first I had to walk/run the second half because I managed to bonk at only 12km because breakfast (though big) was too long before the race and I didn't use any nutrition. Oops. Then, during the second one I was cautious with my pace and finished it in about 2:45. I'm proud I finished, but I know I can blow that time out of the water. Especially because the next year my partner ran it in half that without training properly (don't worry, he suffered!) Can't wait to apply these tips!

[dipbleu]

Great tips and advices...Thank you so much!

[SubtleForces]

Great advice, which might come in handy next year. I am enjoying getting faster on shorter distances for now, partly in order for the half to become a little less of a mountain to climb. Having already shaved off over 15 minutes in predicted time, I think it is going to be a key factor. Also, I can slowly build the mileage with the long runs in parallel. What this video has made me think about, is mostly being conservative with the pacer in order to have something left in the tank for the end (I tend to positive split significantly-though mostly I split in U: fast-slow-fast) besides making sure the watch settings are on the correct pace splits

[camowens]

What an excellent video…greatly reduced my anxiety, thanks!

[thejeffinvade]

I run a 10K by myself last week to find out my HM pace. I did the 10K in 42:05, I am hoping to finish my first HM in 1:33 next month.

[tecmalo]

For my first HM I was aiming for a sub 1:30, trained definitely well enough and was mentally prepared. The only thing I didn’t prepare for, was hot weather.

I thought „well, I can survive this“, started for for a slightly slower first split, but dropped massively, as soon as the last clouds went away and the sun was shining bright. Finished in 1:39;51 and felt horrible, but I learned my lessons, now sitting at 1:23 and my next goal is sub in 1:20 spring 23.

Edit: oh and once I forgot, that a have a sharp/hard uphill part in the last 3km. So next lesson: know the hard parts of the course…

[otnoirhc]

Pushed it too hard on my first and paid the price 😂