First Midwest Half Marathon, Huge PR!

Short Version: Old PR 2:07:04 New PR 1:59:34

Longer Version: I have been doing the Hanson’s classic marathon training program for awhile now. I am almost done with the speed portion of the program and am about to enter the strength portion. Here is info about the program: http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/new-year-new-you-way-renegades?page=single

I had noticed a significant improvement in my overall paces since starting the program. Everything based on feel has sped up by a good 30 seconds per mile. I'm running slow and easy now at what used to be my marathon pace. I was targeting a 4:15 marathon goal for Missoula in July and originally planned to run the half at a pace that would predict that in McMillan as a test of sorts. I think I needed 2:01 or 2:02 or for that.

When I got to the race I felt good, and the weather was perfect, so I decided what the heck, I would go for sub 2:00 and see what happened.

The race was generally flat, but with some long slight hills. Go figure one of these had to be the last half mile at the end. But the course was out and back, so I knew from the downhill at the start to expect it. I ran a pretty even 9:04-9:09 pace the whole way with the exception of one long downhill mile that came in at 8:48 and the uphill at the end which was more like 9:20. I felt pretty darn good the whole way, but the last mile was tough, I really had to dig deep to not drop off more at the end.

I came in under 2 both on the clock and official. 1:59:59 clock time and 1:59:34 official chip time. It predicts around a 4:11 marathon in McMillan, and I have usually been able to outperform his predictions by a minute or two, so I am now training for a 4:10 marathon (current PR 4:28:48). I'm rather amazed by that!

I am really liking the results I have been getting from the Hansons program. If anyone asked me last year if I thought I could ever break 2 hours in the half, I would have said no way! Other than worrying about the long run topping out at 16 miles in the Hansons classic program, which psychologically I will just have to deal with, I feel pretty confident now about Missoula in July!

Ran that race in 2011. Nice PR, Carleen!

Congrats Carleen and have fun in MT! Sounds like that training program is working for you.

Wow, that is major, Carleen!! Congrats! Can't wait to see how you do at Missoula, but I predict that current PR won't be there for long.

Damn! Way to go! <Looks very hard at the Hanson plan>

Suh-weet! Sub-2! Fantastic job, Carleen. Congrats!

Here's to more records falling in Missoula.

Write your current PR's for the full and the half in pencil because I think some new figures are going to replace them.

Nice job!

Woohoo!

WOW! Congrats.

That is awesome Carleen. That's crushing a PR. Looks like you've latched on to the right training for you. Congrats.

I'm with the others... very impressive! It's always a great encouragement when you see significant improvement to go with all the hard work!

Congrats on the sub-2:00 Half!!! Milestone PRs are always fun to get... well, any kind of PR is fun, but breaking through a round number is extra fun.

Keep up the great work and good luck in Missoula.

Thats so awesome! Huge PR you have been working very hard and it's paying off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great job, Carleen, congratulations on a great PR. Were there any other items you'd credit for the PR - such as lack of any injury or anything else? I ask as I need to pick a plan for the fall. I bought the Hansen book when it came out and really liked it but had some hesitations about it but need to decide soon. Funny as I thought the plan would not allow for any PRs in non-marathon distances because the pacing is so close to marathon speed.

JohnP wrote:Great job, Carleen, congratulations on a great PR. Were there any other items you'd credit for the PR - such as lack of any injury or anything else? I ask as I need to pick a plan for the fall. I bought the Hansen book when it came out and really liked it but had some hesitations about it but need to decide soon. Funny as I thought the plan would not allow for any PRs in non-marathon distances because the pacing is so close to marathon speed.

I credit the plan fully. I posted more in the other thread about the Hanson's plan (that is here: http://www.365runners.com/t2095-hanson-s-training) but in a nutshell I think the combo of going from 4-5 days per week to 6 with the speed work did the trick. I have not done a lot of speed work in the past, just pace runs, so I definitely got quick improvement from that. But I also have seen a lot of reports in other forums from others with more experience in that area doing very well with the program. So I think it works well for a wide range of people.

I noticed that all of my paces based on perceived effort have improved significantly, so even though I wasn't training specifically for a half, I was expecting a big PR. Going sub-2 was a bit of a surprise though since I decided to go that big on a whim the morning of the race!

One other note is that I was running mostly 8 miles per the program for the long run before the half. There might have been one 10 in there over a month ago. Then I did one 12 a few weeks ago just because I thought maybe I should with a half coming up. I think I could have been just fine for the half without it though. Endurance was not a factor for me at all during the race expect for the last half mile uphill.

congrats Carleen. I'm a big fan of Hanson.

Carleen huge congrats!! There is no doubt that PR was well deserved, you have been busting your ass for the last few years. You have always been open to and have changed your training. It paid off huge for you this last time by using the Hanson plan!!! Keep up the solid running.

Great job going sub-2:00 and the BIG PR!

Awesome, carleen. This is just a beginning of many PRs.

Nice job, Carleen! Looking forward to your report from MT. I may have to go back and read my Hanson book again. Michele peaked my interest in Hanson Training some years back. I just never followed through.

I like the short version. It screams!

It's the plan, it's the plan! It's very encouraging to see your progress under a new training regime. Keep firing on all cylinders Carleen.

Sweet - nothing like a PR. Congrats!

That is one heaven of a PR. Great job knocking off so much time. Congratulations!

Congrats on the race, I see a sub 4:10 in your very near future

Just now getting to some of the race reports that I missed during a busy period of work.  Your PR is just inspiring!  That's just plain awesome!  I have a friend that insists that 16 miles is the way to go...apparently that and all the other Hanson training worked out for you.