Most Half Marathon Runners Are Slower Than You Think

Two blogs in one week?

Rumour has it there’s finally going to be some decent weather this weekend, so the optimist in me (ok, I’m pretty pessimistic about it!) is sitting down to type his second blog of the week… maybe it’s because of the high I’m on after watching the Mighty Villa last night… or it’s putting off doing an actual run before the day begins!

Let’s get into it!

I get it, you’re “not a runner”. I’ve said that about myself in the past… even after running the Dublin Marathon 3 years in a row, you could still catch me saying it to people.

There’s no official race to run where you get declared a runner after it. No specific time to beat.

It’s as simple as this: you run… you’re a runner!

But looking at elite running times (the WR is 57:20) and online perception of running can heavily influence how we are deemed as “good” or even “average”.

Let’s take the half marathon as an example.

Right now, in your head, what is a “good” time for a half marathon?

A lot will say 2 hours… some may say finishing it is good enough.

But the truth is most half marathon runners are slower than you think.

According to RunRepeat, the average half marathon finish time is 2:14:59, which works out to roughly 6:24 per kilometre. The median (middle male in a race) male half marathon time is 1:59:48, and the median female time is 2:24:03.

When you see all the carbon plated shoes around you at the start of the race, you would be forgiven for thinking that the majority of the pack are sprinting at a sub 5 min per km pace.

It’s just not true.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

The reason for this newsletter is that people may think they are not fast enough to run a half marathon because their perception of fast is quicker than they think.

I’ve been guilty of this myself. Comparing my times to others, thinking that that is the standard.

I’ve ran a 1:45, thinking that it was not a great time because I had once previously ran a 1:32 Half Marathon.

RunRepeat’s percentile data puts a sub-1:47:10 half marathon inside the fastest 10% overall, while the 50th percentile is 2:14:59

I didn’t consider myself a runner, running at a 1:45 marathon and yet I was in the top 10%?!

But the real truth is that it doesn’t matter if you run a 2 hour, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, or even doing walk-run intervals, you are still doing the thing.

You are still training.

You are still showing up.

You are still a runner.

Block out the social media noise, and your perception of what a runner should be or look like.

If running is a half marathon, or any distance, is a goal this year then go out and do it.

You do not need to look like a runner.

There is no qualifying time to be considered a runner.

A half marathon is a great goal that I believe all people that can run can build up to

But, most importanly of all:

Run your own race.

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