Yep, I know, the title is a bit over the top and has a touch of bully - but it's hard to quench my excitement for the half marathon. It is my favorite distance!
It's the perfect distance for most runners and especially us slower runners. It's not too 
long that we need to plan for the entire day away and its not so short that it is obvious how slow we are running. Any heartful awe and wonder we don't get from the crowds with our speed we make up in their admiration of our spirit to run "that far" or for "that long". Half marathons smile more and longer - we are the darlings of the race - at least until the marathoners get back.
The training does take time to get in the long runs, but even those are 2-ish hours can be found in the schedule. Where the marathon asks for 12-16 weeks of training to get ready, the half marathon can be tackled with as few of 6-8 and still live to tell about it. The distance does requires training - but you can still cover it somewhat comfortably and completely with little training and good intentions when push comes to shove.
Race day is still a big deal. There are still the nerves and careful preparation, but you know you can't get into serious trouble in a half marathon. You can finish in about 2-3 hours, even at a relaxed pace, which puts you on track to pick up lunch on the way home from the race and you still have the day left to play, do chores or relax. And if your nonrunning life has kids and commitment, the half marathon is gracious enough to allow you to still live out the day without a long nap. Although, if you are lucky enough to get one it is the icing on the cake.
It's a serious distance. It isn't one for the weak or runner who hasn't commited. Because it is for real runners, any runner who takes it on earns the right to buy the best running gear, gadgets and other stuff to make them look as cool as they feel.
And even though the distance can be forgiving, it still must be respected. Tom has said in the past, "if you run the marathon wrong, it can really hurt." And if you have run a marathon wrong, you know "hurt" doesn't even come close to describing those feelings of pain. For the half marathon, the same holds true. If you break the basic rules of training, it can hurt. But she is more gentile than her evil twin brother the marathon. She will punish you for a day, maybe two, and three tops and then you are free to dream of your next half marathon again.
The training and distance may be a fraction of a full, but the joy and pleasure of finishing isn't reduced to a margin of a big race. It's all still there and all still worth it.
I can't wait for my next one!
Yep, I know, the title is a bit over the top and has a touch of bully - but it's hard to quench my excitement for the half marathon. It is my favorite distance!
It's the perfect distance for most runners and especially us slower runners. It's not too
long that we need to plan for the entire day away and its not so short that it is obvious how slow we are running. Any heartful awe and wonder we don't get from the crowds with our speed we make up in their admiration of our spirit to run "that far" or for "that long". Half marathons smile more and longer - we are the darlings of the race - at least until the marathoners get back.
The training does take time to get in the long runs, but even those are 2-ish hours can be found in the schedule. Where the marathon asks for 12-16 weeks of training to get ready, the half marathon can be tackled with as few of 6-8 and still live to tell about it. The distance does requires training - but you can still cover it somewhat comfortably and completely with little training and good intentions when push comes to shove.
Race day is still a big deal. There are still the nerves and careful preparation, but you know you can't get into serious trouble in a half marathon. You can finish in about 2-3 hours, even at a relaxed pace, which puts you on track to pick up lunch on the way home from the race and you still have the day left to play, do chores or relax. And if your nonrunning life has kids and commitment, the half marathon is gracious enough to allow you to still live out the day without a long nap. Although, if you are lucky enough to get one it is the icing on the cake.
It's a serious distance. It isn't one for the weak or runner who hasn't commited. Because it is for real runners, any runner who takes it on earns the right to buy the best running gear, gadgets and other stuff to make them look as cool as they feel.
And even though the distance can be forgiving, it still must be respected. Tom has said in the past, "if you run the marathon wrong, it can really hurt." And if you have run a marathon wrong, you know "hurt" doesn't even come close to describing those feelings of pain. For the half marathon, the same holds true. If you break the basic rules of training, it can hurt. But she is more gentile than her evil twin brother the marathon. She will punish you for a day, maybe two, and three tops and then you are free to dream of your next half marathon again.
The training and distance may be a fraction of a full, but the joy and pleasure of finishing isn't reduced to a margin of a big race. It's all still there and all still worth it.
I can't wait for my next one!