When you did your 1st race...what were your goals?

I think I'm going to FINALLY sign up for a 1/2 marathon in Oct.

Right now I'm running outdoors 7miles at around a 9:45/mile (I know I'm not fast). BUT I'm also not really training, I'm just happy to be out there doing it when I can, not having any pains too, so I'm keeping it enjoyable for me.

Right now my only goal is to actually finish, without stopping.

What goals did you set for your first race? Is it normal to be so nervous? I'm scared I'll get injured prior, or will not be ready, or will cramp or something.

Re: When you did your 1st race...what were your goals?

I havent done one yet, but I'm planning to run my first 1/2. I stay home with my daughter during the day, work part time early morning and at night, school part time at night...I know training time will be scarce, so my goal right now is just to actually run the entire distance.

After I do the first one, then I would like to set a time-related goal if I run another.

I've done 5 & 10k's and I'm nervous before every race. Let the nervous energy motivate and push you, instead of hold you back.

Good luck!

Re: When you did your 1st race...what were your goals?

For my first half marathon my goal was to finish (but secretly I wanted under 2 hours). When I got nervous I would just say to myself worse come to worse you can walk a little if you have to and that would help me relax a little. I always find a race "easier" than runs on your own. I would set small goals for myself throughout ie keep up with the guy in the blue shirt etc.
The last half marathon I ran very undertrained. The longest run I had done was 9 miles and I elwasnt running often and still did well for myself (under 2 hours).

Good luck!! You will be come addicted!

Re: When you did your 1st race...what were your goals?

i'm sssssslllllllllooooooooowwwwww.

i completed my first hm, two weeks ago. all along, my goal was to finish. as i got closer, my secret goal was to finish under three hours (which still isn't saying much).

i got hurt two weeks prior to the race. i still was able to finish and i finished in 3:04:36... i'm calling that a win because i had knee pain almost the entire way.

i think you're fast!
and if you're able to run 7 miles, without training, i think you'll do just fine.

all i can say is to be smarter than i was
don't try to be a hero and run through the pain.

i've been working on my rehab for two weeks, i'm just now starting to feel that i might be able to run around the block.

good luck

Re: When you did your 1st race...what were your goals?

You run a nice pace right now. As you train, you will get faster. My suggestion is to focus on slowly building up your mileage/long run and that should keep the injuries under control. As long as you don't increase your mileage too quickly, you should be fine. There's no rush, you have plenty of time, Oct is over 4 months away.

As you get closer, if you want to just have an idea of what your time could be, try and do a race that is shorter (5k or 10k is great) and see how you do. Then plug that finish time into the online running calculator (macmillan running) and you can see what your predicted half marathon time is. It's not always 100% since it assumes the weather is perfect that day, you feel 100%, you run enough mileage, etc.....but it will put you in the ballpark.

For your first half though, keep in mind, just finishing is an accomplishment and should be the main goal, along with being healthy. I just always like to get an idea of what I might be able to do - but if you don't hit a time goal, don't beat yourself up. Sometimes it takes a few races at that distance to get the pacing down and you get more experience each time. Good luck, which half are you doing?

Re: When you did your 1st race...what were your goals?

Thank you all for the words!

I'm in NC. So I'm doing the Greensboro one. FINALLY a close to home 1/2, & my DH is off. So I've talked him into into it too.

I'm a SAHM, with a DH who works a rotating schedule of night & day shifts. So I train when I can, that's why I have no true routine. But I'm aiming at 3days of running (1 being long), 2 strength. I know I have tons of time, so I do plan to VERY SLOWLY increase the miles. With all my past back pain, I want to keep it fun!

Definitely my goal is finishing, I just might cry if it goes well, I might then do a Dec 1/2, which benefits childhood obesity.

When you did your 1st race...what were your goals?

My goal for my first half was to finish. My time wasn't too bad. I finished at 2:12. My second half I really focused on speed and I wanted to finish under 2 hrs. That didn't quite happen, but I finished at 2:06:41. I beat my previous half by 6 min!! Hopefully next half I'll finish under 2. Right now I'm training for a full and hope just to finish.

I really don't think your pace is slow at all. That's pretty good especially for someone new to distance running. Keep up the good work. As you train longer and run more races, your speed wil improve.

Good luck with the half. They are addicting!!

Message edited 5/20/2013 12:16:26 AM.

Re: When you did your 1st race...what were your goals?

My first official race was a half marathon as well. My goal was just to finish - which I did!