Runners: Training pace vs race pace - UPDATE!

How much faster do you run during a race vs your training pace. My adrenaline really gets going and I do run a lot faster but curious about others…?

I am looking back at old half marathons and used to train at a 10 minute pace, however I was able to finish races at a 9 min, or 9:30 pace which shocked me.

Anyway I am curious how I will do at my next half. I don't think I can PR, or maybe I can??? My avg pace right now running on some major hllls is 9:45. The course I hear is pretty flat and I would need to keep a speed of a 9:00 pace and not sure I should kill myself. This is my first half back in 3 years and 1 baby later. LOL.

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UPDATE

Holy crap you aren't gonna believe this but I killed it in my half marathon this past weekend! I ran an avg of 8:45 pace the whole time! A whole minute faster than I trained! I was shocked! It was hard but once I saw I was making good time I pushed to keep it up!!!!! I ran my fastest half marathon yet - beat my old time by 4 minutes!!!!! And this is after having a baby and 3 years of no racing and only short runs and no runs at all while preggo and recovering from a baby! Craziness! I am so sore but it was worth it! Course was flats, weather was cool and not too many runners = great race to set a new PR!!!!

Message edited 3/11/2014 11:21:31 PM.

Runners: Training pace vs race pace

I also train at a 10 min/mile. Race day I average between 9:15-9:50 min/mile (for a half marathon). It really depends on distance though. I usually run around 8:30 for a 5k or even a 10k. A full marathon I ran a lot slower.

ETA- I think it's definitely possible to average around 9 min/mile. I always run much faster the day of the race.

Message edited 2/25/2014 9:34:15 AM.

Re: Runners: Training pace vs race pace

You need to do speed work in order to get faster. Things like fartleks, tempo runs, mile repeats, 800s, hill workouts, etc. Once I started doing speed work, I improved my 5K time from ~22+ minutes to 20 minutes. I was also able to get my 15K time from 75 minutes to 64 minutes.

My non speed work days, I usually run 1-1.5 minutes slower per mile.

Runners: Training pace vs race pace

you guys make me sick!!! lol

i'm such a turtle.
i refuse to answer on the basis that it will make me look like the pathetic snail slugging through january molasses that i am

Re: Runners: Training pace vs race pace

My long run training pace is usually 1-1.5 minutes slower than race pace.

I do speed/hill work once a week but I don't really take that pace into account for race pace.

Re: Runners: Training pace vs race pace

I do interval training 1x a week on the treadmill for 30 min. It's not like the speed training I used to do when I trained with a team but it's something. Ok maybe I will try to keep9 min pace but if I start dragging and it gets unpleasant then I will take it easy!

Re: Runners: Training pace vs race pace - UPDATE!

Update at the top! I ran a minute faster than I trained and kept the speed the whole 13.1 - set a PR! Yayyyyy!

Runners: Training pace vs race pace - UPDATE!

wow!!

that is an AMAZING update! way to go!!
i can only dream of running that fast... maybe someday.
congratulations on your PR. enjoy every second of being sore... you EARNED it!

Runners: Training pace vs race pace - UPDATE!

Great job!! Never underestimate the power of the race itself.

I'm with you Libby...feeling a bit like a slow poke around here LOL. But that's OK with me.

Runners: Training pace vs race pace - UPDATE!

Congratulations!