What's a decent finishing time for a half-marathon?

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

Just curious, as I recently did my first half-marathon.

I'd quite like to get more into running and to keep up with it, and also get that I should now try and beat the finishing time that I got in this half-marathon.

I'd just be interested to see what sort of time I should eventually aim for.

Thanks :)

Is under an hour not less than the world record?!

Almost, for men, and yes for women:

"The current world record for the half marathon are 58:23 minutes for men, set by Eritrea's Zersenay Tadese on 21 March 2010 at the Lisbon Half Marathon, and 64:52 minutes for women, set by Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya at the Prague Half Marathon on 1 April 2017"

Maybe someone didn't understand the question.

I'd focus on getting a faster time. But it has to be similar terrain (or easier!) to be fair!

Well done! I am a keen and quite good runner and (without wishing to sound patronising) I do have admiration for those who are spending an hour or so more running than I am. That's a level of mental strength to be respected.

You know what would improve your HM most? Focussing on improving over shorter distances and then moving up to HM.

Some 10Ks or 10 milers. You'll be able to improve your speed if you train for shorter distances which will make the endurance part of training for the HM easier.

Mix your training up.

Good luck.

My first HM was around the 2:30 mark too. My second, the following year was around 2:12. Not having major digestive issues helped! I've knocked another minute off since, but remain stuck around 2:11-12 ish. I would like to get to 2:10. Last time, training was promising but it was hot, I made a bad call on shoes, and the camber of the road meant my knee was fed up by half way of being slightly tilted continually on one side.

Well see how I get on in a few weeks...

At least Mo Farah can't quite do it twice before I've finished

There's where you fit for your age and sex.

There's where you fit for your age, sex and the course.

And then there's beating your time :) that's the real key I think.

I set my 1/2 target time by looking online for calculators using my 10k times. But for your first I think it's about getting round - a great achievement. I aimed for under 2 hrs and ended up 2 hrs and 3 mins. It was unseasonably warm, I got to mile 6 and saw people getting attention by side of the road (it was the great north run so big variation on how prepared people were). At that point I decided finishing was the aim. I was slightly undertrained and the last km was some of the hardest running I've ever done. Funnily enough I've never done a half since, I think it confirmed for me I prefer 10k . Big respect to people who complete a half.

If you want to get faster, running with a club or training plans help (I like Hal higdon). Great thing is you prob will get faster if you do another with even a little more training. Also big events have pacers that you can follow to help you keep a target time.

If you like to nerd out about these things, there are running forums which I learnt loads from.

And there is always someone faster than you, unless you're a world champ :) so I think it's best to be aware of where you are statistically but focus more on what's good for you particularly. I say this as someone with a sister who has a 1hr 30 something minutes half, and who proclaimed herself a shadow of sporting glory then promptly bust out a 1hr 45 minute time. The difference is she trains harder and more than I ever would. And this is why I focus on my own times :)

I'd be going for getting your 10k under an hour. You should be able to get that relatively easily if you carry on. Getting involved in park runs (if theres any near you) will help your speed too, and are a fun semi competitive way to run. The half will probably follow.

My DH did his first one ever this year at the age of 52. He aimed for 2 hours and beat it by a few minutes, which I think is bloody awesome, but he was instantly competitive and disappointed he didn't do better.

Anything under 2 hours is a fast half, I've managed 2.26 as my fastest but my feet dislike longer distances so don't often do that far plus no matter where I route plan round here its all hills.
The only person/time you should be out to beat is you/your own and even if you don't you still moved so its all good