Half Marathon Panic - I can't run it all

[careerchangeperhaps]

I'm meant to be running a half this weekend. I'm massively under prepared as I've had various minor injuries over the summer that've affected my training and more recently I've been suffering badly with the 'not-Covid' cold (although I'm ok now). I was set to withdraw a few weeks ago - mainly because I'm not happy about there being no water stations or bag drop available, but it's a race that's difficult to get a ballot place and I don't think I'd be lucky enough to get the chance again.
So, shall I go and do my best? I am a slower runner (my best half time is 2:35) but I've got no chance of being able to run much of this. I haven't done any races for a couple of years. I've previously run 2 half marathons and several 10ks. The longest training run I've done recently is 4 miles . I walked 13 miles in a day a couple of weeks ago (although not continuously; we stopped for lunch). I think I could get round by running a mile and walking 2 miles and repeating. But is this too slow? Would it be awful to be right at the back? Would everyone be whizzing past me?
It's the Royal Parks if that makes a difference.

Is there a maximum course time? If not then no problem. But then I never take notice of what position I'm in in an organised race (always at the back!)

Do you honestly sneer at those you pass or are at the back as much as you just did to your imaginary self?! I doubt it.

That said, I would really question putting your body through this if you have a lingering chesty cold.

You have nothing to lose by giving it a go. I just had a quick look at the website, and it says they open the roads after 2.5 hours, and that is the first 6 miles of the race, so that suggests they expect some people to take over that time to do 6 miles. I don't think you will be right at the back, and lets face it, if you are, you can always stop. Why not go along, and see how it goes?

I've done a half with no recent preparation but a history of fitness and it wasn't much fun. A run/walk strategy helps, I did a Jeff Galloway run/walk/run strategy with 1 minute or 90 seconds running and then similar of walking.

Personally I don't think the Royal Parks under current circumstances would be enough of a draw for me to go through with it though. Maybe in normal times, but is it going to feel like an experience or just a chore? Also what's the weather meant to be like on the day?

I'm running one in a fortnight and I'll be happy if i do 3 hours so saying 2.35 is slow is a little galling tbh. I've only managed two 10 mile long runs and have not been training to the letter throughout at all! I walk run which used to make me feel like a failure but to be honest, getting round will be wonderful.
If you really don't feel physically well, maybe give it a miss, but there is no shame in doing it more slowly.
You definitely wont be at the end!

Royal parks is pretty flat if I remember rightly. Look at the cut off times but I ran the Auckland half marathon ( a hot hilly hell) in 3 hours and 15 minutes. I'm a slow runner but I walked the hills and I was in no way at the back of the pack! I was delighted to finish and that should be your aim.

It will be fine. If you've recently walked 13 miles and can run 4 I think you'll be good. Don't push yourself. Listen to your body. Important thing is not to injure yourself. Do some walk and some run and IME you'll be carried along by the atmosphere.

Try strapping your previous injuries with KT tape. It's wondrous stuff and there's online videos on how to apply. Good luck!

@ninnynonny I think run/walk is a brilliant strategy and not something to feel bad about it. It's got so many benefits to it and I got far fewer injuries when I switched to it.

And even if you walked the lot you wouldn't be last. Believe me. My time is just over walking pace and I was well within cut off times and definitely not last!!

I'd even be happy with last if I finished it! It's still an achievement!

(I checked. Last place in the Auckland half was 4.5 hours)

Will you enjoy it? The atmosphere? Setting etc then go for it!

If you are not sure then ask to defer to next year? You won’t be the only one surely?

[quote TheOneWithTwoParties]@ninnynonny I think run/walk is a brilliant strategy and not something to feel bad about it. It's got so many benefits to it and I got far fewer injuries when I switched to it.[/quote]
I agree now! Before I was appalled at myself if I was doing over 11 minute miles! Now my average with walking every now and then is about 13, and I don't care!!
Not that I'm not terrified! Its my first ever half and I'm nearer 60 than 50, but I'm determined to do it :D

@Newgirls - I've asked to defer to next year - they said no. They won't allow deferrals under any circumstances (I know someone with a broken foot and they've just said tough luck). That and the shoddy organisation is making it very unappealing but it's one I've always wanted to do. Getting a ballot place in this race is hard and I feel that if I throw away this opportunity, I might never get the chance again.

@Griefmonster - My chest is clear - it was more of a tickly cough / bad throat / streaming nose and I've been better for a few weeks now, it just meant that I missed a couple of weeks training as didn't feel well enough then.

@Cloudyzebra - I saw the bit about getting to the 6 mile point by 2.5 hrs but it's not clear if that's from the start of the race or start of the last wave. They're spreading the waves out a bit due to Covid and I'm in the last (slowest ) wave which starts at 9:45 (1st wave starts at 9). If it takes 30 mins to get across the start, that only gives me 1hr15 to get to the 6 mile point which I don't think I'll achieve.

@ninnynonny - I didn't mean to offend by saying that my half Marathon best time is slow, just making a point that with a finish time of over 2:30, I'm already used to being in the back half of the finishers rather than zipping along. I'm firmly of the opinion that finishing it is fantastic, the time is not really important . That said, I'd feel bad if I was literally the last person and the marshalls were just desperate for me to finish so they could go home .

@careerchangeperhaps Sorry if I came across snippy. I'm just really scared!!

All the marathons\halves I've been involved in have a cut-off point as the marshalls\volunteers at the finish line would be waiting around for hours.

I'm quite excited actually, as I'm not in the last wave!! 24th of 26th, but not last!!)

That’s a bit mean of them in this year of all years oh well.

If you are at the back runners tend to just move on to the pavements and continue. Roads might open before you finish but you can carry on on the pavement.

Likewise if you do it and hate it simply walk off the course and go for a coffee and think of it as a training run?

Best of luck whatever you decide.

I'd have a look at results from previous years and figure out where a finish time of 3hrs would leave you.

In many races I've done, they would have packed up and gone home after 2hrs 30, yet in others (Great North Run for example) many people would be run/walking.

@fellrunner85 - there were plenty of people finishing after 3:30 in 2019 which is when this race last ran. So hopefully it would be ok. Just wondering if because it's not a normal year, maybe the fun runners won't be bothered to turn up!

I would just go for it and see what happens. Worst case scenario you’ll have to stop if you don’t meet the cut off time. You may surprise yourself!

I know you said there are no water stations but there are in fact water refill points on the route, you just have to bring your own bottle

@mocktail I thought the refill points were actually located off the route (not that I'm worried about my time, but could do without adding any further distance than necessary 😂).

Having looked at the results myself, OP, you'll be fine. As you say, there were lots of walkers in 2019, and people even coming in after 5 hours - so if you even run a bit of it then you won't be last!
I'm sure there will be loads of non-serious runners out, presuming they haven't capped the numbers this year.

Are you planning another run this week? If so then you could try out a Jeff Galloway style run. You might well find that if you were to jog for 30 seconds and then walk for 30 seconds you could manage the whole with no problems but probably worth a dummy run even if its only a short one to see how you go. I Jeffed the Royal Parks 4 years ago and there are lots of people who do run walk so you won't look out of place.

Thanks @londonmummy1966. I was planning a 3-4 miler tomorrow so will give Jeffing it a go.

Royal Parks is lovely and so difficult to get in in the ballot. The only time I managed a ballot place was the year work was so busy I barely trained.

The great atmopshere though and lankmarks got me around. A run/walk is, perfectly fine.

Will you be disappointed if you don't do it?

@careerchangeperhaps It says "The water refill points will be located at approx. mile 4.5, 9 and 12. These refill points will be visible from the route and here you will be able to fill up any bottles or water-carrying devices that you have."

It does say somewhere they're off the route but I assume that just means next to the route, not far away?

@Cam2020 I would feel sad to have missed out if I don't do it. A close relative who was a keen runner talked about wanting to do this race for years, but sadly she died 2 years ago without ever getting the chance. When I visited her at the hospice the last time before she died, I told her I'd entered the ballot and would run it for her. So it felt like a sign when I got a ballot place (my first time entering this one too!). I should do it. For her.