Half Marathon/Full Marathon Times

So what is/are your average times for running 13.1 or 26.2 miles?  What's considered a respectable time?  How did you build your speed?

I started running (ha, more like jogging) last August.  My speed has gotten better but I've really concentrated more on building my base.  My longest run so far is 15.0 miles.  I can do a half marathon with no problem at this point.  My best half times are 2:45.  I'm shooting for a 2:00 half and a 4:00 full.  Are those reasonable times?  I've never been a fast runner.  To me those times are pretty fast but I understand it's all subjective.  I need to start doing more speed work and not just base, tempo, and recovery runs.

Thanks for your help guys.

Duane

In my opinion thoes are pretty good times. I have a half PR of 2:03 and I may shoot for a sub two hour by the end of the year.

If you can do the sub 4 full the half should be a bit quicker than 2 hours for the half. Maybe something like a 1:56 is in order. As a reverse to that, if you run a 1:59.59 half then you will probably be somewhere like 4:05 or 4:06 for the full. It's just tougher to go the same speed when you go longer.

I look at 4 hours as the magic number for the full that really puts you in a different category. My full PR - 5:20 - doesn't really line up with the half time.

Good luck.

 Duane,
Respectable times is anything that ends in 'finisher' --  seriously its as simple as that.  Boston Qualifying is 3:15/3:20 for your age group and to some that's a respectable time -- for others 7 hours is it.
With that said, I marvel at those who can go under 4 hours.  I hope that perhaps one day I can get there.  I've stated a couple of times I really want to get a 4:30 marathon in and the first half of my Detroit marathon was at 2:17 but then the wheels fell off and I ended at 5:15.  In Disney I was right around 2:16-2:17 and felt great.
Dropping your time from 2:45 to 2:00 and adding a second half may be a bit of a stretch.

Hey Duane. Those are awesome goals! 2 hour half is def doable... 4 hour marathon will require a lot of work. My best marathon time in the 3 that I have done (Aside from Ultras) in 4:23:01, which was my 2nd marathon at the fort worth Cowtown marathon. I believe a 3:45 is my goal for St George in October, and I will be continuing to work hard on my speed for that race. Keep up the hard work!

2:16 is my best time on a pretty hilly 1/2 marathon.  I have hopes of dropping down to the 2:00 for my next 1/2.  I want to run the Rock N Roll 1/2 marathon in San Jose this year.  That course is much flatter than my P.R.  I plan to sign up to run with the 2:00 pace group.

I havent done a full marathon yet, but had been wondering how I could compare my 1/2 to my future full times.

I think it is absolutely doable

Duane, 
Congrats on setting your goals!!

I ran a 1:55 at the America's run and was extremely happy about it.  I have run two marathons and firdt was 4:52 and the second was 4:39.  My goal both times was 4:30.  I just didn't have the base training yet.   I WILL break 4:30 this year.  The point is set a goal and then do what you have to do to get there. 
You are now an athlete.  Believe in yourself and good luck!!

E

Thanks for your responses guys.... I'm still in the mind set that I'm a football lineman and I'm not supposed to be able to run those distances especially at those speeds.  But I can and do run those distances and my speed is slowly getting better.  I've just got to shift my focus from mainly base building and add in more speed work.  I know it won't be easy but nothing worth while ever is. 

Props and kuddos to all you guys and what you've accomplished.  You're setting a great example for the WLS patients pre and post surgery.  I really appreciate the variety of responses and feedback I always get from you guys when I post.  

Duane 

Hey Duane, good job on your times. I'm still a slow poke but getting in a lot of miles. I typically have 2 10-13 mile runs a week and one long run ever two weeks of 20-26.2 miles. My 13 mile times are like clockwork 2:40 and my marathon times are right at 5:30 - 5:45. I find that the longer distances help my 1/2 marathon times. I am hoping that the ultra's that I am running every month will help my marathon times.

Instead of focusing on times, I really try to focus on running and keeping my heart rate low so I can manage those long 50-60 mile runs where time does but doesn't matter. Does matter for cutoff times but doesn't because after making the cutoff times, I really don't care how fast I run, as long as I can keep running.

Just keep at it and the more you run, the better it gets. Good luck.

Jeff

Duane,

I have 5 marathons and 3 halves under my belt.  My best half is a 2:06 thanks to intervals.  I did quarter mile, half mile and mile repeats on the treadmill to get ready for that race.  It was local, so I also had the luxury of practicing on the course, so I knew every hill.

My best marathon time, so far is a 4:55.  In May 2009, I was on track to run a 4:15 marathon, but the wheels fell off in the second half thanks to rain-induced blood blisters.  For that marathon, I was running mile and two mile repeats, hill repeats and my weekly mileage topped out at 45 miles per week.  On my 8-10 mile runs, I'd push the last 2-4 miles hard to practice running on tired legs.

Scott's 5K performance is proof of how effective those mile repeats truly are.

Cassie