What's the shortest long run that you've run prior to running a half-marathon?

I've got a lot of 3-5's behind me throughout the year, but my longest run to date, which was two weeks ago was 7 miles.

With that in mind, I'm thinking about running the BCS Half, and am thinking about miles 11,12 and 13 and pain.

The shortest was 8. I had to cut my training plan a little short because if IT band pain, and that's where I stopped. Still ran the half ok.

I did a half Ironman a few years back, and I absolutely abhor running. Prior to that event, which will likely be the longest distance I will ever run, I MIGHT have done 10 miles once. Lots of 10K and shorter runs in preparation for the event, though.

Depends. If your weekly volume is high enough you can probably get by just fine with an 8-10 mile long run before the race.

i did my first full marathon on a long run of 7 miles. don't recommend.

I've been running fairly consistently all year long. (For me anyway.). And I've run 10 or so half's over the past 15 years, but I typically hit a long run of 9 or 10 miles somewhere within 2-3 weeks out. This time though, I'm concerned that age is getting the best of me, and I just don't want to really injure myself.

About 10-11 miles a couple of weeks before the event

You can finish a half running 7 miles for a long run. Won't get you the best performance but manage your pacing and you'll finish.

Around 8 a couple weeks prior. Just depends on the load. I only have 6 weeks of consistent running for BCS this year. Did 10 last week and 8 yesterday. But I also have quite a bit of 3-6 mile mid week runs .

My first half, I had never run more than 6.2 up until one week before the race. I did 8, took 2 days off, did 10, took 2 days off, then raced. I was 47.

So as a minimum, I'd try to do 8 at target race pace. 10 if you can. If you can't, SLOW DOWN.

Ideally, 15 would be nice, because you won't be intimidated by the mileage and will be able to warm up a mile or 2 on race day.

Tonight will be 8 mile repeats at slightly faster than 13.1 pace. 10 miles total. It will suck. Race is 4 weeks out.

AggieOO said:

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i did my first full marathon on a long run of 7 miles. don't recommend.

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I've run a ton of marathons but training this year has been garbage, especially since the summer. Longest run "recently" was a trail 1/2 marathon in September. I've been lucky to run once a week, and I'm signed up for Houston in January.

I have run one full marathon and 9 half marathons. On several half marathons, the longest run I did was 8 miles, but I recommend a long run of 10 miles. I will be running the Austin Half Marathon on 2/18/2024, and this will be my 10th half marathon.

Buford T. Justice said:

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I've been running fairly consistently all year long. (For me anyway.). And I've run 10 or so half's over the past 15 years, but I typically hit a long run of 9 or 10 miles somewhere within 2-3 weeks out. This time though, I'm concerned that age is getting the best of me, and I just don't want to really injure myself.

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If you've run that many you should have a pretty good gage of your fitness. If 5-6 comes easy you'll be fine. If 5-6 is a struggle then you know the answer.

I've noticed that even after I've been in my best shape for mile/5k/10k, the first few 10+ mile runs are a little jarring when trying to get back to half/full shape. I think there's just a certain baseline level of sore/tough that you have to achieve that maybe isn't even physical. It was the same way when I was big into racquetball. The body just has to get shocked into baseline readiness.

When I did my half, my long training runs were about 8-10 miles. IMHO if you can run 8 miles solid at a good pace, you can get thru a race of a half marathon. I was never about trying to break any records tho, just wanted to do a half.

Did 14 this morning. Really felt it after the 8 mile repeats 3 days ago. But I think that's the point. Gonna try another 14-16 tomorrow morning. Just getting the body accustomed to the banging and jolting. That will get me to 3 weeks out. The last major workout will be 8 - 10 miles at race pace about 2 weeks out.

I got ready for my best marathon by running 8-14 miles every other day (I no longer needed the 20 miler since it was late season). The half is different because the long run tops out at 15 (not 20), and there are several of these long speed days mixed in.

Hope everyone meets their goals, or at least sets reasonable ones.

I waited too long and missed the option to register.
On to The Woodlands Half in March. I'll get the long runs in for that one. Shooting for sub 2 hours.
Last time that I ran this one I finished at 2;00:05.

Buford T. Justice said:

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I waited too long and missed the option to register.
On to The Woodlands Half in March. I'll get the long runs in for that one. Shooting for sub 2 hours.
Last time that I ran this one I finished at 2;00:05.

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Come join us in Kingwood on 1/1/24. Great course for going sub-2. BQ, a legit course.

You've also got Galveston in Feb, USA Fit in January (usually, idk if they have a half), and Seabrook in March, which actually has halves on back to back days.

Also, Santa Hustle in Galveston.