The slow run

A half-marathon(HM) with its 21 kilometers or 13.1 miles is a considerable challenge and a long run, but at the same time, it’s a manageable one even for beginner runners – with enough training, of course. This was my first race, and it took me around three months of consistent training to run it. 

In the beginning, a half-marathon can look a lot like a marathon in the sense that there is a tipping point around kilometer 13, where you start feeling your legs tired, lose energy, and start questioning yourself. It’s interesting that, just as in the marathon, it happens when you are a bit over the middle of the distance. From my experience, though, it’s less intense than in the marathon, where it feels like climbing a mountain without a top.

Half-marathons have enough distance to stretch you while at the same time giving you the time and space to enjoy the moment. It will pass by faster than you expected. After doing a couple dozen, I now find myself at the finish wanting more.

I love seeing a lot of places during a race, and the HM provides me with the opportunity to experience a variety of views, quiet my mind, get in the flow and enjoy the race. For me, it’s the funniest and most enjoyable race. It’s balanced. A bit challenging but not as much as the marathon. You need consistent training, but you get off with a lot less. 

If you factor in the time and try to improve your personal best, then things get more challenging. I remember trying to run the HM in under 2 hours, and that one stretched me. You can always find ways to spice things up. A trail HM with an altitude gain is also a different beast. Without proper training, a dirt road uphill HM can be significantly more intense than a marathon – your legs will hit a tall wall.

The HM is also a great building block to pave the way toward running a marathon. “Divide et impera” – divide and conquer, 2 half-marathons equal one marathon. If you can run a HM, you’re almost halfway towards running the entire 42km. I say “almost” because the 2nd half-marathon has little resemblance to the first one. At the first one, you’re fresh and eager. In the 2nd, you’re running on an imaginary hill going up slowly.

I would love to inspire more people to run a half-marathon. The distance is not as scary as the marathon, but still highly challenging and immensely gratifying. It builds confidence and makes you wonder what else you can do or run. From my point of view, the HM is the race that unlocks the world of running, and it sure did for me. That’s when I got hooked and wanted to explore more: trail runs, mountain running, marathons, and ultras.

If this got you dreaming, seize the moment, take action and sign up for a half-marathon. Enjoy the run!