Half marathon
Runners in the 2008 New York City Half Marathon running past the Park Central Hotel
Runners taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of 21,097.5 meters, or 13 7⁄64 miles, about 13.1 miles. It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently.[1] One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a marathon requires.[1] In 2008, Running USA reported that the half marathon is the fastest growing type of race.[1] An 2010 article by Universal Sports echoed the growing popularity of the distance.[2] [1] New York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg and noted running author and coach Jeff Galloway have also commented on the popularity of the distance.[1] It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon, using almost the same course with an early finish.
Training
Most people tend to run a half marathon before running a full marathon. A half marathon will help to physically prepare the body for the 42.195 kilometers (26.2 miles) that makes up a marathon. Running a half marathon is both physically and mentally demanding. For those who have never run this long of a distance before, it is imperative to train correctly. It is advised to slowly build up endurance over a three month period; decreasing the intensity of the training in the last couple of weeks before the event. On a weekly basis, training should occur four days of the week and rest for the other three. If the body is over-worked, injury is more likely to occur. It is also important to eat correctly and stay hydrated before, during, and after the race.
World records
The male world record is 58:23, set by Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea on March 21, 2010, in Lisbon, Portugal.
The female world record is 1:06:25, set by Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands on October 14, 2007, in Udine, Italy.
Ryan Hall holds the American record with a 59:43 in the 2007 Aramco Houston Half Marathon.
World record progression - Men
| Time |
Name |
Birth |
Nationality |
Date |
Town |
| 62:56 |
Miruts Yifter |
1944 |
 Ethiopia |
1977-02-06 |
Coamo, PUR |
| 62:47 |
Tony Simmons |
1948 |
 United Kingdom |
1978-06-24 |
Welwyn Garden City, GBR |
| 62:36 |
Nick Rose |
1951 |
United Kingdom |
1979-10-14 |
Dayton, USA |
| 62:32 |
Kirk Pfeffer |
1956 |
 United States |
1979-12-07 |
Las Vegas, USA |
| 62:16 |
Stan Mavis |
1955 |
United States |
1980-01-27 |
New Orleans, USA |
| 61:47 |
Herb Lindsay |
1954 |
United States |
1981-09-20 |
Manchester, USA |
| 61:36 |
Mike Musyoki |
1956 |
 Kenya |
1982-09-19 |
Philadelphia, USA |
| 61:32 |
Paul Cummings |
1953 |
United States |
1983-09-25 |
Dayton, USA |
| 61:21 |
Alex Hagelsteens |
1956 |
.svg.png) Belgium |
1984-09-23 |
Remich, LUX-Grevenmacher, LUX |
| 61:14 |
Steve Jones |
1955 |
United Kingdom |
1985-08-11 |
Birmingham, GBR |
| 60:55 |
Mark Curp |
1959 |
United States |
1985-09-15 |
Philadelphia, USA |
| 60:46 |
Dionicio Cerón |
1965 |
 Mexico |
1990-09-16 |
Philadelphia, USA |
| 60:06 |
Steve Moneghetti |
1962 |
 Australia |
1993-01-24 |
Tokyo, Japan |
| 59:47 |
Moses Tanui |
1965 |
Kenya |
1993-04-03 |
Milan, ITA |
| 59:17 |
Paul Tergat |
1969 |
Kenya |
1998-04-04 |
Milan, ITA |
| 59:16 |
Samuel Wanjiru |
1986 |
Kenya |
2005-09-11 |
Rotterdam, NED |
| 58:55 |
Haile Gebrselassie |
1973 |
Ethiopia |
2006-01-15 |
Phoenix, USA |
| 58:53 |
Samuel Wanjiru |
1986 |
Kenya |
2007-02-17 |
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE |
| 58:33 |
Samuel Wanjiru |
1986 |
Kenya |
2007-03-17 |
The Hague, NED |
| 58:23 |
Zersenay Tadese |
1982 |
 Eritrea |
2010-03-21 |
Lisbon, POR |
World record progression - Women
| Time |
Name |
Birth |
Nationality |
Date |
Town |
| 77:48 |
Daniele Justin |
19?? |
Belgium |
1978-11-12 |
Nazaré, POR |
| 75:58 |
Michiko Gorman |
1935 |
United States |
1978-11-19 |
Pasadena, USA |
| 75:01 |
Ellison Goodall |
1954 |
United States |
1979-03-10 |
Winston-Salem, USA |
| 74:03 |
Patti Catalano |
1953 |
United States |
1979-09-29 |
Manchester, USA |
| 73:59 |
Marja Wokke |
1957 |
 Netherlands |
1980-03-29 |
The Hague, NED |
| 73:26 |
Joan Benoit |
1957 |
United States |
1981-01-18 |
New Orleans, USA |
| 71:16 |
Joan Benoit |
1957 |
United States |
1981-03-07 |
San Diego, USA |
| 69:57 |
Grete Waitz |
1953 |
 Norway |
1982-05-15 |
Gothenburg, SWE |
| 69:14 |
Joan Benoit |
1957 |
United States |
1983-09-18 |
Philadelphia, USA |
| 68:34 |
Joan Benoit |
1957 |
United States |
1984-09-16 |
Philadelphia, USA |
| 68:31 |
Ingrid Kristiansen |
1956 |
Norway |
1989-03-19 |
New Bedford, USA |
| 67:59 |
Elana Meyer |
1966 |
 South Africa |
1991-05-18 |
East London, RSA |
| 67:58 |
Uta Pippig |
1965 |
 Germany |
1995-03-19 |
Kyoto, JPN |
| 67:36 |
Elana Meyer |
1966 |
 South Africa |
1997-03-09 |
Kyoto, JPN |
| 67:29 |
Elana Meyer |
1966 |
South Africa |
1998-03-08 |
Kyoto, JPN |
| 66:44 |
Elana Meyer |
1966 |
South Africa |
1999-01-15 |
Tokyo, JPN |
| 66:25 |
Lornah Kiplagat |
1974 |
Netherlands |
2007-10-14 |
Udine, ITA |
A half marathon is a road running event of 21,097.5 meters, or 13 7⁄64 miles or 13 miles 578 feet.
Best Year Performance
Men's Seasons Best
Women's Seasons Best
Largest number of participants
The current biggest half marathon in the world is the Great North Run, held annually in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England[4][5], with 52,000 runners expected in 2009. The largest ever held was Broloppet (the Bridge race) between Copenhagen-Malmö with 79,719 finishers, held in connection with the Öresund Bridge inauguration year 2000[6][7][8].
See also
- List of half marathon races
- IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
- Mini marathon
- Quarter marathon
References
External links
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