How not to run a half marathon :)

8. 9. 2013, Sunday morning, 8:50

I'm standing at start of Banská Bystrica half marathon, heart rate in zone 4, although we haven't even started yet. I'm more nervous than necessary, hyping myself up and repeating in mind advice, warnings and tips from more experienced runners. After all, it is my first official half marathon.

What did Marek say?
"Mainly be rested, don't do anything crazy whole week, no fast tempos, just calm runs."
Hmmm, so probably that Nightrun on Friday – only 36 hours before half marathon – where I really didn't spare myself, wasn't best idea...

"Mirka, don't let yourself get carried away first kilometers, even if it pulls you. After first half you must feel as if you haven't even run yet."
Sure, I'll go slow. Reality? I set off like unleashed from chain and together with colleague, who ran equally inexperienced as me, we proudly beat our chests that we trained, after all we know best. In half however I went out like torch and on track demonstrated exemplary positive split – exactly one that would deserve place in textbook titled How not to do it. ????

"Hydrate whole week, it will be warm."
Thought crossed my mind whether wine I drank yesterday at aunt's counts into hydration.

"Have you studied route?"
What studying! After all Banská Bystrica, what can surprise me here, right? ???? Well, just those 270 meters elevation (ran still on old route) with hills and runs up, which when you don't expect, pretend to be ascent to Gerlach for less experienced runner.

From my record in Garmin about course of run this sentence says more than enough: "There were only two options: slow down very much or die." Well indeed, I let myself go that much! ????

But if I had to summarize it with one statement that sounded after running to finish: "All wrong ????, but at same time all so beautiful." And in that moment I knew that 21 km and more I will run again.

What did I like so much about this suffering? That it wasn't just about running, but also about head and tactics – which in this case changed from "I am superwoman, don't need tactics" to "I want to survive." ???? But at next half marathon in month in Košice it already bore fruit. Better course and time faster by 5 minutes. And humility, much greater humility and respect.

Half marathon is truly great combination of sports performance and physical and mental preparation, where head sometimes must win over ego or desire to run fast. However it is also about fun, which shouldn't be forgotten. For me long-term applies that one should have fun running and when it hurts, smile anyway. With smile everything goes easier always.

I didn't resent Banská Bystrica half marathon, quite opposite – I really like it there. Sometimes it is good to remember place where I got my first "running slap." One learns from mistakes, and I gladly share mine with my runners at training camps or joint trainings. So they don't have to experience them on their own skin! ????

I returned to Banská Bystrica several times since then, this time already on new, faster and less hilly track. I ran several marathons here too and achieved few placements on leading positions. Last time I ran half marathon here in 2023, when I joyfully ran my so far slowest, but value-wise most precious half marathon in my running career. And so, 10 years after my half marathon premiere, at same place I ran as official pacer for time 6 min/km ???? and I believe that I helped several not to compete with Mirka from 2013.

Today I like running marathons and ultra most, but half marathon distance has important place in my training, mainly in spring, when we runners "wake up" – not from winter sleep, but from slow runs into tempo ????. Then I like giving myself half marathon as check.

And so it will be next spring at half marathon in Torremolinos near Malaga. Why Malaga? Because it is February and winter in Košice literally asks for it. I am summer child, don't like snow, minus temperatures, and when I have opportunity, I run to warmth. Ideally where they have scenic running tracks, good food and something for that hydration too ????. And when more of us such "warmth-loving" runners meet – currently already 13 – fun will be definitely taken care of. And we still have few places free!

Half Marathon Camp 2025