2025-W38 — The Fasted Half Marathon That Almost Hit 1:30

…and the Suit That Didn’t Fit After

What happened this week

On September 21, I ran the Colmar Half Marathon with two goals:

1. finish in under 1:30, and
2. finish faster than my boss.

I achieved one of those goals. I missed the other by a small but meaningful margin. My time was 1:31:54—close enough to feel the edge of what’s possible, and far enough to know I’ll need a smarter push to break through.

I ran the race fasted, and I didn’t eat until 23 hours after finishing. By the time I had breakfast the next morning, the total fast was about 36 hours.

After the race, I took an electric rental car and drove to Lyon for business meetings, with mandatory charging stops along the way—one of those modern travel sequences that forces you to slow down whether you want to or not.

The travel + wellness thread

This race was a checkpoint in a longer experiment: can I train and perform consistently while traveling for work, without needing a complicated “perfect day” routine?

Fasted running has become normal for me, not dramatic. The bigger challenge isn’t willpower—it’s building a system that holds up through hotels, airports, client dinners, and unpredictable schedules.

The half marathon was proof that the base is real. It also showed me what needs refinement if I want to level up—especially with my bigger target still ahead: a fasted marathon under 3:30.

The moment that surprised me

Somewhere during that France business trip, I had a very practical realization: my suit was suddenly way too large. Not “a little loose.” Too big in a way that makes you grateful you own a belt.

That was one of those signals you can’t argue with. Scales fluctuate. Photos lie. But a suit that used to fit well and now doesn’t? That’s a real-world data point.

What changed after the race

After Colmar, I reduced mileage and kept fasting, but I changed the timing of meals to avoid locking into a single rhythm. I also shifted more of my training toward bodyweight workouts and resistance training to support muscle retention and strength.

The goal wasn’t just to be lighter. The goal was to improve body composition—replacing fat with muscle—while keeping performance moving in the right direction.

What I learned

Missing 1:30 wasn’t failure. It was feedback.

This week gave me two kinds of proof:

• performance proof (I can race fasted at a strong pace), and
• lifestyle proof (something is changing enough that my clothes are noticing before my brain fully catches up).

It also reminded me that training isn’t just running volume. It’s structure. It’s recovery. It’s strength. And it’s being willing to adjust the plan instead of clinging to it.

Next week’s tiny focus

Keep the engine, build the frame: one short resistance session this week that you treat as non-negotiable—like brushing your teeth.