Runners! Is there any way in hell I could do a half marathon?

[FoxyRevenger]

So...

I did couch25k a few years ago, before getting pregnant with DC2 and since then it's been so bloody hard to get time to do anything.

But. There's a charity local to me, very close to my heart, and I wondered about doing a half marathon in July 2014 to raise money.

Starting from unfit disaster area scratch, do you think it's something I could realistically train to do?

I'm scared to approach them about it because I'm just not sure I could ever do it...

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice?

[Mitchy1nge]

am sure you could do it really comfortably by then, especially if you start now and build slowly

I can do that distance now (not fast, about 2 1/2 hours) and only really started running earnestly this summer as a grandmother who was until recently a very heavy smoker

so yeah, if you really want to you definitely can. Pick up where you left off, going out 3 times a week for 30 minutes (whatever combination of run/walk you want if necessary) and take it from there?

[MillyONaire]

of course you could! I started running (for the very first time in my life) in January with a view to completing a 35km adventure race in May - I did it and went on to do a 70km one in August of the same year. Just follow the c25k again and having a goal for July will keep you going.
PS having done a half marathon too the one thing I didn't do was run 13 miles beforehand (I was doing 10 mile runs and thought that would be sufficient) and I think the last three miles wouldn't have been so very very hard if I had actually made it to 13 miles at least once before.

[CMOTDibbler]

Yes, you can! I started couch to 5k in the spring, and did a half in September (2h18).

Start with c25k, then follow a half marathon plan - I used one from Womens Running

[Mitchy1nge]

wow CMOT - 10:30 ish pace? (at least running is helping me attain basic competency with sums!)

wonder if I will ever get much faster or if am just too old?

[CMOTDibbler]

Yep. Would have liked to be faster, but as I only ever run with the dog or pony for company I was so worried about not going too fast and not making the distance I was slower than normal. I do short speed work sessions (well, I run as fast as I can over 5k, and know my split points to reduce time to those) as well as my long ones and those seem to be really helping to pull the times down overall. I'll never be fast, but I do seem to have endurance.

[Mitchy1nge]

(I beat my dog AND my horse in a race recently :) the joy of being able to run continuously for hours where they can't aka tortoise and hare)

[FreckledLeopard]

I did my first half marathon this Sunday, having started running for the first time at the end of June. Honestly, if I can do it (totally unfit, couldn't run for more than a minute without gasping) then anyone can.

[isopap]

Yes that is really doable, I have done 2. Both from scratch. One pre-DC did a version of c25k then as soon as then not long after that was over was over started a 12 week training plan, rubbish time but hurt my hip whilst running.

This time post DC started running in March and did 2 hours 6 in September, and I'm really not a natural runner.

[englishteacher78]

Of course you can! Start now and you may surprise yourself with how well you do. Which half are you thinking of doing?

[cathpip]

Yes you can, I trained for and ran a marathon 13 months after ds was born.

[HangingGardenOfBabbysBum]

Absolutely you can! And you will feel amazing afterwards especially if you remember all the people you are helping raise money for.

Lots of training programmes on the web.

My tip is to train as early in the day as you practically can manage, if poss get up and straight into your kit. I found that a huge psychological boost and also got cracking with the run so I wasn't scaring little kids with my arse in Lycra!

[partyondude]

Absolutely. I started running when ds was 6 weeks and ran a half the following year.
I found the key thing was finding time to train. A regular training slot helped me stick with a plan but I know for others that grabbing an hour here or there is better for them.

In practical terms
there is a c210k programme which takes 13 weeks and most half marathon programmes are 12 weeks so that's 6 months training for a race 9 months away. You're got bags of time.

It's useful to figure out when you will get time to train. I run before everyone else gets up. 30-60 mins 2 days a week at 6am plus a couple of hours at a weekend got me round a half at the weekend.

Also think about whether you like training alone or with friends. Can you persuade a friend or even dc1 to cycle with you? I think my 4yo could do c25k on her bike, particularly the first weeks.

definitely do-able if its what you want. What can we do to help?
Half marathons are lots of fun.

[Iggity]

Absolutely. Most half marathon programes are maximum 4 months even for beginners. I started running beginning of this year and did a half marathon at the end of September. I had never ran before but did do a lot of gym stuff. I'm by no means fast as my time was 2 hrs 20 mins but consider that probably the majority of the population could not even run 5k (that statistic is made up by me), doing a half marathon in any time is really great. It does give you such a buzz.

[sarahandduck]

This may help...I've signed up for a half in March, having done a few 10ks and I'm going to start this training plan next week. Am hoping for a sub-2hour :)

www.209events.com/assets/uploads/T118.pdf