Half Marathon thread

Cherry, you will do it! And I bet it comes back quicker than you think!

Shortaris, have you taped it with rock tape?

Is anyone else signed up for the Big London Half in March?

Cherry you've done it before, you can do it again!

My heel is so sore. Saw the osteo last night and he thinks its not torn, just inflamed which is good but I could do without this with 6 weeks to go!

Checking in. Am on week 6 of C25K. I am incredibly shocked about how unfit I am and how hard it is. I only had to run two lots of 10 mins and found it really drudgy and tiring.

I'm beginning to think that running a HM is like childbirth - you do it, it's awful but after a few days all you can remember is how fab it was and how fast you went. Next time around - its scary and horrid ....

Promise to read all your lovely posts - at the moment I'm not even in the 2k zone, let alone the 13 mile zone.

Thanks Hoolit. I ought just to look at the route map but other than opening the envelope to check my number was the same colour as my running buddy's I haven't got any further. Alternating between being super confident and scared witless!! We scoffed Haribos last year at the Great Eastern and that seemed to work. Did hit a wall around 11.5 miles but my running buddy just threatened to kill me if I didn't keep going.

Ha I was trying to be diplomatic. From what I can remember i may have erased this part from my memory it was a long slow incline I think followed by a dip then a small hill but I will check this and come back to you _ hope I'm not talking bollocks! It was described to me as hilly for the last part. I will know to have a jellybean at 9 miles

The main thing for me was how busy it was and it never really thinned out, I had never thought about this before.

Hoolit is 'quite a hill' a short steep one or a long slow incline?

I'm liking your style mog

RMC I did the GNR last year, it's quite at hill at about 10mile and when your hit the sea front you still have about a mile to go.

The crowd are fantastic and really make the run.

Moggle I like to sing too. And if it helps, it helps!

Where I run, it's very quiet with no people about; I do sometimes like to shout at myself, screaming, "COME ON" at the top of my voice. 😳 I find that gives a bit of adrenaline surge. Tried that at my first Glasgow 10K (just going over the Kingston Bridge), and was surprised to find that other runners gave me a pretty wide body swerve.

Another trick is to sing along to your music. Can do a pretty good rendition of Frozen's 'Let it Go', although singing can make breathing more complicated!

One other trick is to count down the number of miles still to do. So, for example, you've run 15k and have 6k to run, you don't count up to 6 left; you tell yourself you have 6k, then 5k etc. Then calculate the % that you still have to run compared with the miles you've already run.

So, 3 suggestions- 1 good, 2 not so good. And now totally aware that I now appear really weird.

I did the Great East last year and the furthest we had run before that was 10 miles. We didn't walk at all but it is all flat. Trying not to over think the hills!

And moggle, my furthest before yesterday was 10 miles, so you'll definitely do the half if you get to 20k before!

Moggie and RMC, you will get that surge. I broke it down to park runs, and once I knew I only had one park run left at ten miles my brain just relaxed.

You'll also get picked up by the crowd, I promise. I had a lovely runner help me when I started walking yesterday, and then I did it in turn for a guy from 10 miles onwards. As well as shouting encouragement to everyone we passed walking, who the tried to jog again. It was brilliant to see everyone picking each other up!

Moggle I am relying on the surge big time!!

RMC

My sister has run the GNR twice, but is not running this year. Apparently, the hills are quite a challenge. But looking at the profile, they don't look too bad (I've run steeper before). I don't know. I'm of the opinion that I can't plan for every eventuality, and am just going with the flow.

If I can run 20k next weekend, then taper, my husband tells me I'll be more than able to finish. I think I'm going to have to rely on the adrenaline surge that the enormity of the occasion carries... needs to be a huuugggeeee surge!

bubbles thanks for the tips! Definitely going to take them on board.

Just heading out for a 7km trail run. Zero energy but hoping enthusiasm will be enough

Great advice Bubble.
Finally got out this morning. Only bugger was I hadn't put Strava on when I thought I had so no data on distance or time. However it a route I have done before with a bit extra so fairly confident it was about 7 miles. It felt comfortable and I could have done more so it was a confidence boost.
Has anyone done the GNR before? Starting to think about practicalities about the route now

I can walk! I will read this thread properly, others posts, and stay for a while if that's ok?

Things I have learnt:
It's ok to walk it off it it gets a bit much
Water water water. And coke from mile 10.
Gels are rank!
Buy bigger trainers! I've run in mine for nearly 300 miles and they've been fab. But they're too short for long distance - my toes are bruised!
Think about your knickers! Only sore marks are where my knickers elastic rubbed underneath on the very inside top of my thighs
Everyone cheers you on, even if you're at the back
Any niggles strap with rock tape
Compression for recovery - either running in, or wearing after, or both. My thighs and calves have thanked me for it today.

I'm sure I will think of more!

Well done Bubble I hope your legs are ok tomorrow!

I managed 10 miles today but the last mile was hell. 5 weeks to go here

Well done bubble! You must be elated.

Hope your heel is okay short

Well done Bubble that's awesome!

Pik you can do this. Just get out there.

Sorry to hear about your dog Hoolit. You did your miles regardless.

I've got 6 weeks til my half and I'm a but panicked as I was meant to do 9 miles today but had to stop at 2.5 as I had agonising pain in my heel. Think its my fault as I went up on tip toes going up a hill. Tried to run through but just too sore. Never had this before. HRH I've been doing strength and core stuff and its definitely helped

Plan sounds good mines

How long to the GNR those who are doing it? I'd love to do it next year.
Wine I should do 10 next week if my silly foot behaves!

Well done Bubble !

Well done bubble you are truly awesome

That was amazing!!!

I set out too fast I think, did just under 10 minute miles for the first two, and then slowed to 10.30. but come mile 8 (it's two laps) I hit a wall. Walked it off, started a slower jog at an 11 something mile, and stuck to that. Jogged the whole way after that, other than the two water stations where I stopped fully, drank lots of water and coke (it was hot) and I came in just under 2hr 25 which was my target time, with even a wee sprint finish! Was a lovely first half - came 265th out of 315 runners.

I've been off-line, celebrating wedding anniversary with DH. Hope your races went well today bubbles and mammy. Sorry to hear about your dog hoolit.

My dog is a 3 year old mini-schnauzer mines. She's normally very energetic but I'd never run with her before. And I probably won't again!

My run schedule has been erratic of late. I ran 7 miles on Friday and 8 miles today. Both were fine time wise - I'm just below 10min miles but today felt hard. After about 6 miles everything felt sore and it was tough to think that the HM would be that again plus another 1 mile. I feel fine now though - possibly because my next run is on Tuesday.

Doing additional exercise to running I think will be key for me over the next 5 weeks. Yesterday I went back to boot camp for the first time 6 weeks. It didn't leave me feeling destroyed but my legs really felt it and so did my core.

You've done the work pic. You just need to get out there for a short run and get your confidence back. Everyone is rooting for you.