Half Marathon thread

I'm loading today to see if it helps!
I'm actually looking forward to it now. Just came back from the weekly food shop and omg the dc drove me CRAZY. I just shouted and nagged constantly

Seriously need to run off the tension!

Rain is a bit issue for me I don't mind if it starts while I'm out there but just can't head out if it's already raining [grr] but usually I go before work so would get cold and wet today I can go home for a hot shower afterwards so that'll make it better

Are you eating enough before you go pint?

mammy I'm sorry this am went badly (hope ds is better) but definitely go later on.
I'm dreading tonight's long run. Im aiming for 10 miles but I still keep getting on/off dizziness and after last weeks post run puking I'm nervous about feeling ill again. Plus it's raining (side issue)

Disappointed this morning, everything set to go for a 3.2 mile run - food made for the day clothes ready weather checked all good, then ds came in just before alarm went & puked so that idea is gone out the window will pack my gear & hope that dh finishes at a reasonable time & that I can run straight after work. Meant to be raining though

Hoolit it was running with others & doing bootcamp classes that improved my time. It's harder when running alone.

send I just couldn't muster much enthusiasm for running for a long time and to be honest still seem to have peaks and troughs, it's such a head game!
Hopefully the doc might sort the tiredness but the only advice I can give is to just keep going, do you ever run with a friend? I find that helps massively.
I did a 5k tonight with hill runs in the middle which was quite nice but could feel my legs off Sundays run. Hoping to get out tomorrow as won't get a chance again until my long run on Sunday.
I tried the salt after my 10k but it didn't help still had a headache at bedtime, really need to get this sorted or it will ruin every Sunday!

My pace hasn't changed in most of the 18 months I've been running nothing I do improves it so im hoping just to complete the half all running. Doesn't help I got the date wrong and it's a week earlier than I thought!!

Ooh pikachu I like to look at my stats, otherwise I go too fast!

I have a running watch so I can check my pace when I want, plus Strava announcements every half-mile.

I did an 'easy pace' short run today (40 mins). Really hate short runs as I don't have time to get past that 'thing' where it's strenuous on your heart/lungs for the first 30/40 mins, then something kicks in and you feel more comfortable and in a rhythm.

Anyone else know what I mean?!?!

I'm sure there's a scientific explanation.

I live in a very hilly town (steep slopes down to river) so I am to run as much as possible and just walk on really steep long hills (or if it's too treacherous). My hill system is I count breaths and exhale for 3 footfall and inhale for 3. Repeat this 8 times and I give myself permission to walk an 8 breath pattern after I've finished this one. Usually I manage 3 run to 1 walk unless it's massively steep. Having mental permission to stop after a set period breaks the stoopid hill into more manageable chunks and I am more likely to keep going. There also isn't the run round corner, see continued/steeper hill, give up psychological set back I've had a few times in the past!

Welcome tupperwarelid I've only just improved from 12 min mile to sub 11 min mile in past few months.

pint I aim to run all of my runs and regularly come home and say well I only walked 2 steps/10 steps etc and that makes me more pleased than a time!

Hi

Is it ok if I join you? I'm doing my first half on 24th September. I did a couple of 10 mile races before Christmas but ran 5 minutes walked 30 seconds practically all the way round. I've had an ankle injury so needed to start almost from scratch again but got up to 9 miles on Sunday doing 4 minutes run, 1 minute walk.

I'm struggling to run more than twice a week due to the holidays so doing a long run at the weekend and a club run of about 4-5 miles in the week which is faster and hillier than I would do normally. Unfortunately for the kids I'm making them walk when I would previously have driven to try and keep my fitness up a bit!

I'm quite overweight and my normal pace is 12 min mile so I'm aiming for as close to 2hrs 30 as I can get. I'm also on holiday next week so am taking my trainers but will probably only do a couple of short runs so will have to miss out on a long run (should be 8 miles according to my plan) but there isn't much I can do about that.

Sorry for the long post but looking forward to cheering you all on x

I might look into it myself (ginseng) depending on if the thing the doctor suggested doesn't work!

Interesting about the ginseng btw. I'm a vitamin 'trier' and open to any thing.

mammy I switch off the announcements and it's brilliant. I also challenge myself not to look at my stats eg, I choose a landmark/garage/shop/that pretty garden to be the next point I will look at it (one I know is a good distance away), then I try just to look at distance run. When I come back I look at my splits etc sometimes they're decent sometimes they're not but I just tend to think meh. I ran it to the best of my ability at the time. I enjoy it more this way (without the added pressure of feeling I should go faster etc). I do all runs this way Inc farleks,sprints.

My achievable time for the half is 2 and a half hours, but experience tells me I'm most satisfied completing a non stop distance than a certain time. I'll be at least starting the half with my sil. She is very fast and seems to focus on speed on Strava. I don't care, that's her and this is me iyswim? She may get more kudos if she runs it faster than me but we'll both get a medal . I'm not running her down (excuse the pun!) we are very supportive of each other. Just making a clumsy point that we are different but the end result will be the same.

Everyone here, on Strava etc are doing more laps than we would do on the couch!

Ps, I don't know about anyone else but I've been running for 4 years and my slow pace still makes some passers by make a witty remark! I don't care I usually agree with them

sendcoffee I was like this from Christmas to mid Feb including a bout of full blown flu, and then I started taking siberian ginseng, I haven't looked back, bar one bout of gastric bug I haven't been sick at all since and have lots of energy too.

I wonder are my stats every 5 mins & every mile helping or hindering my speed. This morning I was thrilled with my 5 min pace announcement and even ran better after it, at 1 mile was thrilled too, at 15 mins thought I'd better not keep this up or I will end up walking, if I'd no pace announcement I'd just listen to my body would I?
Will knock off the pacing announcements tomorrow and see how I go.

Haven't done any trail running as no parks like that here, and farmers are precious about their fields! I run on the beach though sometimes

random the key is to ignore Strava!

My fast pace is 9 minute mile but that's on shorter runs. My average pace is 10 minutes mile BUT on distance further than 10k I slow it to 12 min miles. That way I can complete the longer distances, without stopping, comfortably. This is my aim for the half marathon.

I recommend some trail running. It's impossible to run it fast and builds up speed and endurance for road running. Plus it's really enjoyable! I do it every two weeks.

My plod is more like a 12 minute mile- trying to increase it somewhat! All I see on Strava is people doing "easy" miles somewhere close to my flat out Parkrun pace... I have learned to accept this fact - just want to equal my first Parkrun off minimal training sometime this year! Dead flat 30.08 and my best since is 31.17!

I've only got one pace and it's around a 10 minute mile.

If I run faster, I feel sick and can't calm down. If I run slower, I'm almost strolling!

According to my BUPA training plan, I must run 40 mins today (should've done it yesterday after my 8 miles on Sunday, but my legs ached too much!).

I used to have 3 paces - plod, going off too fast and "finishing line - yay!!!". As I've started training I have learned to run slower as well as keeping up with others!

@mammy I'm always tired at the moment which I don't think helps. Doctor can't work out what's causing it. We're on our last option before they look into potential sleep apnea which is a depressing thought.

Plus I've woken up this morning with a hacking cough. Joy.

Morning all - I just had a short but fabulous morning run. Tomo I will have made my breakfast & lunch the night before & will be able to do a longer run

Random I've still only got one pace! That sounds good, maybe I should join a club & force dh into accommodating it

Pik that made me feel better about my half its 6.5 weeks away!

Sendcoffee were you tired before you went? That makes it much harder.

I had a nice Fartlek run with the running club. Was still able to sprint at the end which was a pleasant surprise - actually even being able to sprint was a surprise - I started this running park very one paced

send I have days like this. It really really sucks. Not sure why they happen but just keep on going is all I can suggest (bit rich coming from me at the moment, I'm in a bit of a slump)

Omg pikachu do not do that! it's not August until tomorrow here

Went for a little 1.5 miles today to wear in some new shoes.
Only it was HARD. this running malarkey is meant to get easier isn't it? Why is every run I do getting harder, and I'm not even managing to run for a full mile at the moment.

Grrrrrrrr