Half Marathon thread

I'm feeling like I want to run today
Must be getting better

Definitely waves. I'm in the penultimate pen.

I know what I want my pace to be and will aim for a negative split from just behind that pace. I've never run in lots of people - I'm always in the hole at around 31 minutes at all the park runs I've done so running in a pack just never happens!

random are they starting in waves?

Try to keep an even pace and don't waste energy weaving! It'll soon spread out and you'll be able to pass people.

My 1st half had about 300 runners - mostly club types. Nearly killed myself trying to stay with the back of the pack.

Am bloody terrified of Birmingham - 10k people... how do I even move?!

HRH that's not small, I do one in SW Scotland in the spring which has around 150 runners. No where to hide

Mammy my two have parkrun wristbands with their barcodes on. Don't need to worry about soggy bits of paper then, which will prove useful given the weather forecast for this Sunday!

I ran 10 miles again today - planned on 6 but found it ok so carried on. Started off at a good pace but had to stop to refuel and struggled after that. After mile 8 there was a fair bit of fast walking thrown in.

mines I can't wait for tapering. I've completely lost my mojo and just want the whole thing done. My pace has completely fallen off since I hurt myself and even though a massage has really helped that I've just lost some of my enthusiasm. Meh

Good advice - I'll do 6 miles on Sunday.

Is it normal with 1 week to go that 4 miles is no easier than 12 miles? I ran 4 relatively flat miles today as opposed to my pre-tappering hilly long runs and I found it just as hard. My issue is purely breathlessness - muscles tend to be okay if a little tight but my legs never feel wobbly - but I'm no less out of breath on a short run than I am on a long one.

Is this normal? Does it mean I'm really unfit? I find it more than a little disconcerting and slightly disheartening.

A boot camp at 6am mammy is above and beyond less than a week after a HM in my book

Purple I'm not doing Glasgow. I'm doing a teeny tiny HM in Kent with only 1600 places.

Thanks tri but my hm not until a week Sunday. I'm planning on running 0km this Sunday!

I'm loving the cooler weather too Autumn is my favourite season.

Hope you feel better soon mammy, and good luck mines for Sunday and others running HM.

I got a quick lunch run in today just 5k but still hope to do a longer run on Sunday. It's nice that it's cooler to run now, I much prefer it.

Well I must be very lazy as I absolutely love tapering! I love having the excuse not to train hard and my legs feel great. Feel like I want to pig out on junk food and alcohol but I'll save that for the week after next!

Don't get me wrong I love like running but it's very nice to take a break from slogging it out.

mammy hope you feel better soon.

purplerunner dd has a great stride but is like me and isn't sporty or into teamsports. I didn't find running until I was 27, wouldn't it be great for her to discover a love for it at 7! Ds is very energetic anyhow and regularly spends ten minutes jumping on the spot to burn off energy before bed. Going to take buggy this week for him, he's not 4 until Nov and see how he gets on. Must print barcodes again!!

. HRH I plan to do 6 miles probably this weekend which will feel strange! Are we doing the same half? I'm in Glasgow for mine.

Mammy enjoy junior parkrun, my two are big fans. We are going as usual on Sunday. Feel better soon!

A week before a race I would normally just do a 5 or 6 medium pace.
I did actually race last week (9.35 miles) but I'd taken it pretty easy all week and it felt good to get my legs moving.

I think as long as you feel comfortable and tell yourself it's NOT training then you'll be fine. It's standard to feel you can't breathe, legs don't work and everything hurts!

@HRHPrincessMegan I did 6 miles Sunday before my half.

I've actually not run at all this week, been smothered with a cold all week, did 6am bootcamp tues morn & that was where I realised I wasn't feeling 100%, introducing dc to junior parkrun on Sunday so that'll be my only run this week

I'm running Sunday week too and also find the whole tapering thing weird. I've done 2 four mile runs this week and will do another 4 miles tomorrow. Sunday would normally be my long run day - not sure what distance to do.

Lot of races looming here!

Mine is a week on Sunday, race pack has arrived and last long run completed (12 miles in 2 hours exactly). Tapering now which always feels wrong! So glad to (fingers crossed!) be making the start line after an injury over the summer.

Woops, fell off this.

Ipswich HM on Sunday. Weather looks good. Last easy run tomorrow (well 2 actually - drop car at garage, run home, run back later, drive home).

10 miles done today 2E, 6HM 2E actually faster than HM pace so my fastest 10k and 15k to date. Might amend my planned pace up slightly as it felt pretty comfortable.

cherry ah but if you go up you must come down right?

Great to hear everyone doing so well. I'm just heading out to do 4 miles. It's pouring with rain so don't really want to but think I should as if it's like this on the 1st I'll just have to get on with it. Plus I don't have to go tomorrow

I'm massively tapering giving my legs are huge rest which is definitely helping. After today I'm just planning on 5k on Monday and 3km on Wednesday and thats it until the hm on the Sunday. It does my legs a world of good whilst the short runs keep my hand in.

Still plugging away on my half hour runs. Going to start inching up the distances over the next few weeks and maybe have a go at a local monthly 10k at the end of next month. Its quite a nice one because its two laps of 5k so if you feel knackered half way you can stop.

Might have a go at park run but my local is not much fun - involves a great big hill.

Hill sprint session yesterday with running club. Great apart from went over on ankle at the start of the last rep which hurt like a bastard at the time but was fine to run on 5 minutes later. Still feels ok - phew! As DD is in childcare for the first time tomorrow I'm going to try a 2E , 6hm, 2E 10 miler tomorrow as have a busy weekend planned. Won't be getting any pbs 5k Parkrun has been 30.08 since Christmas Eve (v flat course and my locals aren't) and 10k is under my planned half pace too.

That leaves around 9 miles for the weekend - so should be realistic to reach 25 miles if I get up in time. 30 next week then 25 then "only" 10 in the week of the half. I can do this, honest!

I'm strugglkng keeping to my training plan with less than 4 weeks to go. Have been struggling with sore knees so got massage last night to try and sort it but they advised not to run for a few days so haven't run since Sunday. Luckily got time on Friday and Sunday for longish runs. And legs feeling better so hopefully problems sorted. Kind of wishing the next few weeks away so I can get it over and done with!

Had very long day at work involving 7hrs of travelling but I got in and was changed into running kit and out the door in 8mins knowing if I stopped I wouldn't get back up again and got a nifty 5k in between heavy rain showers. Now I'm collapsed with marmite toast
Inspiring reading about your long runs I'm hoping to get a longer run in at the weekend.

Did a 10 mile run Monday night. Got a 5k and 10k pb (without realising) and did 10 miles around 1.48 which I was pleased with. Still not broken 30 mins for 5k or an hour for 10!

Have entered two halfs in secret. Only fiancé and one friend knows (she only knows one!)- 1St and 15th which was a bit daft!