Half Marathon Thread continues .....

I'm having Walk/Run is all part of the plan printed on the back of my running top dor the marathon. (Also, This is a 5k, right)

Go Jeffers - I rarely feel a plonker walking on a training run as no one knows how far you've run before you start to walk. My first "race" on run walk was the Royal Parks and I did run solidly for the first 15 minutes. It wasn't an issue as lots of people had used their walk run training plan and so there was always someone else walking. It was a bit annoying at the Great South though as people kept telling me "you can do it" whenever I stopped running - I know it was well meant but...

I imagine that a lot of people will walk run the London Marathon though so I wouldn't worry about it - as they say no matter how fast you're going you'll always be overtaken by the back end of a pantomime cow.

mammy if you're on Facebook, have a look at a page called Girls that Jeff

mammy I'm jeffing, and no offence taken! I don't think of it as failing, insee it as conserving my energy to ensure I go the full distance. I'm doing London, and will be jeffing the full thing.

mammy stupid auto correct

Well mummy that is what I'm worried about. That I will feel like a plonker walking after only 3 or 4 minutes. When I don't need to. But if that is what I need to do to get round a marathon I will give it a shot! See how it goes tomorrow.

Thanks HRH but as my friend can churn out under 7 minutes miles for a 10k and even manage 6 minutes, I feel like a slow, lumbering thing in comparison. Should probably give myself a break

Thanks purple!

I’ve no idea what Jeffing is but an 8 minute mile is awesome. I’ll have some of that please!

Well done mammy It won't be long until you are sub 30. Running longer distances than you are used to would be my tip, makes you faster over shorter distances

Welcome back HRH

So, I ran my Magic Mile yesterday (not pleasant but managed just over 8 minutes) and worked out my pace/timings using Jeff's calculator. It came out really similar to another run walk method I saw which was based on your 5k PB. So tomorrow will be my first attempt at Jeffing. Will be very strange walking when I'm not used to it and don't need to! But if it stops me picking up injury it will be worth it.

Right - jumping back in. I’ve run 5 miles twice this week so no longer feel like a fraud rejoining. I’ve yet to book another HM but thinking about April. Going to focus on “maintenance” until NY and then follow a 12 - 14 training program. Good to see that some of the original tread members are still going - it’s motivating!

Good to know there's another Jeffer on the thread Loudest. I didn't do the magic mile I just worked out a time based on my (not very glorious) parkrun pb. "Race pace" is 3:1 which is what I do my long runs at and my tempo runs are currently 4:1 although I will aim to build this up to 6:1. My last HM I did turn the pace down to 2:1 for the final 2 miles though as I was knackered and a bit off on my training.

I'm jeffing! I'll be honest, I've not bothered working out my magic mile, I picked a pace (30/30) to start with. Sometimes I go 1min/30, depending how I feel. My only rule is that I run all the way down hills!

Never heard of the Jeff Galloway method - will investigate that later!

Did my first lunch time run with my teammate yesterday. Just under 3 miles. She is very fit (triathlete!) so pushed me to go a bit faster. We don't have showers at work so I could only have a bit of a wash in the ladies after and I felt a bit yuck so I'll have to come up with an alternative for that!

Thanks London That's what I think, longer distances have the same impact on me.

Did you go the full Jeff using the Magic Mile to calculate your training pace? Or just pick a pace? I'm really going to have to get my head around the walking (when I don't need to!).

purple I use Jeff Galloway run/walk/run and have found it really helpful. I started it to do my first HM and subsequently got my best time at the Great South run using it. (I can't swear by it as the GSR that year had the wind for me whereas in earlier years it had been against me.) I can say however that I had been niggled by injuries when training for long runs until I started the Galloway method and have been injury free (touch wood) ever since. I would say give it a go as it definitely works. It is weird though getting your head around an hours tempo run (as tempo means longer running intervals rather than a faster pace..)

I've always trained on 3 runs a week plus a strength session. Any more and I start with niggling injury problems.

Seriously thinking about signing up for the Stirling marathon and using the Jeff Galloway run/walk/run method. Anyone tried it? It seems to be all about not over-working your body and he says he can get anyone round a marathon if they follow his method.

Not been on Mumsnet much this last week or two, been distracted by the RBR Facebook group. Loving all the swearing

thisgirl I did my first HM on 4 runs and nothing else - I think swimming would be better than a 4th run as it really helps with breathing and upper body/core. The plan I used put in a short easy run the day before the long run so you never did the long run on completely rested legs and this was really effective for me so it would be worth thinking about structuring your four sessions around back to back short and long run days. I got round in 2.20.08 (very annoyed about the last 9 seconds..) but I'm an elderly overweight runner so I'm sure you'll be fine - although all the advice I've seen says that the only aim for a first HM should be to cross the finish line.....

@thisgirlrides I also trained for all of my previous half marathons on 3 runs a week. I’ve never done any more than that as I just can’t fit them in. And my PB is 2 hours 11secs (damn those 11 seconds!) so you can do it no probs!

Hello all,
I’m doing my first hm at the end of march and just starting to up my distance from my usual 5/6km runs. Managed 9km today which is my longest yet albeit on a very flat route. Aiming to be able to comfortably run a hilly 10km route near me before Christmas then start a structured 12 week plan in the NY.

I’m only managing 3 runs a week (plus a swim) at the moment - will I be ok with this do you think? 1 needs to be quite short (30/40 mins max) but I’m going to incorporate some hills & sprints, 1 I have time to up my distance & the 3rd can be a longer one most weeks.

Also a hilly area. In fact there's a local hill running group as there's few flat places to run! No parkrun all hills and trails!