Half Marathon Training Spring 2024

@gm2023 I haven't dared try them again, I'm just going to do my HM in the Prisms and risk trying the Tempus again for some speedwork once the HM is done.

I am a slow runner and do barely any running with other people, because I do get a bit depressed about my lack of speed. However, I do get faster and my heartrate comes down, but it is a case of it happening over months and months, whereas my DH will start at the same point as me and be miles ahead of me in heartrate after a few weeks!

All the usual stuff about enough sleep, good food etc. helps, but only incrementally, I do just have to be patient.

How are the shoes now? I’ve run about four miles in mine and I’m happy with them. I did a mile on Thursday (and walked another mile in them) and a 5km yesterday evening.

I am feeling a bit down about my running today. I ran a sub-39 minute 5KM (only just - by a handful of seconds) at my running club, which felt comfortable and is probably one of my better times. So I ought to be pleased! But I was on my own a lot of the way - I’m now falling behind the pace of my beginner group and that feels a bit rubbish. The group mostly did it in 37 minutes. And I had no idea that being just two minutes behind the curve would mean I was running alone for so long. (To be clear, the group always has a front leader and a back leader but the back leader was running with a member who was a minute or two off my pace - which is fair enough!)

My main issue continues to be my heart rate/breathing (aerobic fitness?) rather than my legs. If I run slowly then I can keep going; if I try to speed up, my heart rate sky rockets even further. I don’t know what to do other than keep at it in the hope that running more will eventually lead me to being able to run at a lower heart rate. Here’s a picture from what my watch says about that run. 🙈 I’m worried about my heart rate being that high for the 3 hours it’ll take me to do a half (although I recognise that, given I chatted all the way around other than on some inclines, this can’t really be my zone 5).

@gm2023 I run in size 7s when my normal shoes are 5.5 to 6. Even in a 6.5 my toes end up touching the end of my running shoes - and my feet swell loads.

So I got the Saucony Tempus, tried them in the shop with some strides on the treadmill, felt fine if not wow. Thought I'd break them in a bit with my 5k lunchtime run - it felt like my legs had been beaten up afterwards! I walked at the end as the whole of my right quads/hip/my old adductor tendinitis on that side where on fire. I get they're a shoe for faster running, but I don't think I'll dare try them again. Not sure where to go now.

Fortunately, only my old tendonitis injury is still niggling this morning, so hopefully no permanent damage 🙏So disappointed and a bit concerned!

I am fretting that my new trainers are too big. I get that they should be roomy but how roomy should I go?! I’ve never spent this much on trainers before and I’m worried about making the wrong choice. Any wisdom would be greatly received!

Sock wise- I love my Injini toe socks. My kids laugh at me when I wear them but having trained in them for the Ultra, I now wouldn't run in anything else.

I had a good run at the weekend; 4 miles in zone 2, then 6 miles at half marathon pace, then a mile warm down. It felt good though I'm really not sure about pacing a half as I've not done many. I have a 10 race in just under 4 weeks which will be a good indicator of pace.
Next up though is a duathlon which I'm looking forward to, bizarrely!

Ha @Trickedbyadoughnut , my problem is ever getting out of Brittany. I love the sea, seafood, and galettes...

@gm2023 enjoyment is the best thing! I started running last April and have been really gradual about building up distance while following various Garmin watch training plans for 5k, 10k, and now the half marathon (which have been great). I try to keep to a pace I can talk at, but as I'm usually on my own I just talk to myself - luckily I don't pass many people! My race is in June. I am not very bothered if it takes me longer than 2 hours 45. There will be quite a few hills...

It sounds like you’re doing so well! I have only run 5km continuously and my longest runs are about 5 miles - which I’ve done by run/walking. To be honest my pace is similar whether I run continuously or run/walk. While I’m developing my aerobic fitness I think I will have to walk a little to keep my heart rate down. It’s getting there and I did the first 3km of my last run at or below 170bpm which is really good for me! It crept up after that (slight incline…) but I’m hoping to eventually be able to run my pace with a lower heart rate (as opposed to getting any quicker) - I just want running to feel good. I love being outside and having a chat with the women in my running club. I just want chatty runs to feel nice!

When is your race?

Thank you on the sock front - it felt like I'd clicked on every brand going but More Miles did indeed have the right size, so they're safely ordered.

I think the whole point of trail running is legitimate breaks @Trickedbyadoughnut! Sounds like it's all going well.

Well done @FlorencenotRatchet - enjoy your well earned rest.

The ranges are so bewildering - completely with you on that @Jumbojem. I'm going to go to the local running shop once I've finished my c25k and see what they throw up. I've defaulted to the same type for years after my first gait analysis. I'm also with you on the weather, I wanted a nice warm morning and dry under foot.

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed you run @BogRollBOGOF - you never know quite how they;re going to go after being ill.

Fingers crossed for you @MirandaWest

Saint Malo sounds stunning @CatherineMaitland!

It was definitely the right call on retiring - even as it is my legs are sorer than they've ever been post an event.

Well done @FlorencenotRatchet that's close to my flat HM PB!

@MirandaWest sounds like a very good indicator.

@BogRollBOGOF glad it went well despite you having been ill.

@CatherineMaitland DH and I keep saying we really want to go to Brittany for a holiday and then when it comes down to it, we chicken out of the drive from the Alps (we have a dog so can't fly or rail it very easily). One day!

Congratulations to everyone on the long runs and races :)

@gm2023 I am at about the same pace as you with a similar aim for half marathon time.

I did a hilly 90 minute run on Friday which was just over 10km, longest run so far. Today was 50 minutes easy run. I am in Saint Malo for a couple of days and it is just a beautiful city to run in (in case anyone else is thinking of a holiday...) This week all seems to be consolidation after last week.

Did a 7 mile run today which was my last longer run before my half marathon next Sunday. Am cautiously hoping I’ll beat my previous best time

I've had a lovely 8mi long run today. I normally run in the week, but had the lurgy so delayed it. I did it gently so will be able to get my next one done in a few days.

It went better than expected between having been ill and not having run that distance for a few months.

I'm a size 2 in Birkenstocks and my runners are a 5- I'm stupidly wide though, I just end with a spare inch at the end, which helps my 4th toe which is longer than average making my feet quite square and need space for that toe to spread as my feet move and swell.

Congratulations @FlorencenotRatchet! Great work, well done!

And well done to young @chutneypig on some great running. I don't blame you for pulling out @chutneypig, there are times that it's just not worth it.

@Trickedbyadoughnut your version of trail running sounds like mine, especially the endless jumper taking on and off!

@Jumbojem my last couple of pairs of Triumphs got holes in the sides where my little toes are. The lining of my Ghosts is developing a hole on the heels which rubs on long runs. I need to go back to Run and Become for another fitting.

@Jumbojem well done on your XC yesterday! Was it raining swell? Agree with you on some drier weather please. My usual routes re flooded so I'm having to do all of my runs on the roads. I much prefer to be on the trails and the river paths. Lots of local parkruns have also been cancelled for the last few weeks.

I thought socks came in an 8.5-10 size? My younger son is an 8.5 and has more mile and Adidas socks in that size. He must have other brands too but those are the ones I can think of at the mo!
Loving to hear the new shoe talk, I need new road shoes but feel a bit intimated by the choice, and don't want to make an expensive mistake. My current ones are Saucony Triumph, they are the first shoes I've ever got a hole in the fabric over the toe. I'm really unimpressed with that happening!
@chutneypig I'm with you on the mud and hills, had last XC yesterday which had a 15% hill. After that section it went up some more, then slip and sliding downhill. It was very hard work!

Can we have some drier weather now please?! I would like to get back on the trails but it's just a boggy swamp at the moment.

Well my half is all done. Got the time I wanted so am very pleased. Stuck with the 2hr 30 pacer and came in a minute under.
Legs are still very tired. Will probably have a week off and then be looking for the next race.
Hop everyone's training is going well.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree and @chutneypig they haven't arrived yet - supposed to have come on Saturday, hopefully tomorrow! I am

@gm2023 new shoes are so exciting! And great progression to get to the point when you can go on and on.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree well done on your consistency while working.

@chutneypig my friend is a size 9 and has Sidas socks.

I decided to do my long run on the trails on Saturday as it turned out a nice day and fortunately the worst of the mud had dried so not too hairy. I had a lovely run, accidentally did 18.4k instead of 17k, but as it was a trail run, there was walking uphill to stay in zone 2 and breaks for gels and taking my jumper on and off about 500 billion times, so I think the longer distance was probably fine.

I can't say I've exactly cracked the zone 2 running, but I have slowed down a lot and am consequently recovering a lot better, which is a definite win!

Have you managed to try your new shoes @Trickedbyadoughnut? And did you find your shoes ok @foxychox?

That is such a good feeling @gm2023 when you feel you can go on. I reckon that 2.45 will be well within sight come the autumn.

I do love a bit of sightseeing when I'm away with work. Sounds like you had a productive week @OhOneOhTwoOhThree.

I retired from a trail walk yesterday, sixth time I've done the event but oh the mud! It was awful. Took me an hour to do the first 4km. Still a great event and my son managed the 15 miles in under 3 hours which I was impressed with, some sections had a 20% incline and a lot of mud. I avoided that bit as my daughter called me to say I'd never make it

No new shoes for me, but I took my daughter to get her first fitted pair today. She overpronates like me so ended up with newer Saucony Guides, which is what I usually have. Her brother got the same when I took him last year. Now I could use some collective wisdom here. She got a size 8.5. She's been 'borrowing' my running socks but my feet are smaller. I've been trying to find some socks for her but they all seem to go up to 8. Men's all seem to be 9 + and I worry that too loose is as bad as too tight. Has anyone come across any socks that might fit the bill?

Hello runners, hope you are all doing well. I was travelling for work part of this week, but managed to fit in an early morning run on my travels- I do enjoy discovering new places, and Strava is great for recommending routes.

So 3 x 4 miles, and a 9 today make 21 for the week, plus a bit of cycling to and from parkrun yesterday. Very slow, as I'm really tired from the travel/flight delays/lack of sleep. And I realised today that I've reached the point where I need to start taking a drink and a snack with me - it's not so much the distance as time on feet.

@Trickedbyadoughnut interested to hear what you make of the your new shoes - I was a Saucony Triumph wearer for years but after multiple design tweaks they stopped fitting me as well so I switched to Brooks Ghosts - which don't entirely suit me either.

Just ordered some new shoes too! I have small feet and even the smallest size (4) in the shop was too big. But I had my first gait analysis done, found out I overpronate and ordered the Brooks Adrenaline GTS in a 3.5 online. I wasn’t sure whether to get a 3.5 or 3 but I can always size down half a size if these feel too big too. Day to day I wear a size 2. I thought I’d come out with Hokas as all the women in my beginner running sessions have started buying them but they just weren’t for me.

My husband is working this weekend and I’ve got my children to look after so I won’t be doing my first 10km after all. But I did a 5km this afternoon and I’m getting to a good spot with my pace now. I’m slow (8 min/km or just under 13 min/mile) but I feel I can go on and on at that pace, which is a new feeling for me. I’m still working on increasing my distance rather than my speed but starting to feel confident I’ll be able to follow a 3 hour (or maybe 2h45 pacer) by October if things keep going well.

@ponks I might get myself a tshirt made with "Mad woman shuffling" on it 😆Well done you for sticking it out for the 12 miles too

@BogRollBOGOF yes, I hadn't thought about the whole medical certificate thing - but when I went to the doctor last year she wouldn't give me the certificate straight away as my blood pressure was a bit high (I have POTS so it tends to shoot up and down, which is in my medical records) and I had to go away and do home measurements before I'd get it, so I think that may have played on my mind a bit too.

Interestingly, I have a friend who's signed up to the 10K at the Marathon du Mont Blanc this year and they are allowing "self-certification" of health for runners - if they get away with that with no problems, I imagine it would be good news for Parkrun over here.

@foxychox Welcome! My HM is mid-April and it feels like it's coming up quickly. Fingers crossed your shoes make it!

@gm2023 I followed RunswithMilly on Insta - before I unfollowed all runners! Nothing against her, she seems lovely - and it is making me consider a run/walk strategy. The thing is, I really enjoy running non stop, but I'm pretty sure I would be faster run/walking!

@chutneypig I am hanging around Vinted hoping that a Kiprun jacket I've seen (out of stock on the website and stores) will pop up, and if necessary DH has dug out his packable jacket - it's a men's XXL, but it still fits in my pocket so will do the job as necessary and has the advantage of being free!

On the subject of running expense, I've just ordered the Saucony Tempus to try as the shop didn't have my size. My NB 860s are decent for easy and long runs, the Prisms feel great for speed/tempo and my legs recover much better than with the 860s but I think are a bit too soft for a HM, so I'm really hoping the Tempus will hit the sweet spot of being the perfect HM shoe. I can try them on the treadmill in the shop once they arrive, can't wait.

@chutneypig 15 miles 😱. I've done the distance before but 7 years ago. I did a 12 mile run last Sunday so training is on track. My only hope is that my trusty Hoka Arahis last out! I bought a pair of new style Arahis a year or so ago and tried them on a progression run 2 weeks ago. I found them a lot less flexible and they caused pain in my Achilles, so sticking to the old ones for the race! I've bought some enertor insoles to try and refurb them a bit. Will try them on a short run on Thursday....

good luck to all running/training today!

Hi @gm2023 - I'm mostly run/walk - 10 running/2 walking, as that's what works for me. I'd rather walk regularly from the beginning than feel like I'm giving in if I need a walk break later in the run. I much prefer hills and trails, and it's sometimes impossible to run them all.

It feels better for me than continuous running at the moment so it’s what I am planning to do for longer runs. I don’t mind running continuously in a group though. I was listening to the Women’s Running Podcast and the host Esther ran a half marathon recently with “runswithemily” who got a PB doing 3 min running, 1 min walking. The other host Holly did Paris Half last year 5 min running, 1 min walking so I am trying to embrace it as a strategy, something plenty of people do and not feel guilty about it. I don’t want to feel like a wally at the start line! Couch to 5K was all about getting me to run continuously and I have to mentally unpick some of that to go back to running intervals! But I’ll carry on running with my running club and build up the rest. I want to have a good time and be injury free.

My half training starts the first week of June and in the meantime I’m working on running between 5KM and 10KM. Running club basically takes a lot of the thinking away as they plan two of my three runs a week and tell me how far to go on the third! I’m enjoying listening to audiobooks now when I go out.

Garmin zones (black screen) vs calculator (not sure which way round they'll show up)