Half Marathon Training Spring 2024

My April HM was 2 hours 21, my HM two weeks ago was 2 hours 15

Sub-2 is definitely realistic for spring if you do some targeted training between now and then - 4 runs a week plus strength work and yoga would almost definitely get you there.
I would do one long run, one short tough run (eg a hill session or racing a parkrun) and a couple of easy runs that get the miles in.

For comparison, my first half was a similar speed to you - I ran 2:19, and then my second the same year was similar to that.
The following year I got it down to 1:50 without too much additional training, and now my PB is 1:33. I'd love to run sub 90 but it has got much harder to keep making gains, particularly as I'm now well over 40!

That’s a really great improvement already this year! I’ve only run one half marathon so I can’t really help you on what’s realistic but in case it helps, I’ve set up a dummy 5k improvement plan on Runna (as I’m focusing on shorter distances and strength training until Christmas) and that thinks I can knock 8 minutes off my half time in 8 weeks - although I am slower than you (2:45) so that might come into it. I am hoping to finish my half this time next year closer to 2:30.

But my aim is to run a 34 minute 5k before Christmas, which feels quite ambitious given my fastest 5k is around 37 minutes… I have only been running a year and have spent all of that time trying to run further rather than faster so looking forward to a change in approach!

I have been off running more or less since my HM as I have had a cold (it's basically just a lot of nose-blowing now, but I want to recover properly!) but I have of course signed up for my next spring HM!

When I feel better, I'm going to try to improve my 5k and 10k times on my own, then do one of those two distances in my Christmas run. Then HM would start again on 4 January - although I might try to start a couple of weeks early to give myself some wiggle room.

I'd love some advice - I'd like to improve my time again, but I'm not really sure what is a realistic target. I'm unsure how to set my training paces - all the online calculators work off my time on the last HM, but then I'd be running the same pace! I would love to go faster!

My April HM was 2 hours 21, my HM two weeks ago was 2 hours 15. My ultimate ambition is a sub-2 hour but I don't think that will be next spring somehow. Does aiming at another 5 mins off seem realistic? I'm also losing weight so hopefully would be a few kgs lighter by next April.

Thanks @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - they are happily sat drinking hot chocolate now. Both enjoyed it, my daughter was more pleased with her time than her brother. He got a bit bored of Hyde Park!

Well done @Trickedbyadoughnut ! Great work!

Best wishes to @chutneypig offspring today. My neighbours have gone off to to to Oxford half this morning.

@Jumbojem I'll join you on the not much running but still doing yoga bench (alhough I have missed a few days yoga too).

This week I've managed 2 short runs (one longer than it should have been as I was somewhere unfamiliar and the Strava route I picked took me down some dead ends), a swim and yesterday I tail walked at parkrun.

That is wonderful @gm2023 and a tribute to all your training.

Yoga and strength work have got to be a good stop gap @Jumbojem.

That's also brilliant @Trickedbyadoughnut - that's a massive chunk off your PB!

Great stuff @gm2023 and @Christmaspiggyjack !

I also had my third HM of the year on Sunday and hit my goal pace of 6'23/km dead on for another 6 min PB. Really chuffed!

I think I'll also be focusing on shorter distance and faster til the end of the year - Christmas fun run mid-December so either 5 km or 10 km (5 km is a relay so I'll have to see what my friend prefers to do). Spending less time outside running in the dark and the rain seems appealing right now 😅

Great running @christmaspiggyjack and @gm2023!
Nearly 2 weeks with no running at all for me, and only a mile the week before that. Def won't be doing 1st XC fixture which is a shame. I think I'll try a run/walk later this week to see how the calf is.
At least it has given me the time to up the yoga, and I've actually done a small amount of weight training. Largely due to my worrying about losing fitness, and without running I should probably be eating less cake...

Super stuff @gm2023 ! Well done!

Thank you to everyone for the support on this thread! I managed just under 2:45 - which I’m so pleased with! I had hoped to run it in 2:45 but I felt that was a bit ambitious and that 3:00 was more realistic. Can’t believe I achieved my ambitious target (and by Jeffing too).

I am now focusing on improving my 5k time until the end of the year as I’ve spent the last year focusing on running for longer and further but not faster!

Bravo @Christmaspiggyjack !

Great work @Christmaspiggyjack!

I hope everything went well @gm2023

I think they're really going to enjoy it @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - I'm aiming for a couple of Hyde Park runs this week while I'm at work. Lovely spot.

Half marathon done! 2.23 - I was aiming for under 2.30 so very pleased!

@gm2023 good luck for tomorrow!! Let us know how you get on x

Ooh lucky them @chutneypig ! Hope they enjoy, I did it a few years ago and it’s still one of my favourites.

Good luck to all those running this weekend!

My children are both doing Royal Parks - they're very excited!

Anyone doing the Royal Parks HM this year?

Wow, lots of you with races coming up this weekend! Is it a big race weekend? I know it's Cardiff half and Chicago mara but that's a much as I know.
I'm def feeling FOMO, even for the pre race jitters! Some really positive sounding training been going on so I hope you all smash it!

My run is on Sunday. I’m worrying I tapered off too soon… I did 12.1 miles on 21st and then just 5 miles on Sunday just passed

Well - that's quite dramatic taper, to slash your mileage right back to a 5 mile "long" run the week before a race - but it's not too ridiculous. At least you haven't stopped running altogether! And there's not much you can do about it now other than make sure you go into Sunday's race well rested and with fresh legs. If I were you I would do another 4-5 mile run today, 5k on Friday and then just a few strides on Saturday to turn your legs over.

My race is Sunday too and I’ve done the same, if it helps! I do two 5k-ish runs a week and a longer run at the weekend. I did 21.1k on 8th, 10k on 15th, 15k on 21st and 10k this weekend. This is broadly what my plan wanted, although the 15k was meant to be 22.5k (I’m limited on time and took the decision than 3 half marathons in the space of a month wasn’t right for me, a beginner). I think we’ll be OK! I’m planning to do a 5k tomorrow, I think.

My run is on Sunday. I’m worrying I tapered off too soon… I did 12.1 miles on 21st and then just 5 miles on Sunday just passed. (With shorter runs/strength training in between). I think I’ll do a 5km on Thursday or Friday just to keep my legs going. I’m excited but also nervous. I’m having regular dreams about going the wrong way, getting lost, getting stuck in queues, having to climb up buildings as part of the course and forgetting my gels. Clearly overthinking this 😂

I'm happy to be tapering now!
I pulled off 10 miles last week. A little shorter than I'd have liked but between PMT, being well-used and counting down to a sports massage, I didn't have much left in the tank and ended up walking the last 3 miles as I had no spare omph left.
That was take 2 too. I started on the
Monday and downgraded to a 4 mile walk in the first mile 😂

Hoping for 8 miles tomorrow if the weather's half-decent. I'm feeling more up for it than last week. Aiming to do 5-6miles early next week as the last longish one before the weekend.

I've also benched myself for a week - a long run and two vaccines in a week knocked the stuffing out of me. I think I'm probably off-course for a half in 3 weeks time - I certainly don't feel ready. I don't even think I will enjoy it, so I decided not to push things. I think I'll focus on 5k and 10k for a bit, and just enjoying running.

Good luck to everyone still going and best wishes for quick injury recoveries!

Thanks - it’s good to know what to expect and it sounds like I should be expecting a slow journey back to my friend’s house!

My half marathon is this weekend! I am very nervous but since I was able to start running again after my piriformis injury my training has gone really well. I ran 77 miles in August and 74 miles in September. I’ve found a run/walk ratio that suits me and I’m running at my pre-injury pace again (and sometimes quicker than that). I generally feel good when running at my plodding pace so I’ve decided to target 2:45 on Sunday! I’ve only run about 10 miles at that pace (my other longer runs have been much slower) so I’m not sure if I’ll actually manage it but even if I have to slow down, it should set me up well!

I've been awol as well but wanted to pop back and wish everyone running soon good luck - if I've added up properly it looks like some races this weekend for people?

Sorry to hear you're injured @Jumbojem, how frustrating when I know how much you enjoyed the cross country last year.

That's very exciting about GNR @gm2023. I know you might not fancy a walk after but the traffic was horrendous this year. It took us 3 and a half hours to get back to the hotel on a dedicated bus and it was only 11 miles from the finish. We all still entered the ballot but none so us got in.

I'm spending the autumn watching the rest of the family doing halfs. I deferred Robin Hood this weekend but my son smashed it, his first proper road half. He loved it. I'm slowly clawing some fitness back, taking the couch25k approach. It's very slow progress and I'm aiming this year to find parkrun manageable. My BP meds have definitely made a difference but a long run down in fitness won't fix itself in a few weeks so I'm trying to be patient,