Half Marathon Training Spring 2024

@BogRollBOGOF I think we might have done the same 5k yesterday - if so, it was such a good event wasn't it. Good luck for your trail event!

There is very little on earth that tastes as good as salt and vinegar crisps at mile 14 of a marathon 😋

I'm still happily covered by my lunch of brown rice/ grains, halloumi, mediteranean veg and pesto. The DCs are fueling on porridge and super noodles before this evening's race. They have 2 hours to digest.

I so agree with the argument about faff, safe routes and maintenance for putting one off cycling. I'm lucky to live in a spot with a lot of very quiet lanes (Somerset Levels) but linking them up to actually get to places is a lot trickier. I can easily go miles out of my way to avoid a main road. Bridgwater seems to have relatively decent cycle ways but even then you see cycle lanes that just decant you on to a dual carriageway right by a roundabout - what's the point of that! I don't know why this country is so aggressively anti-cyclist - apart from anything I would bet most people who cycle also drive.

I pretty much always crave ready-salted crisps, sadly for my waistline.

Good luck for the races @BogRollBOGOF

Hope your races go well @BogRollBOGOF !

Well done cyclists! I should get out more on my bike - DH and I used to cycle everyday to and from the station, but we have moved a bit further away and I always seem to be carrying loads of stuff so we tend to go in the car now.

I had a London run on Tuesday and pushed myself to go a bit further than I wanted to. Have just come down from doing yoga which has definitely helped hit strength. I can do proper press ups now (not many)!

@Jumbojem That sounds amazing. I've just been on the rating sports /10 thread and it's the faff of sorting the bike out (check tyres, helmet, is lock needed, transporting it) and actually finding safe pleasant routes that's the mild turn off.

My bike is back in action with new brake pads. Everything else was fine on it.

I'm going easy on the running this week as I have races on Friday and Sunday!
Tomorrow's is just a 5k. I'll steady run that rather than max out. My DCs are able to do it, which is why I'm tagging along. My actual race is Sunday, 10mi, trail so a good workout but not total burnout. I've had more miles in my legs this summer than usual. I've decided to volunteer at parkrun on Sat to deliver myself from temptation 😂

My post run craving is ready salted crisps, think it's the salt I'm after? Might be the same with mozzarella, it's got protein and salt so sounds like a perfect post run food!
I did 114 miles of cycling on my holiday, on my 20 year old never been serviced bike (I was complaining to OH at least half the gears were unusable). It is a nice break for the legs whilst maintaining fitness but I just don't enjoy cycling in the UK anymore. We were in Germany, well sign posted cycle routes everywhere, lots on segregated paths, the cars all stop and give you priority when crossing junctions, on roundabouts etc It just doesn't compare to the experience over here.

My bike's in for a service at the moment.
First one in 16 years 😂
There have been great chunks of years where it's gathered dust!

I got it out last week so I could keep up with DS2 running! Alas the brake had been knocked off alignment and was rubbing the wheel which sounded awful but also wore a lot covering me in sweaty black dust. I wanted to get them checked anyway as the back brake was feeling less grippy so went for it.

It's nice having older children on decent sized bikes now.

I'm looking forwards to back-to-school so I can get swimming again too 😁

Does anyone else get mozzarella cravings after running? It seems to be all I want to eat right now!

I also want to pick up a bit more cycling. Just put my bike in for a service as it hasn't been looked at for a good long time and the sheer idea has made me really, really want it back and to go out for a long day on it.

I am thinking of bringing my planned half marathon date forward as I have a feeling life will get in the way in October. But not really sure it's a brilliant idea to mess up the plan with 6 weeks to go.

Hello everyone, I've still not really got back into my running groove . I've been going to parkrun and trying to run once or twice during the week. I've also been swimming a bit and stuck with yoga (although I'm still on Adriene's July playlist, so a bit behind!) I could do with booking something to give me a goal to aim for.

Well @CatherineMaitland here I am in the SW lying on my bed in my running clothes waiting for the heavy rain to stop🤣 I have been away for 2.5 weeks, in that time only did a single stop start 5k (running solo in unfamiliar woods) as running and being on holiday didn't really pan out. Did a lot of cycling though so hoping I've maintained some fitness!
I start XC again in about 6 weeks so need to get back to it but not sure where to start really.

Any short run I go fasted - eating beforehand is way more uncomfortable for me. I usually have a cup of tea first though

I had about 3 days off after a truly crappy mid-week run where I just couldn't make my legs move. I binned it off and walked some and had 3 days of feeling very down (mostly unrelated to the bad run, but probably related to the reason I started running in the first place) but not running. Then back today with a 3 mile run, which felt good.

Looking back on Strava I found I did the same run at the start of September last year but I have got 4 minutes faster over the year. Always cheering!

We are having hot, airless days in the south west at the moment - no fun for running even going out at 7am.

Morning all, I’m just back from a 4 mile fasted run. It’s the first time I’ve ran without eating before and I found it surprisingly very easy. I thought I’d be keeled over or knawing at bushes I passed.

move really struggled to cram runs in this week. After my 8 miles run last Sunday I’ve only managed one interval run that was only around 2 miles, a weight session and today’s run. It’s 5 weeks tomorrow until my half marathon. I was so determined to do a 9 mile run this week and continue to build up until the day. Slightly panicking now.

I bought a Decathlon hydration vest recently too. It is working well for me. I didn’t want to spend a lot on one but I struggled during my (very hot) 10k race in May as there was only water at the halfway point. I decided I wanted to carry my own water for my half marathon.

I set out to do 16k yesterday and ended up doing 18.5k! I’ve got 40 days until my race so I’m feeling so chuffed (and slightly like I’ve peaked too soon).

Following my piriformis injury I decided to slow down and I have switched to Jeffing most of my runs. I was dabbling a bit with it before. Yesterday’s run was 20 seconds running, 30 seconds walking and it was comfortable and enjoyable. I spent the afternoon doing the garden so it didn’t wreck me either! I’m perhaps a little stiff today but I have no pain or discomfort and I’m feeling good.

I am feeling so positive now. A few weeks ago I could barely walk a mile due to the muscle strain and now I’m in touching distance of finishing a half marathon.

I hit my pace target (8:30/km - I’m hoping to do my half marathon under 3 hours) without any special effort and everything felt easy (a few blister issues aside) and sustainable.

I am so glad I’ve decided to slow down - it’s made me enjoy running again and stop fearing injury! I was previously targeting a sub-2:45 half marathon but now I’m not heaping that pressure on myself I feel good.

I think my next few runs will be short (probably 5km on Thursday, 8km on Saturday, etc. - I usually run 3 x a week) and then I’ll aim to do another run of about 16km the following weekend. My training plan has been interrupted by injury and then holiday so I’m just winging it now but I could do with settling on a plan to follow for these last few weeks to give me some more structure. Probably my 5th plan of this block…!

Still waiting on my hydration pack arriving. I’m itching to use it 😂

I did an 8 mile run in the rain and slight winds yesterday. I felt like I could have gone further but think I’d have ended up too sore. Glad I didn’t today as my knees are quite achey! Id been worrying that I wouldn’t be up for my HM in 6 weeks but after doing the 8 miles yesterday, I’m feeling more optimistic!

The running was stunning. I did quite a bit while away. A beautiful (hard) parkrun, a 10k, and 2 7ks. It was lovely running with DH, and DS2 joined us a couple of times.

Tough hills though, but as I'm training for trail anyway that's no bad thing!

It's been the most running I've done on a holiday.

Hello all, I've been a bit quiet on the running front recently after my big run in July. I've been doing parkrun, a bit of swimming and a few short runs during the week. So just ticking over really. I had vague ideas of a trail HM in September which I might still sign up for to give me something to aim for. I'm enjoying running shorter distances and trying to run a bit faster as a different way of pushing myself.

After saying "never again" after the ultra, I'm now wondering about doing the same event again next year. Plenty of time to make up my mind.

@BogRollBOGOF bet it's beautiful running there though!

@Christmaspiggyjack let us know if the Karrimor one is decent.

@CatherineMaitland congratulations on your furthest run so far!

I have done my first run since last week's race - was a 6.5km tempo, which felt hard - but just added it up and I ran a 30.02 5k within the tempo bit, which is a PB so finding it hard makes sense!

Tiny bit gutted I didn't know I was that close to coming under a 30min 5k as I'd have sprinted a bit to make it. Still, I'll take a PB!

I ran 9 miles yesterday - longest ever run by nearly 1.5 miles. I took it slowly as it had already been a fairly strenuous week. My knees and quads are a bit stiff today but nothing actively painful. Hard work going up and down stairs though.

if anyone's ever staying in Aldershot, the Basingstoke Canal is a lovely running spot.

Thanks everyone for the hydration pack recommendations. I ended up ordering a karrimor one. We will see if it does the job!

my half marathon is 6 weeks away. I did a 7mile run this morning. I wanted to do a run that was over the half way mark! Managed it in 76 minutes, I did struggle at times and had 1 or 2 periods of walking. I’d like to work towards no walking but think it might help me more to adopt the mindset that it’s fine to walk!

Hope you’re all doing good.

I've got a decathlon vest too. It is good for long distance, but can chaffe my back if it gets arguing with my bra.

I'm plodding on. My holiday on the south coast is very good trail running although somewhat calf-crushing!

@Christmaspiggyjack the Decathlon ones are pretty good, I'm thinking of one to replace my 15 year old pack, so I tried them on a few weeks ago. Lots of people had them on the start line on Sunday. They have belts too (although I find belts generally are on top of my bladder and make me need to pee 😳):

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/sports/running/running-hydration-packs/f-product-nature_hydration-backpack_water-bottle-belt-holder

I've seen that HandM have some at a low price, but haven't seen them for real.

I bought an Ultimate Direction vest in the spring with 2 flexible bottles. I usually wear it if I'm going to be doing over an hour, especially in the hotter sunnier weather. It's very adjustable and works well. I only have an awkward back pocket/side phone pocket on my leggings, so the extra compartments for carrying a few sweets etc are convenient too.

I am enjoying blackberry season - the odd one from the hedgerow while jogging along is a lovely treat.

Not sure if this is a helpful reply... but I just have a small bottle stashed in my shorts pocket. It's been enough for me for now (currently running up yo 2 hours). Similar to this....

www.1000mile.co.uk/products/runners-bottle-300cc
I also make sure I have a couple of sweets I can suck on, makes a difference. I use them as half way etc rewards :)