Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

Great North Run training plan

58 replies

Fizzypineapple · 08/09/2024 13:04

I've been inspired watching the Great North Run and I'd like to do it next year. I've done 2 half marathons before but they were 12 and 14 years ago.

The problem arises is that I'm 6 stone overweight. I know I need to she'd at least 3 stone to be able to achieve this run and I know this is just as important as the exercise training.

How does this sound for a training plan? Obviously can firm things up as time goes on and I can start saving for a personal trainer for maybe spring onwards. Not particularly bothered by the time I do (as long as not completely at the back) and happy to walk some of it if I end up needing to. Need to keep things realistic.

Plan:
Sept-Xmas (16 weeks)- work on weight loss. Build up fitness and muscles before even attempting running to avoid knee damage. 2+ walks a day with the dog. At least 1 two hour walk a week and at least 1 three hour walk a week. 1 X swim and 1 X gym a week to build fitness and muscles.

Jan - end of March (13 weeks).
Keep up the above work plus achieve Couch to 5k. I've given myself a few extra weeks in this to repeat the harder weeks if needed.

April - end of June (13 weeks). Keep up walking, gym and swim. Personal trainer if funds allow. Build from 5k to 10k.

July and August - really hammer the eating plan. Build from 10k to 10 miles. Do at least 2 13 mile runs even if there's a bit of walking needed.

Sept - GNR.

How does all this sound?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 08/09/2025 20:19

xsquared · 08/09/2025 20:10

Well done on doing the Great North Run @Fizzypineapple . It's certainly not a pb course, but the atmosphere is fantastic and it's a great day out overall.

I am particularly gutted at not entering this year, if only for the medal.

You will have probably spotted or heard on the news that the medal is a map of Sunderland rather than Newcastle! 😄

It will be a valuable collector's item in the future I'm sure.

It made me laugh seeing that on the news 🤣

OP posts:
xsquared · 08/09/2025 20:10

Well done on doing the Great North Run @Fizzypineapple . It's certainly not a pb course, but the atmosphere is fantastic and it's a great day out overall.

I am particularly gutted at not entering this year, if only for the medal.

You will have probably spotted or heard on the news that the medal is a map of Sunderland rather than Newcastle! 😄

It will be a valuable collector's item in the future I'm sure.

Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 08/09/2025 16:07

oustedbymymate · 08/09/2025 14:55

Congratulations @Fizzypineapplehow ate you feeling today. I did it too and bloody loved it!!! There was a lot of waiting around at the start it took me 1.5 hours to get from the queue in the field at the start down to the start and over the start line! Still enjoyed it though. Thinking of entering the ballot today for next year 😂

Haha you've got the running bug. Weirdly, I feel absolutely fine today. I can feel that I've done it in my legs but feel ok really. How about you?

OP posts:
oustedbymymate · 08/09/2025 14:55

Congratulations @Fizzypineapplehow ate you feeling today. I did it too and bloody loved it!!! There was a lot of waiting around at the start it took me 1.5 hours to get from the queue in the field at the start down to the start and over the start line! Still enjoyed it though. Thinking of entering the ballot today for next year 😂

Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 08/09/2025 13:54

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 08/09/2025 12:48

It's the biggest road race in the UK ... I think it's reasonable to expect it to be crowded!
And yes there is some hanging around but not much really, considering the scale of the thing. Fwiw, the London Marathon has far more hanging around in my experience, and fewer runners there too.

In terms of rest, I'm having today and tomorrow off before easing back in work a short gentle one on Wednesday.

Thank you. I might give it until Thurs or Friday before trying a gentle jog. Yeah I know it's to be expected that it'll be crowded but I feel they've maybe got about 5000-10,000 too many runners. It just felt like it would be an even more amazing experience if there were a few thousand less. Queueing for the porta loos on route etc.

Not moaning as I know it must be a nightmare to plan and the volunteers do an incredible job. It's just that with tweaks it could be improved.

OP posts:
TyneFilth · 08/09/2025 13:54

Well done! Regarding when to run again, if you didn't pick up and injury and are just aching, I would make sure to go for a gentle walk today and tomorrow, lots of stretches (evening yoga before bed?) and then a slow gentle run Wednesday. Do you have another target in mind? Might be good to get another race on your calendar while you're buzzing from having finished this one!

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 08/09/2025 12:48

It's the biggest road race in the UK ... I think it's reasonable to expect it to be crowded!
And yes there is some hanging around but not much really, considering the scale of the thing. Fwiw, the London Marathon has far more hanging around in my experience, and fewer runners there too.

In terms of rest, I'm having today and tomorrow off before easing back in work a short gentle one on Wednesday.

Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 08/09/2025 11:37

What would people recommend as a rest before starting a gentle run again? Maybe 5 days? A week? More?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 08/09/2025 11:36

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 07/09/2025 22:12

Glad you enjoyed it @Fizzypineapple but sorry to hear you found it chaotic. I thought the opposite tbh, it's obviously the biggest half marathon out there but I've always found it to be the best organised.
It's not a particularly fast course though and today was quite hot which made it tougher still. I'm sure you'd go faster on a flatter and quieter course.

Yeah I think a less crowded course would be better. There was such a lot of waiting around at the start and end.

OP posts:
FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 07/09/2025 22:12

Glad you enjoyed it @Fizzypineapple but sorry to hear you found it chaotic. I thought the opposite tbh, it's obviously the biggest half marathon out there but I've always found it to be the best organised.
It's not a particularly fast course though and today was quite hot which made it tougher still. I'm sure you'd go faster on a flatter and quieter course.

TelephoneWires · 07/09/2025 21:17

Well done - fantastic.

Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 07/09/2025 20:25

Thank you everyone. I didn't do the time I hoped for but I finished which I couldn't have done this time last year. Very chaotic organisation, far too much waiting around but a great atmosphere!

OP posts:
TelephoneWires · 07/09/2025 06:57

Good luck - enjoy. How has everything been going since your last posts?

FigurativelyDying · 07/09/2025 06:53

Good luck to you and everyone running today. I ran the GNR last year. It’s a great course. You can do this!

Mrsttcno1 · 07/09/2025 06:52

Huge good luck!!! I’m not running it this year (7 months pregnant😂) but as we are local will be watching from the half way point near our house so we will be cheering you on! Enjoy the day, the atmosphere and the crowd, you will do amazing! X

TyneFilth · 07/09/2025 06:52

Good luck @Fizzypineapple - I hope you enjoy an amazing experience and the great Tyneside atmosphere! (Despite my username I'm not local but I did GNR in 2013)

Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 07/09/2025 06:48

Today's the big day. Very scared!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 21/12/2024 12:01

Thanks all

OP posts:
FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 21/12/2024 11:15

Any advice for running up hills

I live in a hilly area too and it's a blessing, not a curse. It means that courses like the Great North Run don't feel particularly hilly, whereas to those who live in a flat area, the long drag up to the coast will feel tough.

As for tips on running hills, it sounds obvious, but don't expect to be as fast on hills as you are on the flat. Take them steadily and make up your pace on the downhills where you can catch a breath. If they're very steep, walk them - there's no shame in that!

Also, as @BogRollBOGOF said, vary your routes so you don't meet the same hill at the same point every time. Hills are great training and you'll progress so much more quickly than if you were just training on the flat.

BogRollBOGOF · 20/12/2024 17:53

Run/ walk the hills on short intervals and gradually build them up.

Flip routes around so you don't always do the same hill the same way or at the same point of a run. Meeting it the other way round or at a different stage of the run will change the way it feels so you don't get routine in always meeting it with the same energy level.

DoubleHelix79 · 20/12/2024 13:11

UnaOfStormhold · 10/09/2024 08:46

Sounds like a good basic plan. You might want to look into jeffing/run-walk plans as they can reduce injury risk and don't slow you down as much as you'd think. Alternatively Nike run club has a good half marathon plan with guided audio.

James Dunne's YouTube channel is a good resource on strength building for runners and also has some tips for runners who are overweight covering technique and injury reduction.

Be careful with dieting while training - you will want to eat healthily but you need protein to gain muscle and carbs for energy. Lots of diets have the effect of reducing muscle as much as fat, so eating plenty of protein and continuing strength training are vital to counteract that. Trying to lose weight before starting serious training makes sense but I would definitely make sure you fuel well in your final training phase.

I second the advice on fueling - being in a calorie deficit (or just low on carbs) while ramping up training volume or intensity is risky. In the shorter term you could compromise your adaptation to training, in the longer term you risk stress fractures and other long term issues. I'd rather be a few pounds heavier but have solid training base

MiddleAgedDread · 20/12/2024 12:48

run slower and do short hill reps to build stamina

Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 20/12/2024 12:08

Any advice for running up hills. I know it's early days but I can't run up a hill to save my life. Is it just a case that it becomes manageable with increased fitness. Unfortunately I live in a hilly area so it's hard.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fizzypineapple · 10/12/2024 00:13

Pretty good thank you. Definitely feel fitter.

OP posts:
Jezzballs2000 · 08/12/2024 21:26

How's the training going?