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Original poster

can I run a half marathon in 5 months time?

34 replies

HowlonguntilFriday · 12/04/2012 08:00

given that I am an unfit mother! (in the sense of exercise, rather than child care - I hope)
I did do some running pre children, 10K and half marathons but I was a lot younger and fitter (and lighter) then.
Any training tips?
Thanks.

OP posts:
Idocrazythings · 12/04/2012 08:08

I think you need to be able to comfortably run 5k several times a week; there is an iPhone half marathon app which will help train you I think from about 4 months before. I'm in the same boat and starting to crap myself a bit!

Original poster
HowlonguntilFriday · 12/04/2012 08:12

Thanks - I'll have a look. Think that entering on a whim might have been a grave error! Still, always good to have a target!

OP posts:
Iggly · 12/04/2012 08:16

YANBU

You can usually get good training guides online which assumes you're starting from a low base. I trained for a 10k in 6 weeks and at the start could only manage about a minute of jogging.

iloveACK · 12/04/2012 08:18

You can do it.
Runners world do some great training programmes over 12 weeks starting from a v low base & given your previous running experience I reckon you'll get it back quite quickly.
Good luck Grin

SlipperyNipple · 12/04/2012 08:21

I think you can unless you are very overweight or have some other medical problem. I've done a couple of half marathons when I was running 40 minutes twice a week and about a 10k at weekends. I was a bit overweight at the time but I was fit.

Now after two children I am obese and I wouldn't start running training until I lost the weight otherwise I think I would do my knees in.

Hope that helps. I think the problem will be finding the time to run.

Whoneedssleepanyway · 12/04/2012 08:22

be very careful though OP, my cousin has just had to pull out of the London Marathon as she thought she could train to do it within 6 months, the running magazines publish six month training schedule but she just didn't have the fitness and strength built up from years of running and ended up fracturing a bone in her pelvis...I know this an extreme example but my dad who is a serious seasoned marathon runner, we are talking doing a marathon in under 2.5 hours, really berates running magazines for encouraging people to suddenly gear up to do this in a short period of time, he had been running for years before he did his first marathon.

I am sure as you have run before you will be fine but be careful.

skybluepearl · 12/04/2012 08:22

can you try and add an extra mile every two weeks? Train three or four times a week. Then about 6 weeks before push the milage more? Do a mix of short quick runs and long slower runs

skybluepearl · 12/04/2012 08:25

get a friend to do it with you - meet up for some runs and do other runs on your own with lively music.

SlipperyNipple · 12/04/2012 08:25

Why don't you ask a doctor if you are fit (in every sense of the word) to start training for the half marathon.

DrSocks · 12/04/2012 08:34

I'm sure 5 months is plenty of time. The furthest I'd run before my first half was 10 miles - so if you could take the first 2 months to get up to running 5km (about 3 miles), you can then just add 0.5 mile a week to your long run. Why don't you enter a Race for Life (or similar) in around 2 months time to give you something to aim for?
Is it the Great North Run you're doing by the way? If so, I'm v jealous, it really is such a great occasion. Good luck!
[disclaimer: not an actual doctor by the way]

Original poster
HowlonguntilFriday · 12/04/2012 08:39

Thanks all. Lots of think about there. I'm probably about half a stone overweight (according to the BMI chart things) which I am hopeful will shift once the easter eggs are gone.
The point about time is a good one although I think that I can probably fit it in if I'm organised - running home from work etc although last time I did this, I was single and my time was my own. Not sure about a friend to run with - most of my friends think that I'm mad to consider it. DH has said that he is happy to have the children though and we've got lots of family friendly places nearby (parks, beach) where he can look after the children etc while I run. (All sounding good in theory!)
Someone else suggested that I checked with the dr - won't they think that I'm wasting their time if I'm not actually ill. Off to Sainsbury's in a bit - will check out a copy of Runners World.
Thanks again.

OP posts:
Original poster
HowlonguntilFriday · 12/04/2012 08:41

There is a local Park Run which is 5km. Thinking that would be a good first aim. Not Great North Run - Cardiff. Hoping for a bit of shopping while I am there.

OP posts:
supernannyisace · 12/04/2012 08:44

I think you can with 5 months to get into it. Especially as it is the summer (?) months - long days, better weather.

I am doing a half marathon in May! Am not totally convinced that I will manage it yet, but my training runs are 10K local routes. I can generally run 2/3 of the route, but have to take walking breaks.

do you have a parkrun event near you? These are great for getting into the running spirit. parkrun. It is a timed 5K run - on a Saturday morning. All for free too (although they do accept online donations). I have been doing it for almost a year - and my time has improved a lot. It is a good way to meet other runners- you may be able to source a running buddy.

good luck. If I can do a half I am sure you can :)

supernannyisace · 12/04/2012 08:45

xposted about the parkrun.

I do highly recommend it though for getting serious!

Melpomene · 12/04/2012 08:46

5 months should be enough, especially if you've run a similar distance in the past. I trained for four months for my half marathon, starting from being able to run 5k (but only doing that once a week or so) and never having gone any further. I followed a training programme with 2 or 3 'short' runs each week (4.5 miles or so) and a 'long' run each Sunday morning, building up the distance of the long run by 10 per cent each week.

The training is quite a time commitment so you need to think about how you'll fit it in. If the run is in 5 months that means you'll need to do a lot of training over the summer (assuming you're in the Northern hemisphere?) so it's worth thinking about how you'll cope with that (early morning/evening runs/ air conditioned gym).

Obviously you need to listen to your body and not overstretch yourself - even if you end up completing the course at a slow jog, with walking breaks, it's still an accomplishment.

Melpomene · 12/04/2012 08:50

Oh, and one of the most helpful resources I used during my training was this route-planning site. You can plot out routes, see routes other people have plotted in your area, and log every run to keep track of your progress and pace. It instantly tells you the distance of each route so makes it really easy to build up your distance while varying your route to stave off boredom.

supernannyisace · 12/04/2012 08:52

Ooh melpomene I like that site.

I use mapmyrun to calculate my own routes - but i like the idea of nicking someone else's preplanned routes. gonna have a good look now - and nip out for half an hour :)

marathonrunner · 12/04/2012 08:57

I would say it's long enough. I am doing my second half marathon in June and I think a lot of it is psychological. If you think you can do it then you will. You do need practice as well though. Find out the route of the race to find out if there are lots of hills and do similar. Also vary your routes or it gets boring. I am much faster that I was last year. For example, I can run 7 miles in just over an hour whereas last year I would have done about 4.5 in that time.

DadIsSad · 12/04/2012 09:38

The big difference between you and a lot of people is that you've done it in the past - that will make things a lot easier. Also there is a huge difference between a half and a full marathon (which somebody suggested is not good training for in a short time, and I tend to agree). Half a stone is also not a lot overweight - that will drop off once you start training.

It sounds like you've got a lot of things in place - childcare sorted and somewhere good to run. Having a commitment to train when you get to the park also helps when you're not feeling like it (though don't be tempted to carry on if you're injured). Just take it steady and build up gradually and you'll not have a problem.

If you're reasonably young and healthy, then I tend to agree there's not a lot of point in seeing your doctor - especially given you've run before. Having presumably had plenty of medical attention with your children you should know if you have any fundamental issues which might be a problem.

Idocrazythings · 12/04/2012 10:09

Do u want to start some sort of motivation thread somewhere on m'net? to keep up the training. Id be keen

Idocrazythings · 12/04/2012 10:09

Oops sorry stupid iPhone I was going to say "some sort of m

Idocrazythings · 12/04/2012 10:13

Really looking like a dick now... I wouldn't know where or how you do something like that but Id be keen as I have not really got into my training for my half; and the furthest I've ever run is 12km!! Haven't really met anyone here yet that is motivated to exercise so it's hard to keep it up by myself.

RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 12/04/2012 10:20

It's definitely do-able in someone with no health problems/ injuries, but you prob shouldnt expect a personal best.

If you went out for a run now, how far would you realistically be able to run, and how long would it take? Also, do you have a time in mind for Cardiff or do you just want to "get round"? Will you consider it a failure if you end up walking bits of it?

Runners World is good for training programmes. However, experience has shown me that it helps to throw a real cardio buster into the mix once a week- like spin or boot camp- something that literally makes you feel like you're gonna die (if you can find a running club they will do a track session that achieves the same). Works miracles on your time.

camdancer · 12/04/2012 10:36

I'm doing a half in September also. I'm using my.asics.co.uk/my/dashboard It is great, you can log runs but also it will prepare a plan for you. I've done a lot of playing around to get the right plan, but hopefully it'll get me fit enough to at least get round.

As long as you do actually get out and run, you should be fine.

MNHQ
KatMumsnet · 12/04/2012 14:16

Hi, we've moved this into Sport and Exercise. Thanks.