Anyone else training for a half marathon?

[golemmings]

I graduated from c25k earlier this year and ran my first 10 race in June. A friend has told me that I can do a half marathon in the autumn so I've signed up for one.

I'm a week into the training programme (using the rw one for 2:00-2:15 finishes) and I'm finding it really hard going.

Is there anybody else who is doing a half who wants to share moral support/abuse/highs/lows?

[colleysmill]

Morning all.

Had to drag myself out this morning for a run but got there eventually! I did a short route but as quick as possible to try and improve my speed. Planning a long route tomorrow morning.

Definately an autumn nip in the air first thing which makes a welcome change from running in the humid conditions of late. Nearly dug out my jumper!

[colleysmill]

Morning all.

Had to drag myself out this morning for a run but got there eventually! I did a short route but as quick as possible to try and improve my speed. Planning a long route tomorrow morning.

Definately an autumn nip in the air first thing which makes a welcome change from running in the humid conditions of late. Nearly dug out my jumper!

[colleysmill]

Sorry no idea why that posted twice!

[Idocrazythings]

Hi! Can I join in too? I'm training for the great north run. 3 weeks to go- eek. I think it's going quite well, but I'm really not a fast runner. (or that experienced either). So many people run past me- on Sat. Two men were practically sprinting past me and they were still talking to each other and did not even seem breathless! I know you shouldn't compare yourself to others (and I don't) but still?

[tiredemma]

Im training- I did a 10 mile race yesterday (first 5 miles were up hill which killed my legs)- really pleased though as I had aimed to do it in 1hr 45 mins as I didn't know about the mega hills prior to starting ( that will teach me to not research the races that I enter in future!!)-
Actually finished at 1hr 50 mins- which I was delighted with. Im not a fast runner- I'm happy at the pace I run and just finishing (without stopping once to walk) was a massive achievement for me.

My legs are battered today though!

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

Hello, can I join in? I'm doing my third half marathon in October, and have a 10 mile race coming up on 9 September.

I'm super slow - my time for my last half was 2.42.

[humblebumble]

hi-
I am also training for a half marathon at the beginning of October, I turned 40 earlier this year .

I completed my first half marathon in March last year just under 2 hrs and 10 mins. I am hoping to complete this one in under 2 hrs. I have been following the Hal Higden training program. It is fairly simple to follow (in theory). You do 3 short runs (of 3-5 miles) during the week and then a longer run at the weekend, increasing by a mile each week. You also do speed work every other week by running your "pace" speed.

Currently my pace seems to be improving and I am up to 8 miles distance wise and at around 9 minute miles, although this weekend I ended up with a slightly slower pace than I would have liked for my longer run but still okay. I mostly run on roads, with a few hills.

[Idocrazythings]

humblebumble I'm doing Hal Higdon too; Im up to week 10. I thought I'd find his voice overs annoying but they are actually oddly soothing. Did you do it last time as well? Did you find the final distances enough preparation as you don't go past 10miles. He says trust the program, so I am but I'm still a little nervous! My last two long runs have been 9milers as I accidentally ran too far from home the first time so decided to do the same thing again last weekend.

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

I used the Runners World programme for my first half marathon which sounds similar to the Hal Higdon from what Humble says. I don't think I'd done more than 10 miles (or if I had, I hadn't done 13.1!) before the first one. I just told myself it was a 10 mile run (which I'd done before), with a 5k tacked on the end (which I'd done plenty of times before).

Someone also told me that the first few miles go by quite slowly, but once you get to 4 or 5 they start to go by quite fast, and all of a sudden you are on 10 or 11, and the end is a bit of a struggle. As I said before, I'm old and slow, but that did happen to me both times.

[humblebumble]

Hi IDocrazythings I am doing the Novice 2 program this time around as I am trying to increase my pace from 9 45 to around 9 mins so I am hoping this will help. I printed it from the website rather than paying for anything. I did the Novice 1 program for my half in March and it worked out really well. I was really nervous, like you, about whether running only 10 miles would be enough. I think at the moment if you are doing 9 miles with out thinking then you should be fine.

As Neithershreddednorsmug said the first few miles do seem to go by quite slowly then before you know it you have run 5 miles and then you are at 10 miles, I didn't find the end that much of a struggle to be honest. I think I was on an adrenaline high.

[golemmings]

My running seems to have come down to once a week. But the constant stream of visitors and being away has come to an end so my running should improve.

Ran today. 4 miles with intervals. Endomondo had a bit if a hissy fit and I did 6 intervals rather than 8.
My average pace was 9.38 (second fastest this month - did 10k at 9.30 a couple of weeks ago) and even managed some of the intervals at the right speed...
I was aiming for 8.57 and did 10.16 (up hill) 9.07 (top of hill); 7.52; 7.52; 8.18; 9.28. It was all road - I'm not going to get off road for my interval or tempo runs due to failing light which is a shame.
Having skipped the best part of 3 weeks I'm wondering whether to try to stick with my current programme - which involves 14miles in a couple of weeks, amend it to do 9, 10 and 12 miles before the hm, or jump to week 3 of an 8 week programme which doesn't go over 10-12 miles. I'm doing a 10k race 2 weeks before the hm, mostly because its local and I fancy it. It will also be useful to check any improvement in pace.
The best thing about todays run is that I enjoyed it - first time I've enjoyed a run in ages.
I'm also thinking of doing shred. I started ages ago and stopped because it killed my thighs but I have a month before I start work and DS turns 1 and I quite fancy being at my fittest and most toned within a year if having my second child. Is that insane? More importantly, will it compromise my half marathon plans by killing my muscles?

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

Great pace golemmings!

I sometimes shred - did it seriously for a while about a year ago, moved on to some other Jillian DVDs, then got out of the habit over the summer. For me, it helped when I was running intervals, because running fast for 2 minutes felt easy in comparison to the cardio intervals in the shred .

Not sure what to suggest about your training plan - DH never follows one, but likes to run further than whatever distance he's racing (so will do e.g. 14-15 before a HM, 12 before a 10 mile) so that it feels shorter on race day. I prefer to stick rigidly to a plan. His HM time is considerably faster than mine - not sure what that says .

[Issy]

I'm just wondering if I have the honour of being the oldest person on this thread (48), which would of course just be a pathetic excuse for running more slowly.

I did a 9 mile run on Sunday at about 10:15-10:30 a mile, which was fine particularly as there was a stiff 2 mile uphill climb in there. I did my first interval training run this morning - 6km with 2x 1km intervals. Crazily it reduced my average speed - too long to recover.

I don't think I've got enough time before the HM on October 7 to increase my pace much beyond 10:15 to 10:130 minutes per mile, but that's fine and I'd be thrilled with anything between 2:15 and 2:30 hours for my first ever race. Particularly as this time last year, I hadn't run further than 5K.

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

Issy, you are not much older than I am and I think I have the honour of being the slowest

[Idocrazythings]

Issy you're heaps faster than me! My 9miler takes me 1hour 45. That's is with a 5min warm up and 5min cool down walk (so I'm sure that's why its a slow time and I'm still a few years off 40!!!.

[Issy]

I didn't count the cool down or warm up or the two two-minute stops that I took (I was running in loops round our house) for water and a stretch. So really not that different.

[golemmings]

I'm 38 and I intend to run a marathon before I'm 40. I would love to run a half in sub 2hrs but realistically sub 2.15 is where I'm at (although the half is all down hill and I train mainly on hills so should be quicker when I get to the race.)

I should add that yesterdays intervals were only 200m with 100ml recovery.

[KiwiPanda]

Hello! Just spotted this thread. I'm training for 1/2 marathon on October 7th. Have got up to 10 miles (last weekend). Nice to meet you, fellow runners :)

I'm not really following a specific training plan except doing a mix of intervals, speed work, long runs etc. I belong to a local running club so do track sessions with them on Sat mornings and a 10km improvement thing they are running on Tuesday evenings. I've got a 10km race in a week or so as well. I'm doing about 4 or 5 runs a week, anyway. Am on maternity leave at the moment with DD2 (she's 10.5 months now, also have DD1 at nursery, she's not far off 4 now) so it's nice to be able to escape the total chaos and plastic stuff.

[Rassy]

Hi - I too am doing the Great North Run! My longest run so far has been 10 miles last Saturday but tomorrow am doing 12 . I have been following the Runners World 10 week programme re distances etc but not done any speed work really - just want to get round as it is my first (and last!) half marathon.

[Issy]

Hi Kiwipanda, Are you running the Royal Parks half marathon as that's on 7 October? If so, so am I! I'm hoping to get up to 10 miles this weekend.

[KiwiPanda]

Issy yes I am indeed! Have heard its a nice course. Are you aiming just to finish, or for a particular time?

[Issy]

Yes, I've heard that too. And it's predominantly flat. As for aims, it's my first race, first time I've broken out of 5k and I'm an old gimmer, so getting round is my first priority. I put down 2:15 to 2:30 on my entry form. What about you?

[onedev]

Just seen this thread - Im doing the Great North Run too & hope I'm ready when the time comes. I've heard it's really hilly & been trying to find hills around here to practice on but struggling to find something which is suitable as I've no idea what the GNR is like to know what I need!

[Lexilicious]

Hi! I was on onedev's GNR thread. eek, only two weeks to go - and I haven't booked anywhere to stay the night before in Durham.

Have seemed to plateau in timings of my runs recently, but have been trying to do more hills and intervals but I lack the discipline to really do intervals properly so either need technology to shout at me or a running club, neither of which are going to happen in time, so I just plan mid length training runs that have hills in instead.

My time is currently about 10.30 a mile or 6.40 a km at the moment. Haven't looked too closely at how hilly the Great North is, but hopefully I can maintain that for 13.1m, which would mean 2h20m ish.

One thing I am terrible at is drinking enough water! I go out for a training run in the late morning from work and realise I have only had a small breakfast and two coffees. Ridiculous.

[onedev]

Hi Lexi, I booked last night to stay at the Novotel by Newcastle airport as couldn't find anything else. I'm hoping that'll be ok as it said its on a metro route!

I dont have the discipline for interval training either so have been building my running generally. It was on my thread that one poster said about the hills so I've been trying since then but don't think I'm having much success with finding something suitable.