Training for half marathon/marathon? Over here!!

[tiredemma]

A few of us ( evertonmint, golemmings etc etc) have lost the plot and decided to sign up to half marathons/ marathon between now and next april.
This is our 'virtual support' thread. Please feel free to join, cry, moan, elate, share joy, share pain, share milage.

All welcome. Pull on your running shoes and join us.

Thanks tiredemma! Marking my place and will be back tomorrow to say a bit more - too knackered to think straight and off to bed now. Good practice for marathon training I guess, being knackered and going to bed early :)

Yay! Well started!

I went out on a lovely run in the hills this morning. Little over 13km but very steep in places (steep mtb routes). The weather was gorgeoes and even on the hill tops it wasn't cold.

Going somewhere flatter and hopefully faster tomorrow. It's so long since I did a straight, flat run I have no idea what speed I can run at which makes idenrfying a pace for tempo runs quite hard.

Anyone else out this weekend?

Well done golem! Blue skies all day today! I have a 10 miler in 2 weeks and pondering marathon... Did 7 miles today as my lovely mum babysat:) was lovely and could have kept going but wine was waiting...

I, having only started running just over a yr ago frm a fitness level of nothing, have signed up to the great north run (and a couple of 10k'sbetween now and then). Did 8 k in the smaller of the two parks I run in today thinking it would be quieter, there was a bloody funfair going on and the student population of Leeds was sunning themselves..... The strong smell of pot was an interesting one to be gasping in in a breathless fashion as I ran past them!!

I've signed up again for the Great North Run this year too - really enjoyed it last year but got totally out of training over the winter period so need to get myself sorted & fit again!!

Thanks for starting the thread!

yay!!!

we are here!!

im doing a few (about 4) 10k races between June and end of sept. Then im doing a half marathon in derbyshire on 6th October.

and....... im going to apply to do the London Marathon for next year but realistically know its unlikely that ill get a place so im going to go for the Brighton Marathon - spured on by evertonmint.

I did a 10 mile race last august (of which the first 5 miles were up the hugest hills I have ever seen) and then I did the Great North Run in spetember.

I LOVED the GNR - but decided not to do it again this year- its a great event but so massive that the logistics of getting there and getting home are so stressful.

Im in a running club and do 3 miles on a monday, 3 miles on a wednesday (both 'tempo' runs to imprive speed) then also go for a run on a saturday morning. Im not doing more that 3x a week because IO dont want an injury. I think that 3 x a week between now and next april is a reasonable amount to get towards 'Marathon prowess' ( i hope!!)

Hi I've just done the Brighton Marathon, first time marathon! Fantastic, training was tough as I have coped with ongoing injury. Now having to rest before I can resume running - and chomping at the bit.

off to bed now but will put a bit more info on about the training plan I did it is based on 3 quality runs a week

look forward to hearing your training plan! well done!

Well done Clure! I hope you're not too sore the next couple of days!

Well done Clure, that's fab! Hope you feel ok today.

In definitely interested in hearing your training plan as I only really have time for 3 quality runs a week too & need to get back into it (although only a half, not a full marathon!).

I'd like to find a training plan aiming for a half time of 2hrs 5 mins - anyone know where I can find that?

Yea. I did a flat half in about that. Will dig it out when I get back. Just feeding DS and putting him to bed then I'm heading out for a trot around the block.

Brill, thanks Go.

Hello! I ran Cardiff half last year really slowly (2.45) so obviously signed up for it again and Race the Train in August too.

Have to confess I am bricking it about Race the Train because of the course!

I can only do 3 outside runs a week but I have a treadmill so I'm hoping to top up with intervals.

Lovely run this evening. Clear sky, moon, view of hills, primroses in the hedges...

Only ran 4.3 and averaged 9.44. It was pretty consistent though - 17secs between by fastest and slowest miles.

I have a 10k in early June. Last year it was my first 10k and I did it in 56mins. I need to get below 9.30 if I want to beat it. With 6 weeks training I'd hope to be ok. In early may last year I was running 10:30s.

My dream is to run a sub 50ml or possibly a win-45 before I turn 40 in 14mo but that's probably a bit daft because I am much better at distance than speed... Hence the marathon plan.

One, I forgot to check for training plans. I think I got it from rw. not sure if you have to subscribe tho'. Can write it here but not on phone!

Third time lucky - my phone has been swallowing the long posts I've tried to put on here!

I've got a 10k in 4 weeks so got a bit of a crash course plan to get some speed in my legs. I have enough stamina to get round but need to sharpen up a bit, so lots of short pacey runs planned.

Then I'll move onto a half training plan - need to find one in maybe October to aim for. And won't think about marathon training until that is done!

I have a fair bit of weight to lose after a 3 month lay off due to illness, crazy work schedule and miserable weather. I am such a fair weather runner - always fittest in September and unfittest in March. Part of my reason for taking on a marathon is to try and break this cycle next winter, but it's going to be hard. Think the psychology will be harder to crack than the miles as I have the stamina and doggedness once I actually get myself out running but I struggle to fo anything away from the sofa in the winter!

I'm gradually recovering. I went into the marathon not being able to start my training plan on time due to a hip injury which is actually a degenerative (I'm 45). I had physio and built up my distance slowly in the first few weeks (prior to this I had run between 17-21k weekly) During the marathon at a bout 26k my knee went and so the latter part of the race was completed in pain!! I am walking fine again now but last night tried a short run to see how I was.....wrong!! too soon.

As far as my training plan I used "Run Less Run Faster" a book/training plan a friend had used for marathon training.
If you go onto Runners World website they have all the info and you can even tailor make your own training plan based on this here

Evertonmint, I know what you mean about running in crap weather, this winter has been tough as every long run and tempo run we did (myself and 3 friends) it was either sleet, snow, hail, rain, wind, frost, cloud. you name it we ran in it! Get a decent waterproof. We just chanted our mantra "Just get out, do it and get it done" well done though keep it going!

I did the London Marathon on Sunday and it was hard but really an occasion / experience.

I'd done a half marathon before, but not a full one, and my comfort zone was a 3 mile run round the block. The thought of 26 miles was really daunting, but I honestly believe if you put the training in and you are focused, think positive etc, its do-able for everyone (subject to injuries etc)!!

I followed a 16 week plan, if you google marathon training plan 16 weeks you'll see a link to marathon rookie with a timetable - its 3 short-ish runs during the week (a maximum of 5 miles, 8 miles then 5 miles - but you build up to that) followed by a longer run at weekend. It is quite a commitment, but I really enjoyed it. I did it in 4hrs 30.

Well done Mandy - that's fantastic!

That's brilliant Mandy! You must be so proud of yourself :) I hope I am in your shoes next year (well not literally - that would be sweaty and a bit gross!) and have achieved a marathon.

Your plan gives me comfort. I just did a 7k run with my running group which is already well within my comfort zone so 5m/8m/5m as the basic week at peak sounds fine. Now I know I only have to conquer my fear of the big runs, and at least I have time to step up to those rather than having to run 20 miles next weekend.

Running group was lovely today. It was sunny, and the countryside looked beautiful with wild flowers out and trees in bud. We did a few hills, including one short, sharp one which the elevation graph on my Runmeter app suggests was completely vertical :o It isn't, but it felt like it at the time and my glutes are feeling it now!!

Anyway, as I was going down a particularly boggy track, I wondered what sort of running the rest of you do. I never do road running, other than a few 100m from the house because I live at the foot of the South Downs so have muddy lanes, fields and stiles more or less from the door. But I know some people only ever run on roads. What sort of terrain do you all tend to run on?

Only streets / roads for me. I could run in the countryside as its only 10 mins away, but it would still be country lanes & the traffic frightens me too much! I've done some 8 mile fun runs in that area & whilst its nice to nosey at the gorgeous massive houses, I find it a bit boring so I'm happily used to the streets now!

I also don't listen to music whilst I run so enjoy people / traffic / house watching as I go

Road running for me - if you're doing 7k in the countryside with mud / uneven ground etc, thats got to be harder than 7k on the road. I still get the open countryside on my longer runs (lots of country lanes, but I still stick to the tarmac!).

Mandy your plan is reassuring. I'm with a running club and currently going 3 x a week.
Evertonmint I'm going to do the Brighton marathon! Probably see you there!

Yay!

Did a 5k tonight - village has a monthly communal run, lovely evening for it! What's everyone's running plans for the weekend?