Half marathon training

[EauRouge]

A thread for newbies and veterans!

I've just signed up for my first half. It's in March and I'm putting together my training plan. My longest run at the moment is about 5 miles.

I've seen a few plans and some of them differ by quite a bit, so I'm getting confused about the best approach. I'm cobbling something together but not sure on a couple of points. At the moment I'm planning 3 runs a week (one recovery, one intervals/hills/tempo and one long run), a couple of rest days and a couple of cross training days- does that sound OK so far?

With the long runs, don't I need to complete the full distance? Some of the training plans I've seen only go up to 10 miles. I don't want to overtrain but is 10 miles going to be enough?

I'm not planning to break any records, if I finish in under 3 hours that will be just fine with me

Thanks for any tips

Can I join in? I've signed up for the Brighton Half in February. Stepping up from the Great South (10 miles). Debating whether to also do the Reading Half in March or the Bracknell Half in April.......Did a really good training day for the Brighton Half last Sunday - lots of information and a day at the seaside (without kids!)

How did you find the GSR drzeus? I really loved it, nice atmosphere and I coped well with the distance although I did kind of plod along but that meant I had the energy not to stop in that last 2 miles with the wind in my face!

Loved the GSR! Amazing atmosphere and managed a PB (even with the wind). I'll never to super speedy but DH says I'm "not bad for my age (48)!" I'm back for more next year!

I'm doing the Brighton half in February too! It's my first one and I'm nowhere near as far into my training as I should be so very worried! I will be the one crawling at the back!

Allo! Can I join in?

I've signed myself up for the Bupa 10k next May... Slightly nervous as I'm really asthmatic but I'm determined to do it!

which BUPA 10K.. Manchester?

The London one

ah! I'm doing the Manchester for the 3rd time in May. They are brill, well set out & a great goodybag!

You'll enjoy it very much!

Oh brilliant! I didn't know there was a goody bag! Did you have to train a lot for it?

Very embarrassingly, I thought 10k was a lot more than it actually is! DH laughed A LOT!!

Yes the goody bag is great. Nice t-shite, good bling (the all important medal!) and a few bits pieces like water, small pack of nuts etc.

You will need to train - but its easy! Break it down to 2 x 5km. You will do it no problem. I average 1 mile in about 9 mins. but slowed it down to 10 and a half for my half training to go for longer. Now need to up the speed again.

Try going 3-4 times a week to get your legs used to running. In the winter you can easily go on a treadmill to get the miles in. That's what I go.

Let your DH laugh - similar to mine! He had no faith in my half marathon go, but I did it in 2:31 (just 10 mins slower than my estimated time). Back again next year!

ooopppps t-shirt I mean! lol!

The goody bag sounds great, I'm a sucker for a freebie though. Thanks for the advice, that's really useful, think ill need all the tips I can get!

Are you guys running for charity? Which ones? I can't decide.

I've linked to my full marathon to MSF and have a JustGiving page, but haven't decided if I can be bothered to fundraise very actively or not

I might nearer the time, people keep asking how they can sponsor me

Hi there, I went from not running at all in April to doing a 10k late May and then doing the Glasgow half-marathon in October. The sense of achievement is immense. I still can't believe I've done it. My kids are exactly the same age as yours (2 and 5) so I understand the constraints!

Your training plans sound fantastic, but if you are like me, life will get in the way some weeks and it makes it easier to accept some weeks will be great while others are disappointing. I ran 3 times a week, almost every week, on good weeks I totalled 20 miles, on poor ones only 7 or 8. I did no other training, which I now understand is not a good thing and I've started metafit and yoga. But I went from zero to half (in a good time, I would never have believed it beforehand - ten minute miles all the way) doing only running so it is possible.

I really don't want to lose it, want to keep motivated throughout the winter months so may sign up for a half in the spring. I fancy the St. Andrews one in April, think I might press enter!

Good luck, sounds like you're going to be well-prepared for it. Brave time of year to start, you go for it!

Thanks for the tips, beatofthedrum. That's a hell of an achievement in 6 months!

How's everyone else doing, have you all started training? I was a bit cheeky this week and did a Parkrun on what was meant to be a rest day (and got a new PB!), but I felt fine so I might do a couple here and there if I can. Sunday I ran 10k in 1.04.56. It's the furthest I've ever run so I was really pleased with the time. I was taking it quite easy and I felt like I could have gone further. I definitely need to get some new running shoes though so I'll treat myself to a proper gait analysis before I do many more long runs.

Did a short recovery run today and I'm doing my first intervals session on Thursday.

Hi

Ive just signed up for my first half marathon. It is in May so a while away yet.

Ive done plenty of Parkruns and volunteer often too. I have also done a few 10Ks and have no problem what so ever if someone was to say to me that I am running a 10K tomorrow. Im a bit nervous about it, but excited too.

In regards to walking a bit, I thoroughly plan to walk bits of my half, but I did with my first 10K and ran it all so we will see. I find when out on my own I feel worse for walking and that thought often keeps me running. I genuinely find it easier to keep running than to walk a bit.

Now I just need to step up the running and get out more, there always seems to be a reason not to go out.

Hello :) When are you planning to start training?

I got myself some new running shoes today, my old ones are starting to get knackered and I couldn't believe how much I was over pronating in the gait analysis video.

This week is my cutting back on mileage week so I've been doing sod all resting a bit. 4 miles tomorrow and then back to building up the distance next week.

So pleased I've stumbled across this thread! I have done a few 10k races and loved them. I signed up for my first half in March a couple about a month ago and getting really down with how tricky it is to fit training in at the moment. Anyone else struggling? I am trying to work on core strength with 30ds and planking though as it easily fits around children and DH working long hours.
So pleased to see others (including op) are also doing a similar plan of 1x interval/hills/farlek, 1x long distance and 1x recovery run a week. Just feel like I really need to start putting the mileage in or I'll never make it!
Hope you are all keeping on track better than me! I have good intentions of making the most of the Christmas hols and new year resolutions!

I'm having difficulty training. Mines not until May, but I know I need to start getting out there otherwise it will be here before I know it. The thing is I start a new job in the new year so might not have the chance to get out. I absolutely must get out on a Sunday afternoon from now on. I still do Parkrun and a couple of runs in the week, but I'm not going for my long run which I need to.

Runners world website has a link to make your own training plan depending on how long you want to train for. I'm going to start that.

Hi all, I'm thinking about training for a half marathon distance but I won't be doing it in a race, just for my own pleasure to say I've done it. Have run 10k a few times without too much difficulty and I fancy seeing how far I can continue to go. I've found a four month basic plan which does three short runs a week of between 4.5km and 9.5km depending on thow far you are into the plan, plus one longer run a week starting at 7km and increasing by 1.6km/1mile a week, building to doing the full distance (20.9km) three weeks before your 'race date', and tapering back down. I have a lovely 10km countryside route I do, so basically it would eventually be twice round that plus a little extra loop just at the end.

I feel quite inspired to have a go at this distance because I never thought I'd even achieve c25k back when I started in March, yet I have, so I really want to see just how far I can go with this running lark!