Anyone training for their first HM?

[Asleeponasunbeam]

I've got one booked for October - the Great Eastern Run in Peterborough.

I started with c25k last May and stopped running for the winter. I'm so glad I started again and hope to carry on over winter this year - just hard with country roads at night, but I'll think of some solution!

Anyway, I'm following a Runkeeper program which is building up distance and speed slowly. Well, not speed so much for me yet! I'm really slow. My longest run so far is 10K, which I did last night. It felt pretty good, despite the heat. My legs were aching last night though!

What are other people up to? How's it going?

Hi. Not training for first HM yet but would love to get their eventually! Started running for first time ever 4 months ago when I kicked h out and wanted to do something just for me. Joined a 10 week beginner's group which was amazing and got me to do my first 5k parkrun. Now progressed to a 'real' running group that runs about 4 miles on a Wednesday night and then I try and fit in another couple of runs a week in. 4 miles is max I am up to at the moment though but definatley want to try and increase this and pick up my pace a bit but not sure how! I am limited to when I can train as I have 2dc's age 5 and 3 so can only run when they are either at their dad's or at school/ nursery. I work Monday- Friday 9-3 but sometimes get off a bit early and squeeze in a 5k before pick up!

Sounds good. It's so great to get out for a bit isn't it? I have to run in the evenings as I work and have DCs (5 and 2), but DH also runs (fast HM's!) so we alternate evenings. We run with the dog (if he wants to!) so it eliminates a dog walk in the day. Occasionally I can cram in a daytime 5k before the DC are home, but it's too hot at the moment!

I am training for the great south run in October. It's ten miles rather than a HM but if it goes well I think I will try for a HM in the spring.
I run usually three times a week. At the moment I do one fast 5K, one middling run of about 6-7K and then a long slow run if times permits.
I also try and either swim or do a bike workout at least once a week with some squats and lunges after to build up my strength.
I'm considering trying to fit in a Pilates classes weekly as well if I can find the time!
I keep looking online at training programs but I work an erratic shift pattern and also have to fit my training round a 6yr old so I never manage to stick with them!!

Ooh, I'm doing the Great Eastern! It's my second HM but I've been injured for weeks so I think it'll be tougher than training for my first. Grt Eastern is supposed to be very beginner-friendly. Do you live nearby?

I'm planning on doing the Peterborough one too

Did the mk half in May.... My first! Very very slow, but hey, I don't care! Lol

I found it too hot on the day tho. All my training was done early in the morning.

I'm doing the Great West Run in October, which will be my first HM. I'm just finishing off the last week of c25k to get back into running (hadn't run for a year as had a horrible pg with dc3, so started c25k from scratch when DD was 6 weeks old). Currently running 4x per week and am intending to work on my 5k time for a fortnight or so before beginning a 12 week training programme based on whatever 5k time I manage at a local parkrun in a fortnight. Am v nervous about HM but loving getting back into running!

Peterborough route is pretty flat, which will be nice for me as I run on hills! I'm not local but my family are. I'll be tuning with my stepdad, brother and DH who all ran it last year. I say 'with'. DH won't be with me - he's fast and does them a lot. Stepdad wants to run with me though.

I'm doing 3 or 4 runs a week at the moment. I wish I could motivate myself to do very early morning ones. But it hasn't happened yet!

I'm hoping to do the Wirral HM in October. I run regularly but have no specific HM training. I can do 8 miles with no problems (including a fair amount of hills) so my thought process is that another 5 miles on top when it's a flat route can't be that hard! I did 8 miles in just over an hour the other day so am aiming for a sub 2hr HM. Lots of time for practice between now and October (i think). Any recommendations for a good HM app?

Just to add, I find early morning running is much easier than at any other time of the day. My motivation decreases directly on proportion with the later in the day it is!

When/ what do you eat if you're running in the morning? My programme says it's only a 20 min high intensity run tomorrow, so I could definitely try that at 6am.

I normally have a smoothie if heading out for a morning run - I hate the idea of running on a remotely full stomach, so a smoothie is psychologically easier for me, even though it's still proper food! Mine is banana, hazelnut butter, yoghurt/cottage cheese, spoonful of cocoa and milk (plus spirulina and wheatgrass powders, but they don't exactly add much energy wise). I don't know if it would be enough for a long run though? Maybe if you took sweets or something...

I need to do some hill running - my preferred route is mostly on a river path, so is basically completely flat.

I have a banana or a Naked bar before my long runs. I wait to eat until I get back for anything less than 10K. But I always make sure I'm well hydrated before I leave the house.

Do you all take water on your longer runs? I'm finding in this heat that even a 30 min run is too long without water, I keep forgetting it and coming back parched.

A smoothie sounds a good idea. I could probably manage that early in the morning. Or just a banana maybe. I'm never hungry after a run but feel I ought to have something beforehand.

I haven't taken water on a run yet - but my longest has been 10K. It would be awkward to manage a water bottle and a dog lead.

I seem to always need water even on a short run so have a bottle carrier that straps round my waist which is great as wouldnt fancy carrying a bottle in my hand. Any tips from more proficient runners on increasing pace? Currently do about 10.45 minute mile on a 5k and if I try to it any faster I seem to have to slow again quickly and somehow my overall time is then slower!

I asked the same question of a much more proficient runner than me just the other day re: increasing speed. My stamina is increasing but my speed (currently average about 8:50 a mile) is static. He reckons that you need to develop your leg muscles - so some weight training is the way to go. Clearly you'll get a little faster just with keeping up the running practice, but to make significant gains, weights is the way to go. Which is sad, because i really, really don't enjoy weight training.

Thanks. Weight training? Not sure I can fit a gym session in aswell as have very limited free time without dc's and wwouldn't really want to sacrifice a run! Would including more hills help then instead as I would imagine this must help to strengthen legs more?

I hate the idea of a water belt/camelbak, but am toying with getting something like this bottle instead of a plastic doughnut one.

No real experience of trying to improve speed, but suspect hill training would be good. Also googled 'bodyweight exercises for legs' to find strength training you can do at home (one leg squats etc). I used to do a lot of bodyweight training before last pregnancy and it was great for toning.

I think I'm a bit held back speed wise by the worry that I'll wear myself out and not be able to complete the distance. I think I'll start to try to speed up on shorter runs that I know I can finish, and work from there.

Those of you in running clubs/ groups, how do you find it? There's a women's group here that I could try. But I don't really fancy it! I like the solitary aspect and running with my dog. But a group might help with speed I think.

Also don't particularly like the idea of running clubs! I like the headspace time when I run, after the noise of DH and three DCs at home.

I have found joining a club fantastic in keeping me motivated and I can certainly run much furthrr in a group than I can alone. Rrally friendly people aswell. I do enjoy running alone too so lovely to have a mix

Hopefully I have one of those bottles

I think interval training is supposed to help with speed.

I have a mix of group/solo too. Did hill training today, then I went and did my run

Speed is my downfall. Got stamina but that's it!

I think if I lose some more weight (2 stone to go) I might get faster?

There is a trail running club near here which I may brave next year - I quite fancy doing some running on the moors but am scared!

I can start off quite fast, but lose pace, so I'm the opposite - no stamina! I know it will come though, am still 30lb heavier than pre preg, and nowhere near as fit. Just as long as I manage to get round this HM in Oct I am promising myself I won't stress about an amazing time.

ohone do you get on with the bottle?