Half marathon panic

[Soindecisive]

I desperately want to complete my first half marathon in 5.5 weeks time as I'm 'running' for a charity. But, I know that I'm not ready for it yet.

I've run a few slow 5ks in the past and started training for this event 4 months beforehand. About 4 weeks ago I managed a distance of 8 miles (but with all the hills around here, it took 2 hours). So on my track record so far, I might make it round in 3 hours. My fastest mile has been 12 mins but I generally average 13mins.

I've found it very difficult to train during the summer holidays as I am with the dcs all the time and I've only had the weekends to train. When school/nursery starts back this week I should be able to return to 3/4 times a week.

Am I being completely daft to go ahead with this? Any advice on how to train in the final weeks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone

So, if you do 8 miles as your long run this week, 9 next week, 11 the next, 13 the week after, with 2 or 3 other runs of 5-10k doing hills or intervals, you'll be fine.

Well, if you managed an 8 miler you will get round the half. I have only done onehalf marathon and my longest run prior to it was 9 miles.

I was slow -and did run, walk, run but completed it.

Just get out there and try and do the same again a few more times before the marathon. Don't try to increase your distance by much now - concentrate on building stamina for the 13 miles.

You can do it!!!

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I had been looking at a few training plans last night and they started to worry me. I'm just aiming to get round in one piece... but I would also like not to be the last one as well!

When I did mine it was tough. Just keep going, try to enjoy it :) I am not a 'racer' and am happy to have a walk and chat with other slower runners along the route. It does make it less of a slog.

As you say, now the DC are back to school it will free up more time for you to train.

I see that the previous poster offered differing advice to mine, so yes, maybe up your mileage a little - but don't over do things. Also try and live as healthily as possible for the next 5.5 weeks - lots of water, sleep (?) and good food. It does make a difference.

I have a half booked for February - so am definitely going to train up better than i did before for this one!

Good luck.

Try doing 2 "shortish" runs a week - say 5 or 6 miles, and a long one at weekends. You've done 8 miles, make the next one 9 miles, the next one 10 miles etc. In 5 weeks time you'll be up to 13 miles and your body will have an idea of what's going on on race day.

I found going from 6 to 8 miles fairly easy; 8 to 10 was hard; 10 to half marathon easy. I run about 11-12 min miles and my Half time is around 2 hr:20 mins.

Is the half marathon route flatter than what you are used to? That would help hugely. Also the 'buzz' of a big crowd etc will help you keep going.

Good luck!

Thanks BikeRunSki - the course will be fairly flat. Where I train there are hills all over the place. Sometimes I manage to jog up them, but often I walk!

Hi OP

I was in almost exactly the same position as you this time last year! Is it the Royal Parks half marathon you're doing? I'd never run more than 10k before, I'd done one long run in July (about 8 miles I think) but had then struggled to keep up with the training during the summer holidays.

I second the advice about doing one long run and a couple of short runs each week, and building up the length of the long run each week. Then cut back down and do an 8-miler the week before the race to give your body a chance to recover. The longest run I'd done before the half was 12 miles, so I hadn't run a half marathon distance until the day of the race, but as BikeRunSki says the crowds will help you on. My main aim was to keep running, however slowly, and not start walking!

Good luck! You will be fine!

You don't need to be able to do the full distance in training, the adrenaline on the day is worth at least a couple of miles. I only did 10 miles in my training. Don't forget to rest up a bit the week before, the last thing you want to do is push yourself too hard by doing 13 miles the week before and then be too injured to run.

I agree that if you can do 8 miles then you can do 13. Good luck, you'll be fine :)

I'm in the same position as you. Is it the Peterborough one?

I'm following a BUPA plan - on the website. Have a look at them - you might find it reassuring. I'm doing a 10 mile this weekend and it builds up to 12 the fortnight before. The other runs are mostly 40 or 50 minutes. I'm quite slow - average around 11 mins per mile, but can do 10 mins sometimes. I live on Dartmoor though, so I'm hoping the East Anglian flatness will help!

I'm scared. Running for charity too, and with family who are all runners.

I've really enjoyed the training. Currently a bit injured (ankle - tendon) so seeing a physiotherapist this week. I need new trainers, but am worried about bedding them in.

Asleep, my advice is to buy yourself a really good pair of trainers. I invested in a decent pair last year, after only buying cheap ones in the past, and it has made such a difference to run in them. Good ones won't need breaking in either - mine were comfortable right from the beginning.

The Peterborough one is really flat and shouldn't be too windy because it's all within the city. I was meant to be doing it but I'm injured so DH has taken my place- he's not really a runner but reckons he can walk/run it in about 3.5hrs.

I'll cheer you both on :)

With 5 weeks to go, add 1 mile per week to your long run for the next 4 weekends, brings you to 12. That's plenty for a first HM.

Try and do some shorter runs in between times. Personally, I wouldn't recommend hill reps or any sort of speedwork at this stage. IMO you need a good base of 25+ miles per week before introducing speedwork or you'll end up injured.

Reduce your long run to around 8 miles the weekend before the race and do only short easy runs in the week before the race. Nothing after Thursday.

Enjoy the day. Be careful not to start too quickly and walk short spells if you need to. You won't be last. There'll be someone aged 80+ who entered specially for that privilege

I also have a HM in 5.5 weeks. Are you doing Cardiff?

Just keep going and stop worrying and looking at training plans.

"They" say if you can run 10 miles you can do a HM. 10 miles is usually what I aim for but 11.5 is the most I have run.

Im hoping to come in at under 2.15. So far im on track!

Just keep going and remember to run your own race. Not the person next to you x

Oh do you use gels? I do. HM training for me are gels every 2 miles after 5 miles so 5, 7, 9, 11. Take 10 mins to get into my system. You can take 3 every 1 hour of exercise. I use high 5 as theyre watery and not thick and sickly.

A gel every 2 miles? Really, no-one needs that. One every 45 mins if you're doing a full marathon. Not needed for a half IMO (although the marketing companies have done a great job!) Porridge for breakfast , a banana just before the start and one gel after 45 mins, if you must would be my advice.

If you are going to use them you must practise taking them in training runs - many a race experience has been ruined by upset stomachs suddenly hit with products they weren't used to.

I.know my body and its happy with what I.do thanks. And I do training runs.

I wasn't suggesting the OP takes them. I asked and said what I did.

Not everyone likes porridge and bananas.

OP you wont injure yourself doing hills. Just dont strain yourself. I do hills every run as its where I live so im used to it.

OP I'm in exactly the same boat!

Have only run 8 miles and that was 6 weeks ago - went away for 3 weeks and I've now hurt my knee a bit so not run for a few days.

I'm going to take the advice on here too and maybe we can manage it? Sure we will! Good luck.

Yes to experimenting during your training runs and seeing what works for you. I can't take water while I run, so I make sure I hydrate well in the days before a run. I like a few jelly beans during a long run ( 10k or more). Can't do bananas at all, they repeat on me!

You've been doing well in your training so far- if you can keep that up and increase your long runs a bit each week, you're fine.

Melanie. Many people have that problem with bananas. I cant really eat before a run. Prefer not to cos of that reason!

Everyone has their own way of doing things and those things may not work for other people. Thats why its important to find your own thing.

I'm not great with food before a long run, but scrambled eggs seem to work for me

If you are training on hills then the flats will be easier. My half isn't until the end of October but my friend, who I train with, has one this weekend and we are ready for the distance with 9 weeks training. Our half will be very hilly and have ran up some pretty horrible ones and always get a fast 5km time afterwards.
We used both used MY ASICS hers was for this weekend and mine was for the end of October. We will swap to mine next week and have taken 30 mins off our predicted time already.
Good luck but I think you have it in the bag really.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and really helpful advice. I'm feeling much more positive now! It's the Royal Parks Half Marathon I'm attempting BTW.