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Original poster

Would anyone like to join me in training for a half marathon?

380 replies

lurkingfromhome · 28/02/2015 09:18

It was a thread on this board that basically got me through the C25K programme a couple of years ago. Lots of lovely supportive women pushing each other on.

Now, I've just started training for a half marathon that's at the end of May. I was a fairly confident runner before Christmas as I was doing 12k on my long run, even though I wasn't training with the HM in mind, but then took three weeks out over Christmas and seemed to lose all my fitness and go back to square one almost overnight Angry. Still not back at the level I was before then but at least I'm feeling enthusiastic again, running 4 times a week (8.5k the longest run so far, though) and I need a goal so I've started a 12-week HM programme and today is the end of my first week.

Is anyone doing anything similar who might like to form a virtual support group and get a bit obsessed together?

OP posts:
Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 20/03/2015 11:10

Yay, more newcomers to the thread. Welcome all Grin

I did a good fartlek workout on Wednesday. Managed not to have to slow down to a walk in the middle so definitely improving even though I didn't go quite so far. Today I have to go out and run up and down hills for half an hour. I cannot say I am looking forward to it today but the race I'm doing a week on Sunday (aaaaaaargh!) is a gentle bu constant incline for the whole 13.1K so I think I need to get better at gradients.

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emummy · 20/03/2015 11:17

Well done lurking and good luck with the hills. 5 miles of mixed pace running from me this morning in lovely warm sunshine. Having a rest now till Sunday when there's another hour long easy run. Th explain has intervals on it for next week, yuck!

phlebasconsidered · 20/03/2015 17:01

I have signed up for a 10k in a few weeks, got to get cracking and run that distance. Furthest so far is five miles. Aiming for five and a half this Sunday. Hoping to start fartlegging or whatever on Monday. My hmmm isn't till October so plenty of time to lose more weight and build up. I keep telling myself this. Aiming for a fourteen mile total this week.

emummy · 20/03/2015 21:39

You can do it phlebas!
Edinburgh keep sending out these cheery little news letters, today's says only 10 weeks to go! Eek! Am more excited than scared just now, thought that may change

phlebasconsidered · 21/03/2015 07:22

Ten weeks! Say it as two and a half mo, sounds better...
Are you planning to taper your runs the weeks before?

emummy · 21/03/2015 07:38

Yes to taper - a one hour easy run the Sunday before, then 3 30 minute ones during the week according to the plan. And the second last week is a bit easier as well.

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 23/03/2015 09:53

Training fail from me this weekend as had a gruesome hangover yesterday and could not even contemplate a long run. Aaargh (I don't drink very often, which explains why I am such a lightweight when I do Sad). So yesterday's long run will now take place at lunchtime today. It's fine, although I do feel that the plan has been knocked out of whack a bit, even if only by a day, so I'm a bit cross with myself.

This week, then, I will do a 12K run today and tomorrow I'll do a recovery run. However, I have this 13.1K race on Sunday so I need to think about whether to do a mini-taper or whether I can just follow the plan as usual (fartlek on Thursday, hilly tun on Friday) since the race will effectively be next weekend's long run as part of the HM training.

OP posts:
BlueChampagne · 23/03/2015 12:54

A tough 10.5 miler on Friday; definitely off my normal pace. Putting it down to having given blood the week before, and hoping next Friday's goes better. Still good to be out in the sunshine, mostly off road, and I found a patch of white violets.

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 23/03/2015 13:50

Well done BlueChampagne. I can't actually imagine ever being able to run for 10 miles, but when I started the C25K I couldn't imagine ever being able to run for 25 minutes so I suppose it will come!

I'm just back from a 12k. Plenty of energy but it took the first half before my legs stopped hurting so I don't think I warmed up enough. Must bear that in mind for future long runs.

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BlueChampagne · 24/03/2015 12:13

I wouldn't have believed it a couple of years ago either!

emummy · 26/03/2015 12:41

First interval session for a while, oh it was not fun! I always feel chuffed when I've finished, but not looking forward to doing it again next week!

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 26/03/2015 16:32

Intervals just make me want to weep. I did a run yesterday that was 30 minutes, with the last 10 at a faster speed (threshold speed according to my programme but I prefer to call it "slightly faster than a plod"). That was not so bad as I knew that once it had finished I'd be home.

Tomorrow is my last run before my 13.1K race on Sunday morning. I think I'd better make it a hilly one as I'm a bit worried about running for 8 miles uphill all the way, even if the gradient is not too steep. I just realized that not only does the race start at 8.30, it will actually be 7.30 with the clocks having gone forward, so I will be exhausted before I start. I'm going to have to listen to some motivational podcasts before Sunday as I'm struggling to remember why this was a good idea Grin

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IrianofWay · 26/03/2015 16:48

Good luck!

I'm booked in for 2 10ks so far this summer but not thinking about a HM. I can run 10k OK (do it most weekends) but I am not fast. If I did a HM I'd be just about finishing as the were dismantling the public address system and sweeping up the paper cups Grin

emummy · 26/03/2015 20:59

Good luck lurking you can do it!

EdithDickie · 26/03/2015 21:46

Check out the results from the previous year for hm you like the look of Irian, give you an idea of the field. Eg Plymouth I know I'll be OK as lots of finishers in previous years that were my speed or slower.

emummy · 29/03/2015 11:46

Week 4 complete, 19.6 miles and the first lot of intervals done. Next week's long run is 8 miles, then up to 10, should be interesting! And have had my first donations, very exciting!

loveableshoulder · 29/03/2015 15:26

H w did your race go, lurking?

After a shoddy couple of weeks of eating and drinking you much and not enough threshold, I had a 10k race this morning. Then my watch wouldn't work so I had no timer :(

Thought I'd just go for it. Pb: 50:59. So chuffed!

Renewed focus and motivation for my half on 19 April. Plus, I've decided to join a running club :)

emummy · 29/03/2015 16:06

Fantastic loveable, well done! A PB is a wonderful thing! That's set you up nicely for the half.
Hope you enjoy the running club, a lot of people seem to find them useful, as well as good fun.

EdithDickie · 29/03/2015 16:36

Well done loveable, fantastic!

loveableshoulder · 29/03/2015 17:20

Thanks! Considering I've been eating like a bastard, it's a pleasant surprise. And a really interesting lesson about using GPS: had my watch been working I'd have slowed down, thinking I didn't have it in me. So I'm vowing to run eith it a little less often- or check it less, at least.

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 30/03/2015 08:03

*loveable, that is totally amazing, well done! Ridiculously fast! Interesting what you say about just going for it - I think I quite often hold back a bit as I'm just convinced if I push myself too much my heart will explode or something. I should take a leaf out of your book.

My race went so well, I'm pleased to report! I'd had practically no sleep the night before (it was the same kind of no sleep as you get the night before you go on holiday ... constant panic that the alarm won't go off and you'll miss the flight), plus the clocks going forward gave me another hour less. I was feeling quite eeuuurrrrrk about the whole thing. But it turned out to be not that difficult - actually much easier than my training runs. I did the 13.1K in 1 hour 19 and was around 900th out of 1300 runners. Was pleased to note that I was overtaking all sorts of young 'uns half my age Grin

Also my fears about the hills were for nowt as there were only a couple of very short inclines so it was more than manageable. And I even managed a sprint finish. I can see why people do this now!

So now on to Week 6 of the HM training plan. This week's long run is a 90-minute one but there is the dreaded speedwork to tackle before I get to that. Good luck this week everyone!

OP posts:
emummy · 30/03/2015 12:13

Brilliant lurking, a great result! And a sprint finish, very impressive! Hope it has given you more confidence for the hm. Enjoy the speedwork!

BlueChampagne · 30/03/2015 15:49

Well done lurking and loveable! I did 11.3 miles on Friday and it felt better than the previous week. Even did it without headphones as I'd forgotten them. Hope I'll speed up as the ground hardens and training continues, or I'll be slower than last year.

emummy · 05/04/2015 17:33

Well, week 5 done, went well with good interval session and nice 8 miles this morning, but have unfortunately had a fall this afternoon and injured one ankle and the other knee. Am not happy! Hopefully with luck I will still manage Edinburgh.

ThereisnoFinWay · 14/04/2015 17:11

sorry I lost you all for a bit there.

Week 2 of my training and already a fail! I was supposed to be doing tempo intervals but I got my first one all wrong, way too fast, nearly fainted and then my garmin battery went so I ended up bailing. Feel a bit rubbish for it but will try again Thursday.

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