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

[lurkingfromhome]

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 . 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?

Hope you're feeling better, lurking.

Did 13.3 today, not my best run (was doing lamp posts by the end) but I stubbornly did the distance. Not as fun as my last long one, but the bluebells were still beautiful.

One month till my HM.

Well done BlueChampagne, sometimes you just have to grind it out! And still a month to go, so you're well on track! Milne is 3 weeks tomorrow, so another 12 miles at mixed pace this weekend, then a 2 hour then a 1 hour long run on the plan. Am starting to feel a little nervous, but more excited I think.
Hope you're continuing to recover lurking

Nice 12 miles this morning, felt a bit easier than the last one with the hamstrings less stiff so that's good. Did a test I saw in Runners world that suggested my gluteus weren't strong enough so have been doing exercises on them and I think that may be why the hamstrings are happier.
Got me race number yesterday, very excited. Am 47723!

Well done everyone - some fine distances being put in this week.
My running bud and I just did 10k rather slow and steady but we had a lot to catch up on

Quite agree emummy. Did get my boys (5 and 7) to junior park run on Sunday which was a bit of fun! It was sunny and they got ice creams at the end, so they are keen to go again.

hi everyone am new to this thread

I did a half yesterday and found it tougher than running the same distance during my training runs. Think perhaps a combination of factors - I usually run at 6am on empty stomach even for long runs but for a 9am race had to have a small breakfast which felt alien in my body, it was quite warm by then, I usually run alone, at least 5 miles was uphill and probably the emotional stress of the race. Couldn't get my garmin to switch on at the start so was running having to gauge my pace and suspect I went off a bit fast and at one point could feel bile on my mouth and felt quite sick. Did it in 2 hours 5 mins. Would have liked sub 2 but at one point wanted to stop so am just glad I kept going.

Anyhow it is done now - haven't done one since 2002 although kept up my running during that time though usually 4 x 6 mile runs a week. Think 10k is really my distance as feel comfortable doing that on top of my body pumps/combats/body steps. I like variety.

Feeling quite hungry today and a bit down for some reason but did body balance and body pump this morning and will do 5 or 6 miles on Wednesday.

Good luck to all those training.

Feeling very fortunate too as all toe nails intact and my nail varnish still fine!

Well done brunette, at least you did it! Sorry you didn't get the time you hoped for, although 2:05 sounds pretty respectable to me. Race day can be so different from those nice solitary training runs. I did a recent 10k and was trying to say in my head that it was just a normal run, but it didn't quite work! Not surprised you are hungry, am sure you have earned a bit of extra grub.

Have downloaded my race details for Edinburgh, have you lurking? My big worry is working out how do & the dcs will get around. They plan to be at the finish, then we are driving to North Berwick to meet my brother, but it seems you can't park in Musselburgh so am trying to work out what they should do. These big races are very confusing!

Thanks emummy

Yes races are stressful and confusing! I didn't race for 13 years and realised why yesterday! I love my running but I love being on my own 6am seeing wildlife, peace and quiet, reflecting on life. There is (for me) something stressful about races that takes away the enjoyment so I will need to think about if I want to do the half I have entered for September.

I hope you all carry on training successfully and injury-free.

Have to say the support yesterday from the marshalls and local residents was very good. Also only around 1200 runners limit so after about 2 miles we were nicely spread out. This was my local half-marathon and the limit on entrants was a big plus factor for me - some of the others locally eg Reading are too big for me and if your race number is 47723 I can't imagine the start - are they doing it in timed groups or colours? We all just stood in a big group and off we went. Good luck

Will keep reading this thread to read updates.

We are all in colour bands depending on our predicted times, and there are 2 separate starts on 2 roads, then we merge! I chose Edinburgh for the flatness if the route, and it will be quite an experience to be in such a big event. After that though I hope to do our local half, which I can walk to, and will be a lot smaller!

Hello everyone! God, what a time I've been having. No sooner did I get over my flu than (on my 2nd run back out there) I did something to a muscle and had to limp home in agony. Was convinced I had done some awful damage but apparently just a spasm thing so a bit of urgent physio sorted it out. But again I had to take it easy for a few days just at the time when I really needed to be back out there and getting match fit again.

So Sunday was my test long run - I thought if I couldn't do it I might as well give up the half marathon as there just wouldn't be enough weeks left to train properly. However I managed 10.8 miles (17.5k). Was supposed to be a 12 miler for that run but I think that's pretty ok and I felt great afterwards. I'm much slower than I have been though - was doing 6:15/k until the flu hit and now I'm at 6:30. This Sunday I'm going to try 11.5 miles, the following one 12.5, will try to pick up the pace slightly and we'll just have to forget any serious tapering as I really need to get these two long runs in. Aaaargh.

emummy I too have my number in - I'm 47773 (nearly the same as you!). I've downloaded the race details and saw to my horror that no traffic is allowed into Musselburgh! My husband was going to drive in, meet me at the finish line (with a warm jumper) and then take me away for brunch. However it would be such a pain for him to get there as we live quite far out of Edinburgh (right on the other side), so he'd have to drive into town, leave the car somewhere, get a train and then have a 20-minute walk - all first thing on a Sunday morning. Much as I would love to have him there, it is just so much of a faff that I think I might just get back under my own steam and meet him in town later. Quite disappointing though. I'm going to paint my name on my running top so that at least the crowd of strangers will be able to cheer me on.

brunette you sounds disappointed, and yet 2:05 is such an amazing time that I can only dream of achieving. I absolutely agree about racing being a whole different world. I did Parkrun a few times and absolutely hated it. Our local Parkrun gets a lot of serious, very fast runners and I found it so dispiriting to be instantly overtaken by hundreds of people sprinting past me. I know you're not meant to think of Parkrun as a race but it's hard not to! I have realised that I am definitely more of a plodder and am hoping that because we'll be sectioned off in the HM, I'll be surrounded by thousands of other plodders...

What are we all doing this week, training-wise? I did a 45-minute run yesterday and will do a bit of the dreaded speedwork tomorrow. Haven't done any of that for a month but it might help get my pace back a bit.

hi lurking poor you sounds like an ordeal for you with your flu and muscle problem.
Yes for some reason feel disappointed and a bit low - have done faster 13 miles in training and had hoped I would have enjoyed it more but legs feeling pretty good today so did 6.30am body pump. Intending to do first run tomorrow 5 or 6 miles and might do a couple of classes at the gym later on.
Wasn't too hungry Sunday but was hungry and tired all of yesterday so treated myself to a sticky toffee pud and a bit of cookie dough ice cream as I actually felt I needed it.
Looked up my chip time online and I finished halfway out of all the runners (1200).
Going for a massage tonight after work (not a sports one though ouch!) then day off tomorrow although OH threatening to go IKEA and wants me to go but doesn't appeal.
Thanks for the nice message.
Good luck for tomorrow let us know how you get one.

lurking I emailed East Lothian council about this, they passed it on to someone in transport who said the Wallyford park and ride will be available that day. So he is planning to go there and walk to the finish.

And will look out for your number lurking and give you a cheer if I can speak!

Ah, so it's possible to drive in to Wallyford park and ride and then walk? I had the idea that the whole of Musselburgh would be sealed off.

Likewise I will look out for you! You have an easy-to-remember number

Well I did 9m this weekend, so with 6 weeks to go I am feeling quietly confident :)

Lurking you sound like you have had a real time of it, but onwards and upwards!

Hello everyone - sound like getting to your start line is as much of an opperation as running the half itself lurking and emummy!

Hello brunette and noFinway

I just did 3.5miles. 1.5mikes to a bottom on a hill, 6x 30 sec hill sprints with 2mins recovery, then interval running the 1.5 miles home.

I'm broken.

:) I did 7 60sec hills last night. awful isn't it.

I can't decide if intervals or hills make me want to weep more, to be honest. Plodding along a lovely flat road is much more my cup of tea .

Thursday and NoFinWay you both deserve a medal for your services to running

Awful. Simply the worst. At the end of my last rep I paused the garmin and sat down in the road.

I only did intervals on the way home because I was too dizzy to run, but walking was taking too long

Oh lord Thursday hill sprints and intervals in the one session! Madness! Glad you survived, am impressed you could make yourself do it! I quite like the hill repeats, but really don't like intervals. Was running along on Tuesday praying for my watch to buzz so I could slow down!

Total madness, but I've just-been-running for a few months now, and doing lots of what I call vanity work outs in the run up to wedding/honeymoon so I feel like I really need to get 'in training' IYSWIM.

Also, my running bud and I really enjoy our long plodding runs together (more time to chat away from toddlers ) and I'm tailrunner at parkrun this week so no speed challenge there.

Anyways, I've already eaten back any calories I burned oops

oh well done Thursday and Thereis - I must confess my training has consisted of just doing longer runs - no fartlek, tempo, easy variations - I guess I push myself out of my comfort zone by doing more miles rather than different paces - I know I should though!

Couple of quite good runs this week - not very long ones (3-5 miles) but with a little bit of speedwork and a few hills (these are hills that you'd barely notice if you were walking up them but when running they feel like the north face of the Eiger). Sunday's long run is looming. I'm going to attempt 11.5 miles and see how I get on.

emummy are you sure you can get access to Wallyford station on EMF day? I can't find anything that says this will be allowed (and am also wondering what would happen if you got there and there weren't any spaces - it's not a huge station and presumably loads of people will have the same idea). I have emailed the council but of course no one has replied. I'll maybe try and give them a call later just to make absolutely sure.

emummy I just got this reply from the council. It looks like your family won't be able to drive to the P&R at all - just thought I should let you know so you can have a think about alternatives.

*Due to the size of the Edinburgh Marathon Event on Sunday 31 May 2015, extensive traffic management arrangements have been introduced throughout Musselburgh, including widespread parking restrictions.

Unfortunately there is no parking in Musselburgh associated with this event including the Wallyford Park and Ride where parking is prohibited to assist the movement of buses associated with the event. I have forwarded your details to the event Organisers who will be able to assist with arrangements getting to and from the event start and finish. If your request is not associated with the event please provide me with the details of your visit and I may be able to assist, however please be aware that prolonged traffic delays will be inevitable in Musselburgh that day and most public transport is running as normal.*

Aargh! Honestly, lurking, I am more stressed about this transport than about the race! Thank you very much for letting me know, am off to do battle with various bus websites now!
Last of the big runs before tapering today, did a 2 hour easy run, managed nearly 10.5 miles. Must get some insect repellent though, I swallowed one fly and another flew up my nose! At least it was sunny!