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?

Do has decided. He says they will park at Prestonpans train station and get a taxi to Musselburgh (the trains don't start till 11) and then we'll all get the train back to Prestonpans later. Pray for a dry day!

A confidence restoring 12 miler tonight. So, was last week's slog down to period, cycle ride the night before, or both. Period due back for race day - how do you guys find it affects your running?

Not my actual running so much Blue as my motivation.

I have quite light periods theses days though which helps.

I find runs more sluggish Blue, took me ages to work it out! I used to get worried that I was somehow getting worse at running, now I just expect less those weeks.

Thanks guys - gonna have to psych myself myself up then. Hopefully competition will help.

Hi everyone

emummy glad you got the transport sorted out. What a palaver - I'm going to be crossing the finishing line on my own, I think, as just too difficult otherwise. Hoping for plenty of crowd support. Unless the weather changes drastically over the next two weeks, it should be pretty perfect for running, temperature-wise.

I need to get everyone's advice about tapering. Yesterday I did a long run of 19.7km (a bit over 12 miles) in 2hrs 5 so I'm fairly confident I can go the distance, although yesterday's run felt hard - I could easily have put my feet up 6 miles in then I realised I was only at the halfway point! However, I managed it ok, the route was a bit hilly and I had a really strong wind in my face for the last 3 miles home, so conditions a bit more difficult again than they will be on the day.

My problem is that I actually missed a few weeks' training and feel I should have got a couple more long runs in. I did 16K in mid-April, then no long runs until last Sunday when I did 17.5 and then yesterday's of 19.7. But I know that I should be starting to taper now and I've read that it takes 2 weeks to get the benefits of a long run so anything I do now will be pointless. But is two weeks possibly too long for a HM taper? Should I do one more long run next Sunday then have a very easy final week before the race? My training programme says taper, of course, but then it doesn't know that I didn't run at all for 2 weeks recently, and missed out 3 Sunday runs? Help! What will I do?

lurking been thinking about this all day! My plan has a one hour easy run scheduled for next weekend, and slightly easier runs this week, so I think 2 weeks is not too long for a taper. How do you feel? Do you feel confident that you can do the distance? If so, I wouldn't do any more very long runs. If you are unsure, then maybe a 10 mile one, nothing longer and can you do it during this week rather than the weekend? I think it's good to get an easy week in ahead of the race, but I'm not an expert! I know I quite like the feeling of taking it easy the weekend before, it makes me feel more relaxed.

Definitely taper now. If you can run over 12miles, you can deffo go the distance.
Just do some nice, not too challenging runs - maybe a route you particularly enjoy?

I had a 10k in February, and accidentally tapered (as in I wasn't well and didn't run for a week apart from parkrun the day before). My legs felt amazing during the race. I'd never really believed in tapering before that.

Ah, thanks to both of you for your advice and kind words of encouragement.

I feel that I can probably do the distance - the funny thing is that no matter how far I run each time it always feels like I couldn't go another step afterwards, so even if I'm doing a quick 5k it seems just as much of an effort as the Sunday long run. But surely if I can do 12.2 miles I can get over the finishing line just with willpower and adrenaline.

I think I will do two runs this week, today and Thursday - just a couple of nice easy 45-minute ones, then on Sunday will do maybe an hour and a quarter - that should be around 12k. Then another couple of easy ones next week then it's race day. Eeek!

I am currently at the stage of feeling slightly sick every time I think about it and having to force myself to think positive thoughts and remembner that it's supposed to be fun. I might try and find some motivational podcasts to listen to on my next runs.

Hello everyone! How are we all doing? Not long until my (first) HM now - 7th June. I'm a bit scared, particularly since I looked at the course. Pretty damn hilly! I'm doing ok with increasing my distance though. I've been increasing my long run by 2k each week and have 16k planned for tomorrow - so it's beginning to feel like I might actually manage to do this!

Lurking - I feel exactly the same about just managing the distance, whether it's 5k or 15k! I suppose it's psychological - we manage what we're expecting to do.

holmes, you are a week after emummy and me, so we will report back and send you encouraging words!

I've definitely taken this tapering lark too far as I have not actually run at all since Sunday . Just getting ready to go out now, though, so that will sort me out. I did do a Pilates class yesterday, though, so it's not like I have been lounging around on a chaise longue all day every day (if only...)

Excellent - thank you, Lurking! I could probably do with some encouraging words! Am currently sitting on the sofa, trying to summon the energy for my 16k run and looking at the black clouds. It was supposed to be sunny today, dammit!

I ran 7.5miles on Sunday and forgot to say!
I'm planning on doing the same route later, but in the other direction - it's hilly either way, but variety is the spice of life eh?!

Really not long for you all now is it? Exciting times!

Not long at all ! My 16k nearly killed me! I swear I must have looked hilarious for most of it the last couple of k and my cool-down walk home. I could barely put one foot in front of the other!

DH has taken control of DS so I can run.

So why am I still watching octonauts in an empty house?

Ummm - because you have a secret crush on Captain Barnacles? Don't worry - I had trouble making myself go running today too. And I wasn't even watching the Octonauts.

Well I did it. Faster than Sunday, but I'm definitely leaving longer between long runs in future - my hips and knees were protesting a bit by the end.

Oh you did so well, the two of you . That's another good run ticked off the programme for you both. I managed an 8K earlier, every step of which was a struggle, but it got done. I may attempt a little light speedwork tomorrow if I can face it.

I remember my first proper long Sunday run. I literally had to come home, take up residence on the sofa and not budge an inch for the rest of the day before I staggered up to bed at night. It was exhausting. I think I've got a bit more used to it now as I can usually manage a little stagger round the supermarket afterwards, even if it's only to buy pastries as a reward .

Thanks lurking. I'm actually feeling slightly down after that run though. I felt lousy and achy afterwards and it was the first time I've finished a run and thought 'actually that really felt like it didn't do me any good'.

Although I'm pleased that I've been managing to increase my distance according to my schedule (which was far from a sure thing, given my past record), I'm worried that a relatively flat 16k took it out of me so much when I've got to do a hillier 12k in a couple of weeks!

I don't want to sound defeatist, but I'm already thinking that this will be my one and only HM and I'll stick to 10k after this.

Aww holmes hope the next one's better. You're racing the same day as me, but I know my course is going to be reasonably flat. I've got one last big run planned for tomorrow, then it's tapering.

holmes while its good that you're not putting crazy pressure on yourself, try not to be too downhearted.
Everyone has shit runs, it's the nature of the beast.

Some days I struggle round parkrun, other I feel like I'm flying on an 8 miler. Honestly, it's nothing to do with your ability.

Aww thanks folks. Have cheered up a bit, but I'm not looking forward to 18k next week!

So true. I've gone out for supposedly easy 30-minute recovery runs that are just a struggle from start to finish. ON Wednesday the first kilometre seemed never-ending and I was seriously wondering how I was going to manage another 20 of them on HM day.

Don't they say that it's good to get your crap runs out of the way in training then you'll have a much better time on race day? Let's all adopt that as an inspirational saying, anyway

That's a good theory, lurking - I like it!