Half marathon - any one doing one?

[Cherryminx]

There was a thread last year which I looked at in admiration as I struggled through C25K and then went on to run a 10K. So I can hardly believe that in a fit of madness I've signed up for a half Marathon in May.

Training starts tomorrow! Would anyone like to join me?

Jaggy that's brilliant. Well done!

Impressive time jaggy.

I too am going to try eating something en route as I was managing about 10.5 mins a mile until the last one when I just got really slow. Plus I did have to stop for a few mins to visit the loo .....

Well done fiftynine. I hate when your Garmin measures short, mine always does it at parkrun. Hope the knee and toes are feeling better today. Have to say I normally wouldn't thank you for hot cross buns but I'm sure I would scoff them at the end of a race. I normally spend the last half of my longer run hungry and planning what I'm going to eat when I get home. Bacon and eggs usually feature heavily :)

Go for it cheeryminx. I'm hoping for new shoes for my birthday myself. well done on the ten miles and you too emummy on your long run.

That's a fantastic time Jaggy, good going!

Ten miles done this morning and that's the last longer one I'll be doing. Hated every single second of it. Shattered as I was up most of the night with coughing dd and have a bit of a sore throat myself. Nearly talked myself into heading home countless times. Not winning any awards for pace or time but got round it by shovelling a few caffeine gels into me. Done now anyway, thank goodness.

Just back from 4 mile off road in the dark across the fields and through the woods with my local running club. Lots of fun and not too strenuous. A really nice change from pounding the roads and good to have someone to chat to as an excuse for running slowly. Can't wait for the summer.

I'm thinking that once I've done my HM I might treat myself to a pair of trail shoes and try to do some of them.

Also someone mentioned its clocks go forward on 27 March - yippee! Lets hope it brings some warmer weather.

Hello, can I join? I'm signed up for my first ever HM in May. Have run a 10 mile race but that was in October and I took the rest of the winter off! Started running again about 6 weeks ago, doing a 10k off road race this weekend. Not fit enough but I think the scenery will be nice!

Meant to say - try to do some local off road races. Bad post editing!

Welcome igotta. 10 mile race is impressive in my book. My HM is in May too - middle w/e. When is yours?

Mine is May too! Which one are you doing Gotta?

I've got myself up to 7k distance now. Only twice that distance again to go...

I knew what you meant Cherry

Hello igotta

I ran for the train tonight and it hurt . Am going to take running gear to work with me tomorrow and try to get out over lunchtime if the weather is OK.

I'm doing the Leeds HM, 8th May eek! Which ones are you all doing?

I'm (thinking about) doing Edinburgh at the end of May.

Welcome to hell!

Only joking

Don't want to out myself but mine is rather more southern than your two. Its quite smallish and am a bit intimidated by the rather good times - not much of a fun run. In fact am not sure why I entered it now - sounded like a nice place to do some running.

5908 - running for public transport is always rather depressing - too fast/ no warm up/ not even a moment to neck an energy gel. Tis sprinting for endurance runners. Plus you have just done an HM. Hope there was a seat on the train.

There is some impressive times on here well done.
I went out for a 5 mile on Monday and will stick to 3 miles in the morning. Then just one more run on Friday thats then my tapering done.
I got my race pack through yesterday. First time ever of having my name on the bib too.
I'm running Weymouth half.
If all goes well I will be entering Bournemouth half in October.

It's great to hear how everyone's doing, it's all ramping up isn't it?

The Bournemouth route looks beautiful, I didn't realise it got so far towards Hengistbury Head, hopefully not too blowy for you Sven.

Mine sounds similar to yours CherryMinx. I have registered this week but took another look at the time. I'll be right at the back but it's just too compelling a route not to. And I am used to being near the back!

I've been debating a trail race on Sunday. 15k and ahem challenging elevation. Still undecided and its tipping down here now which isn't helping.

Welcome Igotta. I did that last year and took the winter off :)

Might do one in May myself but haven't decided for definite. I kid of hate the last few weeks of training for a half. By this stage I'm getting fed up with it but come the finishing line I'll have a total change of heart and wondering when the next one is I can do.

Don't worry Cherry, mine is the same with the v impressive times as it's mainly used as a training run for the city marathon. I'll be near the back and I've made peace with that.

Exciting having your race pack arriving Sven. I've to pick mine up on the day which means I have to get there earlier and hang about. The places are totally booked up now and entries have closed due to unexpected numbers. First time ever apparently.

Haven't been running myself as I spent yesterday shivering under a blanket feeling awful. Much better today bar the sore throat and stuffed up nose and ears but not pushing it. Having that antsy 'omg what if I lose fitness' freak out feelings and trying to remind myself at this stage most of my training is done anyway.

I'm planning on running the Scottish Half Marathon in September I considered signing up for the Edinburgh Half Marathon in April but decided against it as I should really focus on finishing up the year at university with good grades, I normally run three times a week but I'm thinking of cutting that down to two I'm going to look into doing a few 10ks and 10 mile races between now and then to make sure I'm staying focused.

What distances do you do in your 3 runs a week April? And what would you do if you did 2?

Did another 7k this morning. Felt a bit ploddy, but was a minute quicker than the last one So that's progress even though it didn't feel like it during! Unfortunately I go away with work now for 10 days (and no chance to run when there) so hope that doesn't set me back too much.

Does anyone (or everyone!) on this thread use those GPS tracker watch thingies? I just use my phone but it's not that accurate, I'm wondering if the watches are worth the money.

I've got the basic Garmin forerunner. I love it, find it very useful. I'm rubbish at judging my pace and it helps keep me on track. Also handy when I'm travelling and don't want to rely on my phone. But mostly I like looking at the stats afterwards. I do like a nice colour coded map!

Also have the basic forerunner this one as I'm not fussed on carrying my phone with me.

Had it about two years and has been brilliant bar the very odd time it takes forever to link up to the satellites. You can buy more expensive ones that do heart rates and that but I don't take it that seriously. I do like being able to glance at my watch and see the distance and also love looking at the stats on gamin connect

Well I've just got back from doing my 10k off road race. Beautiful day and I've really enjoyed it. Did it faster than I thought I would (59 minutes!) which is great cause there were a couple of big long hills. Need to step up the training now - 8 weeks to go till the HM!

That sounds fabulous Igotastar, great time, I couldn't manage that on the flat!

Fantastic time Igotta, well done!

Well done Igotta, a great time!
Beautiful day up here too, after recent temperatures this morning's 8 degrees felt tropical! Finished the week with a great 13 mile hilly run (1300 ft!), and was pleasantly surprised at my time. I think the long downhill back into town helped a bit! It has made me feel more confident about my race though, so that's good.
Hope everyone has had a good week

That sounds great emummy, good times are such a boost. I do like a nice long downhill as a reward after going up.

I'd pencilled in today to do the first 10 mile run and chose a bit of the canal I haven't run down before - the last two times I've been out I've hit either end of the canal and it was a pain. Trouble was this bit was grass underfoot and it was really sticky. I had to watch my footing and it took forever to get intoany rhythm. I was tempted right at the start to do a shorter run but that first ten seems such a big milestone and I'm not far off my HM so I pressed on. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't fast but I did it. I'm ignoring the time but mentally I'm so glad I did it, it'll help just knowing even if it doesn't feel great I can push on. I'm sure I've read uneven surfaces are good for your muscles too.

10K charity run for me next weekend, then I'll do another 10 miles the following weekend and pick a solid surface (my HM is road), shorter run the weekend after that, then it's the HM. Gulp.

Well done Igotta, emummy and chutneypig. I always like to think the tough runs when you aren't really enjoying it are the ones that make the difference when training. It is probably nonsense but it is what I tell myself if I am having a bad run!
I did 10 miles today and was a minute faster than last week, probably as it wasn't as windy. I might have been a bit faster but I stopped briefly to give a tourist directions. Pleasant conditions today with a nice temperature and a breeze rather than a gale.
I am doing the Edinburgh half in May. If that goes ok, I might sign up for the Scottish half in Glasgow in September.

Well done runners!

I did my night run last night, we were really slow (getting on for an hour over 7K), but it was great fun, and seeing all the headlights bobbing along was a sight to behold.

Unfortunately I slipped on some mud and as I was going down I must have put my arm out to take my weight (fortunately there is plenty of padding on my bottom, which ended up literally covered in mud ). My shoulder really hurts and I can hardly lift my arm up. Poor DH also took a tumble when out running yesterday and has an egg-sized lump on his knee and grazes on both hands and knees, so we have had a quiet day today.