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?

Another one?! Are you mad?!

10 miles is a good idea. I have two 10ks booked in so will start there and see how I get on. Maybe next year! Thanks all - I know rationally I should be feeling pleased but it's taking it's time to hit me!

Haha! Yeah, we'll see if I sign up for another HM immediately after finishing my first

10 miles is much more civilised, I have a couple in mind for the later in the year.

I too like 10 mile distance. However I am now trying to decide if I sign up for Bournemouth half in October or if I sign up for a further much harder challenge of the Purbeck 16 in September. That is a 16.5 mile multi terrain run its part on the coastal path, fields,heathland and road. The start is on a monster of a hill followed by many hills
After all its only another 3 and a bit miles extra than a half and I can walk the hills

Both Sven? I like the sound of the latter, but then I don't have to do it

I too am debating with myself today - another hm and try and get my time down or take the leap and attempt the Dublin marathon in October? Really not sure if my body is cut out for marathon distance but I would like to do just one to be able to say I've done it.

Go for it Sven, I have a 15 mile hilly trail race coming up in a month, and am looking forward to it, will definitely be walking the steeper bits. Of course, this all depends on my foot getting better - woke up today with nasty pain around the ball of my big toe, so popping neurofen, applying padding and doing exercise to stretch it out. Will be very cross if it doesn't get better soon, the training has been going so well and it's been really hard work!

Hey, I'm a noob to this exercise malarkey. I've signed up to do a HM in Oct and last week I'd not ran for more than 2min (because I thought I was going to throw up and die), just ran 2.5k this morning... Turns out I still think I'm going to throw up/faint/have an asthma attack, but I actually don't.
I'm actually going to die aren't I? In Oct? Ir worse, get caught by the sweeper . Too cocky, too quickly.

Alice are you following a training plan?
Did you run the whole 2.5k or was it a run/walk combination?
I would also say make sure you aren't running too quickly. Take it slow and steady to avoid injury. Also make sure you are hydrated enough. You need to get your body used to running.

sirona and emummy I am going to enter Purbeck 16
I won't do Bournemouth though as its only two weeks after.

I can run the whole 2.5, can't stop or I won't start again. Have looked into training plans but they are often in miles and start at a level I'm not at yet, maybe once I can run 5k comfortability I can look at downloading one.
I'm running at 9.5kph, apparently that's jogging!?

Yay go Sven, it sounds good!

What about looking at the couch to 5k programme to start Alice? I did it a couple of years ago - started c25k in Feb and was running hm distance by that October. If you're feeling confident about being able to do the 2.5k maybe skip the first few weeks although I would also stress about not doing too much too soon and building it up slowly. Otherwise it's a recipe for injury.

Sorry missed your post emummy, hope your foot recovers quickly

bunique you have done something that only 0.00000001% of the population have achieved (exact figure tbc). You should be very proud of yourself

Sven good call on the 16 miler. It sounds fab.

Sirona everyone is supposed to have a marathon in them. As long as you train well you can do one - if I can, anyone can. I did a 20 week plan and stuck to it religiously - like all running it's as much a psychological battle. and the advantage of an autumn marathon is that your training will all be in daylight .

emummy commiserations on your foot pain, hope it feels better soon

Alice welcome! I second the C25K advice - the cool running website has 5K, Hm and full marathon training plans so you can work your way up

Why is everything in miles? So weird. I tried c25k, couldn't handle the stop/start, I'd rather just run. Who would have thought I could complicate running so very much

Alice - you could work on the old 10% rule - adding either time or distance until you reach your goal

alice I just spied a couch 2 5k thread on MN, might be useful. It was in weight loss board rather than the exercise board. Once you're up to 4-5k training will get much simpler. I use the Nike running app to track my runs/times, it's all in km if that helps.

I tried the Nike running app but whenever I put in how far I'd run, it would change it to a seemingly random distance! Must have been a bug?
I'm now using sports tracker. There is a distinct lack of treadmill running apps. I've been through about 7 so far. Goggle fit was terrible.

I'll check out that one on the weight loss board thanks.

How did Ii miss this? I've got a half marathon mid May and another mid June. It seemed like a good Iidea at the time to sign up to two, not sure I still think that but...

I've done two halfs before and looking forward to doing the distance again. But I need to up my distance as I have only just got to 10k and only 8 weeks to the first half...

I'm trying not to worry!

Went away for a day and suddenly there are lots of new people and old people entering new races.

Not to be outdone I have also entered another HM even though I haven't done the first one. Its in the autumn, all off road and looks lovely although a bit hilly.

Well done Bunique, you finished and should be v proud of yourself. Gincamelbak - if you're already at 10k, a HM in 8 weeks seems doable to me (says she who has never even done a HM before).

Did 4 miles this eve in the dark again. At least its getting a bit warmer now but roll on clocks going back/ forward or whatever it is this weekend. Am meant to be doing "intervals" tomorrow night but don't really understand the instructions in the book.

Blimey we got busy. Fabulous

I simultaneously think the Purbeck run sounds amazing and terrifying Sven. But it's far enough away to tip towards amazing!! Beautiful area but definitely 'undulating'

I agree with CherryMinx that it sounds doable gincamelbak but also based on not having done one yet!

The runningbug site has plans for most distances for beginners, intermediate and advanced so that might be worth a look Alice? I struggle massively with miles to km, so used to km so I think I'm going to in I'm for my HM. I did a 10k at that speed at the weekend - I refuse to call that jogging . Are you doing all your running on a treadmill? I do interval training on one and find my speed is much lower than when I'm running outside.

How's your foot doing emummy? And your shoulder FiftyNine? I'd hunt out some Percy pigs, I'm quite partial to them.

What's your gut instinct Sirona? The training time is what I'd struggle with for a marathon but if that's your pull, it'd be a shame not to. Says me, see comment above about no half yet!

Your weather dos sound a massive challenge LadyCassandra

Hello bunique and Morris

10 miles does sound attractive Igotta, not seen many this way though. Must keep an eye out.

Getting the lie of the land is a good start Lonoxo. I like a few options of routes to keep things interesting.

Have you tried the app runkeeper Alice? I sometimes use the website mapometre to work out distance beforehand or the odd time my gps is playing up too. You can change the distance to km.

I wish that were true about the marathon distance fiftynine although that is comforting to hear. What 20 week plan did you use?

I looked up some training plans last night chutney. If there was one closer in time I would give it a go. Unfortunately the Belfast one is too close being only 5 weeks or so away. Decided October wouldn't be convenient. I'd struggle to find the time for training during the summer holidays as I'm a single parent. I'll leave it to next May I think so the training can be fitted in a lot while the dc are at school or nursery.

What are the instructions for the intervals cherry? Asks me who avoids them like the plague I'm loving the slightly warmer weather.

8 weeks from 10k sounds perfectly doable Gin, especially since you have done one before.

Going to do a bit of reverse taper this week, 20 mins today. Might even be warm enough to hunt out the 3/4s leggings :)

8km this morning and feel like I'm back on form. The weather has cooled down this week so it's nice to run again!
Funnily, we run along a walkway next to some rocks and then sea. The waves were huge, and as each one splashed up there was a blast of heat. The swimming group said the water is 25c and the air was only 16c so that must be why. It was really weird!
The lady I was running with said to me in the last 2km "LadyC, you are killing me!" and I said "it's not me, it's you!" So we were both pushing each other on without realising it!
Coach is away over Easter, so only doing 10km on Sunday. Hills on Friday

LadyC your run sounds like something out of Baywatch.

The intervals bit says 2 miles on 0.5 miles off which seems very long to me as have only done 1 minute intervals before. I gave up on the book and used the C25k step up intervals pod cast and then discovered I'd read the wrong bit of the book anyway. (The long intervals thing was for the 13 mile run in two weeks time and I think it just means run a bit faster for two miles and then run slower).

I am taking this whole training programme thing with a pinch of salt as I just want to finish the thing and preferably not come last. My strength training has degenerated to doing a few knee bend exercises whilst getting stuff out of the oven or watching TV.

Thought it was rest day today but now realise I should be doing 2 miles. Gah - will do it tomorrow.

Anyway well done the rest of you. Hoping for some nice weather on Friday for long run.

Cherry its bizarre where we live. Its like a little bubble where there are hardly any no fat people, and it is busier at 6.30am than it is at 12noon. Between 5.30 and 7am there are running groups, swimming groups, beach body groups, mums and babies groups, numerous old mature people walking up and down the beach. My stepdad came to visit when DS1 was young and we were up early because we'd been woken up and headed out for breakfast at 6am and he was astounded at how busy it was!
The beach is nicer than Baywatch

The beach sounds lovely LadyC, especially when I look out my window this morning at the rain. Very odd how busy it is in the morning. I take it there is a siesta type lunch time lull where you are?

Does sounds long cherry. I think that's the thing is to run it at a speed that's faster but not burning yourself out so you can't complete the last intervals. I prefer to do the more flexible and unstructured fartleks myself but that's probably because I don't do speedwork very often. I do proper timed intervals on the crosstrainer and spin machines instead as I find doing them running makes me a bit injury prone.

There's a lot to be said for just doing it to finish. Was talking to a physio yesterday and he was telling me that's the reason that doing 27 marathons in 27 days a la Eddie Izzard isn't necessarily a bad thing. We are designed to run and he was doing it to finish not for a time. The physio was saying a lot of injuries arise when we are doing running competitively and pushing our bodies for a time. On that note had a sports massages yesterday for my shin and IT band - holy moley that was sore. Didn't know to laugh or cry.

Thanksfor the positive boosts! I did 3k fast on mMondayand yyesterday and have an 11.5k planned for the weekend. I know I can do it, I just need to tell myself that abut more often!

I would love to run aalong the beach. I getto go along some rural roads which are peaceful and ireally enjoy that.

It'sgreat to see other half maras about.

Sirona I used the Cool Running Beginner marathon plan. I read up quite a bit before I started, and the advice was that you could do a 12 or 16 week plan, but they didn't allow any time off e.g. for illness/injury. I ran a November marathon, so all my training was over the summer - including on the beach while on our summer holiday .

A friend who has run several full marathons and qualifies for London on the basis of his times told me at one point that the achievement was not the 26.2 miles on the day, but all the training leading up to it, and he was absolutely right. Without wanting to make it sound like an Oscar acceptance speech, I couldn't have done it without DH who cheerfully waved me off on my Sunday long runs, cycled out to meet me with drinks and snacks, cooked me lovely roast dinners so I could stuff myself after long runs and listened to my endless wittering - all this despite being laid up for most of my training time because he was recovering from knee surgery after getting to mile 18 in a marathon where his knee gave up the ghost.

LadyC that sounds lovely especially when it is so wet and miserable here.

Morris I was talking to an ultra runner at the weekend, who told me that whatever the distance the last quarter of a run is the hardest, whether it's the last 1.25K of a 5K, or the last 12.5 miles of a 50 mile run . I always have to tell myself at the 10 mile point that there's only a parkrun left, and anyone can do a parkrun.