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?

Well done for your 13m cherry ! That last .1 will be a breeze now!

Chutney I'm also doing a 10k on the 15th, unfortunately just one week after my half which is next weekend. Not keen on doing two races so close together but the 10k is my local fun run which is a big thing round here, so I want to give it a go. Not expecting a good time as I'm sure my legs will still be a bit tired, but then again my time last year was dreadful so stand quite a good chance of beating that!

chutney I'm doing a HM next Sunday as is laughing.

I had a disastrous run on Friday, bowel issues back with avengance - had to walk home I'd been trying to do a 4.5mile circuit in under 40 mins. I've done it in 42 mins before and I was feeling pretty good at half way but had to give up pronto.

Tentatively went out this morning and did 6 miles with no issues. Race is next Sunday so that's me more or less done. How did the immodium experiment go cherry? I might try it this week just to be sure on race day.

I was thinking of doing a totally flat HM (next Sunday has some hills for the first few miles) in the autumn. Partly to do the distance again but a much easier course and to hopefully improve my time. Instead I've signed up to do a triathlon! Never done one, haven't swam for ages (does centre parcs watersides count?!) and don't own a bike at the moment - what could possibly go wrong?! I don't feel like I'm a natural runner and find motivation hard sometimes so I need a bit of variety. I still have a couple of 10 mile races in mind for the summer so will keep plodding on after next weekend.

I thought there were more this month, exciting.

I'd have felt up to a 10k the following week, especially a more fun run type - what got me was doing kettle bells the week after!

Those ten mile races sound good tor keep things topped up Igotta. Do you like cycling?

I've never been anything other than an occasional recreational cyclist! Maybe it's the tour de Yorkshire inspiring me!

One advantage to triathlon is the reduced stress on your joints when cycling and swimming. All the runners I know suffer with dodgy knees! I'm hoping that mixing up the training will improve my running too. Not sure how I'm going to fit it all in but I have 5 months to do it so it should be fine.

Hope everyone's enjoying the bank holiday - weather a bit wild here!!

Hello everyone, I seem to have dropped off the thread since my HM. i've hardly done any running since except for parkrun and my foot is still hurting a bit on and off. I have a 10K training run with a friend planned for Wednesday so hoping that will help my mojo return

Sounds like there has been some excellent running going on.

igotta I keep thinking about trying a sprint triathlon - there's a local one which starts and ends at my local parkrun park. But I nave never got round to getting my act together to register for it, let alone train

Robin Hood in September you say chutney? My friend did that one last year.

I must have been in your neck of the woods yesterday, we had a wet and windy afternoon at the National Water Sports Centre waiting for DS2's race to be cancelled

Good running all!
Debating next half - it's between Glasgow in October or the Glen Coe half on the same day, two slightly different races! Leaning towards Glen Coe, although it's a bit scary!

I'm really sorry if this has been discussed loads of times before (my I pad keeps crashing when I read back through the thread) but which half marathon training plans have you used? Any you'd recommend? I need something fairly gentle as I'm still seeing physio for my knee - I have the go ahead to run 3 X a week but I have to build the milage slowly. I've done a few park runs recently in about 35 minutes if I push myself or 40 minutes if I take it easy so much quite slow. I'd like to speed up but my main focus is just to complete the great north run without any more injuries. I have about 19 weeks left so I can take it easy and repeat weeks.

I used the Kara Goucher plan in her book backinschool - that was three runs a week and was a 12 week plan. I adapted it for parkrun, so used that as my fast run, one speed interval session mid-week and the longer run on Sundays. It was really straightforward. I can pm more details if it sounds like it suits you. I'm definitely at the slower end of the pack but it was enough to push me a little but not too much. Helped my parkrun times a lot.

Glen Coe sounds more scenic emummy but I'm guessing more hilly?

It's always windy there FiftyNine which I guess is the point for sailing but not so great for running! My friend is a member of the running club there. It can be brisk . I have literally just signed up for the Robin Hood HM (plus everyone else for the mini again). Did your friend enjoy it - they changed the route last year I think, though I think they've gone for some adjustments again this year. I feel like I'm drifting a bit after the HM - like there's no real focus. It can't help if your foot still feels odd.

Actually now I think more about it, that sounds incredibly sensible about the triathlon training Igotta. And you've got a good run up to it.

That sounds as though it would fit in with my week really well chutneypig. It would be great if you could pm me some details. I'm getting a bit hooked on parkrun now so I'd like to include that if possible. I could probably hold off on the speed interval trainng for a few more weeks until the physio is happy for me to include them (it's all meant to be slow and steady until I get my knee/ligaments sorted although I managed a pb on Saturday and only had a slight ache and a bit of tightness to show for it on Sunday).

Good luck with your training backinschool, hope the injuries keep improving.
That's the trouble chutney Glen Coe much more scenic, but way more hilly, a 300m ascent in the first mile or so I think. Still, the downhills should be fun!

Glen Coe would be lovely emummy and think how great you'll feel afterwards

backinschool I like the Cool Running plans. My friend followed a BUPA plan, but that was based on running for x amount of time, whereas I prefer running for a specified distance.

chutney it was so disappointing yesterday, DS and his mates had trained all year for this weekend. Oh well, there's always next year My friend said she enjoyed the Robin Hood (it's her home town, but she has moved away so it was nice for her to go back).

Sorry this also dropped off my TIO but sounds like some great running still going on!

Haven't been able to run or exercise at all with my back so have been swilling in way more wine than I normally do and even had a couple of cigarettes bad I know fed up with the pain I was in. Waiting for a docs appointment now but TENS machine has worked fantastic compared to OTC painkillers that weren't even touching it.

Not good about the foot fiftynine, have you been to see about it?

Anyone else had a moment of madness and entered the vlm ballot like me?

Hi Sirona - no, actually this year is the first in ages that I've decided against the VLM ballot. I'm sure it's a good race and all, which is why I've been trying to get in for years, but overall I think it's now too big and stressful to be worth the hassle.
I'm doing a smaller city marathon this October and might do the Lakeland Trails marathon again next summer. Much prettier scenery than London!

There's not much danger of me being tempted by the vlm Sirona! I have great respect for anyone who can run 26.2miles but it's not for me. When will you find out if you have a place? Sorry to hear you're having such a rubbish time with injuries, I used a TENS machine in labour and it was surprisingly effective. And at least there's always wine shame you can't have that for childbirth

backinschool I have been following the bupa beginners, albeit very loosely. It's ok but I thought it was quite hard quite quickly for a beginner plan. Maybe it's just that a HM is harder than I thought!!

emummy I vote Glen Coe! easy to be enthusiastic when it's not me running up a mountain!

Fifty hope your foot settles down. Sign up for a triathlon, it might help!! I'm a bit worried I may have over faced myself with tri training but looking forward to a new challenge.

Just checked the forecast for Sunday. It's going to be warm. All this cold, wild weather last for ages and the weekend of my HM it 's going to be 22c!! I am not prepared to run in the heat!

That happened to me in a half last year Igotta, hottest day of the year! I carry water with me so I filled half the bottle with crushed ice and then water and kept it with an ice pack till I had to hand in my bag. It did help, but I got drinks from the water stations too and poured some of them down my legs and over my hands! Good luck!
And yes I will sign up for Glen Coe and not think about the mountains!

Thanks for the good foot vibes

i'm just back from a sports massage where she gave it another good prod. Maybe some swimming would be a good alternative igotta

Sirona hope your back improves soon. Good luck with the VLM draw!

Hello all. Have been tried to post a few times recently but internet on the blink.

Igotta & laughing - hope you are carbo loading like mad (but low fibre stuff of course Igotta ). Not sure why I'm grinning though - even with Imodium I still had to stop once on my 13 miler but I'm hoping I can manage not to on the actual day.

You're going to have great weather for yours although I agree that being hot before you even start running hasn't featured very much in my training either. Am wondering about one of the ridiculous sun visors - suddenly they make sense. Will keep the sun off and hide my beetroot face in post race photos.

emummy - Glencoe thing looks hardcore. All the pics are of hairy men with those long socks on. Am filled with respect.

Sirona - I too was almost tempted to enter VLM ballot - TV coverage of people apparently enjoying themselves whilst running for 4 hours makes it seem appealing. The atmosphere must be amazing. Its easy to think its doable from the comfort of the sofa but realistically I know I haven't got the time to do all the training.

Sorry to hear of people being beset by injuries. I too have been ill again. Very odd one day virus thing that knocked me out for the whole day (can't remember the last day I spent a whole day asleep in bed) but feel fine again now although a bit nervous as only have 10 days to go now. Just a 9 miler on Friday and a few short runs left to go now. Went out for a lovely run across the fields this evening and think I'll do my favourite coastal route on Friday.

The weather's certainly a turn up. Drinking plenty in the run up would be good, I didn't as much as I'd like the day before. Fingers crossed for plenty of water stations.

That's a shame after all that training FiftyNine. Difficult to be stoic when the next go is a year away.

Those viruses are really clinging on this year Cherry . Hope you feel better but I'm jealous of the thought of a coastal route!

Good luck with the ballot Sirona. I was more tempted that I have been but the thought of fitting those long runs in put me off.

I'm liking the lighter evenings, went out with the family to do some hill training last night and had a great chat with some other runners out.

Oh god this weather!! Everyone else is wandering round saying how lovely it is and all I can think of is how hard it is going to be on Sunday... I am not good with heat at the best of times, let alone when trying to tackle my first HM. I'm really quite nervous about it now. Igotta how are you feeling about yours?

emummy and anyone else who has raced in the heat, any other tips??

Light clothing, a visor to keep sun off your face, regular small amounts fluid and be prepared to have to run a bit slower. Try and stay in the shade before the race and if you have a drink before make it a nice cold one! Good luck!

chutney the Robin Hood is the same day as my next HM (after the one I haven't done yet). The RH looks illustrious as is British HM championship - bet it'll be good with lots of cheering crowds. You must do it - we could be virtual running buddies.

Thinking of you both Laughing & Igotta as it will be sweaty. I went for a 4 mile intervals this eve and was sweating masses by the end. But at least you are both in cities with lots of supporters and civilisation around so hopefully drinks will be plentiful.

Suncream on your legs, laughing!

I once ran a full marathon in July. Was one of the hottest days of the year. Ended up with painful red sunburned striped between where the capris ended and the socks began.

Good luck for this weekend!

Thanks for the good vibes for this weekend everyone.

Laughing I did my heat acclimatisation training last night 4 miles last minute run in the heat! and I found it much harder!! Oh well too late to do much about it now. I'll just run slower on Sunday and see how it goes. I'm not changing what I'd planned to wear (t shirt and mid length leggings), darent wear sunglasses cause I haven't practised in them and I don't have proper sports ones anyway.

Will remember to suncream my legs running thanks for the tip!

You're right about the support cherry, the weather will bring lots of people out. There's water stations every couple of miles (and loos!).

I've just been out to buy white bread, yum, which we never have. I think carb loading is my favourite part of training so far! Other than pasta and potato what other low fibre/high carb foods are there?