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?

Running lol, at least it's not just me. Completely understand, it's better to have any pair of sunglasses than none.

Chutney No access to a treadmill sadly. I think I will start off at my usual pace and try to speed up. I remember my old PE teacher shouting something about lengthening my stride so I will give that a go too.

Stilllearning welcome! 10 miles already, wow. Hills are great for training and has helped me get under 30 mins in Park Run.

Hello stilllearnin god to see you over here

I thought it was shorter strides when going uphill, and longer on the flat/downhill (the person who told me that was trying to explain it terms of can and bike gears, so it was in one ear and out of the other really )

Hello stilllearnin . I've switched to a very hilly parkrun this year and it's had a huge effect on my pace and endurance. To be fair, there was a lot of room for improvement . I knocked three minutes off my 10k PB over the last couple of months. It was really noticeable in one last month. It was hilly but I was feeling much fresher on steep bits on the later stages than most were around me. I'm doing a really flat one next month so keeping fingers crossed for that. Then I'll ramp up the miles for my HM in September, it'll be round a lot of the same area as my recent 10k so I'm definitely planning on keeping up the hill training. Also speed intervals too. But I think longish inclines are very helpful too.

I don't know about stride length Fifty I focus more on whether I feel like I'm going to collapse!

I get all over the place if I think about how I'm actually running Loxono, that takes me back to school too.. The kids just hauled me up to our new outdoor fitness thing nearby. They've got too much energy. DH has kindly offered to run DS off at parkrun Saturday ahead of Race for Life Sunday so he doesn't moan too much at my pace.

Right, I have entered the Brum Great Run. So hills are my friend from now on. My ex was one of those ultra long distance types (but from the 70's when he pretty much did it in his plimsols and so knackered his knees). He always said shorten your stride up hills - like going up stairs.

Fifty have you been injured - sorry if Ive missed big news. I've had a nasty split from ex and been a bit absent (minded).

Great stuff stilllearnin. I very much shortened my stride today - not sure it could technically be called running at one point but I managed all the hills without stopping.

I'm really looking forward to getting back into training next month, it's quite surprised me how much.

Me too chutney. Have been a bit useless since i did my HM in May and am missing the discipline of a plan. Am trying to do Fridays with my NT running group but RFL training with DD not progressing well - always a bit too tired/ too hot/ just not up for it.

Ah well - we'll get round somehow.

Think I need to get out diary and running book and start sorting out the plan.

Go for it chutney I love a plan. Going to try 11 miles tomorrow with some hills and with my new fella (in his bike)

on his bike obv

Hi I'm back!!!😃
I ran my first Hm in march and have signed up for another for next month.
Since doing the hm I have mainly kept to 10k to keep me going.
I am signed up to do a 16.5 mile race in September so next months hm will keep me ticking over. August is going to be my problem kids off school and I really have to keep running. I have found another hm in August so I will most probably enter that one too😃.
I was out today on an 11 mile run which was a really good run. I have my favourite 10k race a week tomorrow.
I should get to 13 miles before my hm so that is all good. I'm going for 13 as the organisers are well known for going over the distance and its a hilly trail hm.
My biggest difference is I have joined up to a weekly running coaching session which is improving my running lots and getting rid of bad habits I've picked up.

That all sounds great Sven! Good luck with your races, hilly trail runs are fun.

Well, fella had to work and so I ended up doing three laps of the woods. They put that at 15 miles in total but I am not convinced, plus I walked the last 10 minutes to stretch my legs out. 2.5 hours in total so that is reasonably reasonable. I planned hill intervals today but he came back with 3 bottles of mystery Lithuanian beer last night - put paid to that then!

sven you busy bee!!

Did my 10k yesterday! Didn't quite get under 1 hour but set a PB of 1.02.

Thanks for all the tips about intervals and shortening my stride up hills. I will be trying to lengthen my stride during flat bits.

Gave myself the day off today but I will be adding to the mileage next week. Thinking of entering a 10 mile run at the end of August to make sure I'm still on track.

The coaching session sounds fantastic Sven and that's a great plan ahead. Nice lot of variety.

That's fantastic Loxono. How did you find it? PB is good and sub-60 is in sight. Definitely due a rest day I think.

That's a pretty hefty three laps stllllearning. Great stuff.

Managed a speed interval and very short hill run this week and a humid parkrun yesterday. The weathers causing us a lot of problems with family training beyond parkrun Cherry. We've got an obstacle race coming up, only realised this weekend that I have to do it with them, so it's me training for that!

Ha! chutney Enjoy the obstacle training!

Brilliant Loxono I seem to be really slow in the first 3 miles- its a right struggle!

Determined to get the hill intervals done today. I will report back.

Chutney The 10k was the fastest that I ve ever run but I felt I had worked harder in training runs. We had pacemakers and I was trying to keep up with the 60 min group running at 6 min per km. I looked at the stats afterwards and I did do a fairly consistent pace throughout. During training I just run and it can range from 5.30 a km to 7.30 a km. Definitely an useful experience on pacing.

Your obstacle course sounds interesting! What sort of obstacles? Does it involve mud?

stilllearning how were your hill intervals?

Lonoxo that was a fab time😃
We have been covering pace work in the coaching session and that was very eye opening.
My 10k pb was at 1:06 after a flat one back in April.
I ran a fairly hilly 10k race last night and got a new pb of 1:05.
I ran that race last year at 1:13 so I'm over the moon with that.

That's a great result Sven, well done!

I'm fairly sure mud is involved Lonoxo . I think there's a vertical curved wall thing and lots of crawling. I'm hoping the junior one can't be too bad. I'm breaking myself in with a Pretty Muddy next month.

Well done Sven. How does the coaching tackle pace work? It's clearly working!

Hi, sorry I did manage the hill intervals - and loved it. I'm not convinced its intervally enough - does anyone have a decent podcast for intervals.

Chutney we have ran in a big square each side of the square you step the pace up last side is an all out sprint then slowing on each side. Lots of variation on that including hill work.
Ran with obstacles so over, through etc. We have worked on running upright rather than slouching and using our arms properly.
The arms and being straight has really made a difference.
Drill work so running in different ways high knees, straight legs, skipping, ladder work and lots of footwork which really makes you concentrate.

Hello everyone

I haven't been posting because I haven't really been running (I hurt my foot stillearning, nothing more exciting ). Whenever I started to push it again I hurt myself again. But the rest seems finally to have worked just in time for my local marathon challenge weekend. We run 5 miles on Friday night, 8.1 x-country on Saturday lunchtime and a HM on Sunday morning.

My time was a bit slower than last year, but it was very muddy underfoot for the last 2.5 miles so I'll take that

Looking forward to catching up with you all

Hello all. Have been doing almost nothing apart from feeling a bit miserable about Brexit vote. RFL training - useless. Anyway got going a bit this week and felt better for doing a couple of 3 milers.

chutney - start of July is start of training for mid Sept HM. Training plan is 8 weeks but like to leave 10 to allow for set backs. Week 1 involves 18 miles so think will spend first two weeks getting back up to 9 miles plus friend has told me about a kettlebells class that am going to try.

Even though I thought my saucepan lifting core strength stuff was pretty rubbish I have now discovered I can actually do a sit up so must have achieved something.

Hello everyone! I've barely done any running for the last month having been ill, children have been ill too and I've just generally lost my focus. Ive also been feeling very despondent following the EU ref result cherry. But I went for a swim this morning and felt so much better for it. If only I could solve all the countries problems by going for a quick swim

Anyway I'm officially signing off this thread now I've started my triathlon training. Thanks for all the support and tips. I'll be doing another one at some point, most likely next year. Good luck to everyone doing HMs!!!

Best of luck Igotta

That sounds great Sven - lots to take in. I could really do with improving my posture. I look like a sack of potatoes when I run. I thought I was getting better but then saw a video DH took at Race for Life.

I've started a kettle bells class too Cherry. Definitely works the legs more than I thought. It's always good to plan for set backs. It'll be strange with more daylight to train in but also it being warmer.

I was very pleased yesterday that I got close to my parkrun PB, which I got just after my HM. I felt like I've been slowing recently so that was very reassuring so hopefully bodes well for improving further when I start up again. Last week was very slack so hopefully I can reverse that. Two firsts for me this week, 5.30 am 5k run and Pretty Muddy.

Hope your tri goes well igotta. Please come back and tell us how you get on!

Well done chutney.

Well I did it, all of it.

Don't have official times yet but I was about 56 minutes for the 5 miles, 1:53 ish for the 8.1 XC and a shade over 3 hours for the HM today, which I run/walked with another lady I made friends with at mile 2 . It was too muddy to run it, and I have lost so much fitness in the last 2 months.

I invested in a pair of trail shoes yesterday and was very glad of them.

I suppose should start training for the Royal Parks HM, they keep sending me emails to remind me I'm doing it