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Original poster

Half marathon - any one doing one?

996 replies

Cherryminx · 31/12/2015 16:25

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?

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londonmummy1966 · 16/07/2016 19:52

Well done cherry and Chutney. Definitely get the hip checked - I left one to fester and it led to knee problems too and I had to pull out of a run I'd been training for for months.... If you haven't found it already the Mapmyrun website is good for planning runs in new areas - it will usually also indicate other peoples' routes in the area and show you the elevations.

Took an easier week this week as my calves were aching a bit even after rest days - so had 2 consecutive days off and have only run 15 miles this week. Losing my dds on a choir tour on Thursday so think I'll try and pace myself for a very long run next weekend. Hope it isn't as hot as today as my 6 miler was pure hell.

Original poster
Cherryminx · 16/07/2016 23:00

Hi chutney you sound far more organised than me this time.

Did my 6 miles. Was fine although soooo slow but it was a route that goes uphill for the first 2 miles so maybe can forgive myself. I still have the record of my May HM on the running watch and can hardly believe I managed to run so fast.

My hip thing seems to be mainly made worse by sitting down and doesn't really hurt at all when running. Think it may be piriformis syndrome. I had it a bit before but it was sorted out by a few stretches but this time its more persistent. Not helped by horrid sitting badly at work staring at screen and driving (left leg - using the clutch all the time).

Meant to have done 2 mile recovery run today but didn't so will do it tomorrow.

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SvenandSven · 17/07/2016 13:11

I had a very hot half marathon yesterday.
If any of you get a chance to do a white star running race do it!
The atmosphere was fab and everyone so friendly.
The first 4_5 miles were a bit stop and start as being trail we were on narrow trackways.
The highlights for me were doing the Mexican wave, oggie oggie oggie, the hokey cokey and the conga whilst waiting to get over a styleGrin
I was a lot slower than I thought for but being off road is so different to on road so was expecting to be slower.
The cut off was 4.30 hours and it certainly was a no pressure race.
I had walk breaks as it was a struggle in the heat.
I also got stung by a wasp on my lip at the second water station so had to wait until marshalls were happy for me to carry on.
All good and got going again finally finishing in 3:29 which I'm happy withSmile

FiftyNineOhEight · 17/07/2016 17:07

Well done Sven, that sounds like quite an adventure. Hope your lip is not too sore.

I'm heading out now to run a few laps of my parkrun park. 5 laps = 10K, but I don't know if I will manage that much in this heat. I'm taking a drink and will stop each lap for water.

emummy · 17/07/2016 17:10

Well done Sven, sounds like you got the full trail experience! Funny to hear of everyone running in the heat, it hasn't reached us yet! Think it warms up in the next few days, my usual early morning runs should escape the worst of it. Good hydration important, sounds like you have that sussed FiftyNine!

chutneypig · 17/07/2016 18:09

Sounds fantastic Sven, very well done. Hope your poor lip isn't too sore!

Might changing seat position help a bit Cherry? I know a friend has been having dreadful hip trouble and it made an instant difference.

Hope the run went ok Fifty. I've had an early dinner and aiming to get out for an hour later.

What sort of distance do you manage to get in in the mornings emummy?

Original poster
Cherryminx · 17/07/2016 19:11

Well done sven - sounds good in a hard work kind of way. Hope wasp sting is not too sore. They can be a bit horrid.

chutney last time I had this I found that sitting on a tennis ball helped and I have been trying to vary the way I sit. But recently have been super busy at work which has ended up with me slumped over computer trying to meet deadlines. Fortunately deadlines are passed now so will concentrate on better sitting.

Did a load of gardening today which I thought might aggravate it but so far is ok.

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emummy · 17/07/2016 20:38

chutney I am following a plan at the moment and the runs range from 6 to 9 miles on weekdays.

londonmummy1966 · 17/07/2016 21:07

emummy when is your half - I thought 4/5 miles was OK at the moment with a half in early October but maybe I need to be a bit more ambitious? I've drafted out a route that does the full distance for some point next weekend and which goes up and down through the Royal Parks so I start to get some idea of what I have let myself in for. I'm just hoping for a spell of bad weather as there was no way I could have run anywhere today as it is very hot and humid in London at the moment.

emummy · 18/07/2016 09:09

I think you're fine londonmummy1966; I have decided to use a harder plan, aimed at improving your half-marathon time,as the one I am doing will be off road and quite tough. I was a bit worried that I would struggle unless I trained harder. Mine is on October 2nd but I have started training a little early as Dh will be travelling for work and it will be difficult to run when he's away - he's off to the US on Sunday for a week.

londonmummy1966 · 18/07/2016 09:30

Thanks emummy I'm just aiming to finish although under 3 hours would be nice... I took a leaf out of your book and headed out early but even at 6.30am London is pretty hot and I ended up trying to hug the shade. Still 5 miles under the belt is a good start to the week!

Original poster
Cherryminx · 18/07/2016 19:43

Just heading out for a 4 miler. Hoping I don't slip over in sweat pool. See ya later.

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chutneypig · 18/07/2016 20:35

Managed 5 plus a bit last night in an hour, not my finest running but I'm glad I went out. I tried to concentrate more on form, running tall and using my arms more. They certainly ached after!

Aiming for early morning speed intervals Wednesday now, should just about struggle through Pilates tomorrow.

I was aiming for 2.10 but starting to feel like I'll be foiled by the heat in training and possibly on the day, we'll see.

FiftyNineOhEight · 18/07/2016 20:39

I got all the way to the park last night and had the wrong key for my bike lock Angry, so I cycled the 5 laps instead of running them Smile. Was probably about 9 miles in total including getting there and back.

chutneypig · 21/07/2016 19:41

Sounds like you rescued the situation Fifty!

I just about managed a 'speed' session last night - ha ha. Breach of trades descriptions. But glad I got out. I toyed with a hill session today but couldn't face it so did an evil HIIT from fitness blender instead. I'm going to miss parkrun on Saturday so I'm feeling all out of kilter. I'm at my parents next week but they've been thinking about good running routes for me while I'm there Grin so I just need a bit of willpower.

How are you feeling Sven post HM?

londonmummy1966 · 21/07/2016 22:12

Enjoy the change of scene chutney.

I managed to get out for 5 miles or so tonight - temperature dropped a bit and I stuck to the Embankment so got a bit of a breeze. Have lost both Dc and DH off for a long weekend so I might try out a Parkrun on Saturday having been signed up for ages and never done one. I've also drafted out a flat hm route long the Thames so I might try and get one under the feet to see how it feels before looking at the rather more testing gradient of the Royal Parks themselves.

SvenandSven · 23/07/2016 23:04

Coaching session this morning was hard work. We were doing planks, sit ups, press ups, hill and speed work.
I feel great chutney I think where I took it slow and steady recovery has been easy this timeSmile
I am doing a 10k race in the morning another trail one. Really liking trail at the moment.
I'm not in any other races then until September for the 16 miler.
I am booked in for my next half in October thats Bournemouth halfGrin then possibly two 10 milers one end of October the other mid November. And finally possibly another half in December.

chutneypig · 24/07/2016 06:36

Enjoy today Sven. I found my last trail hard work, I'm eyeing up one the week before my half but I'm not sure. Can enter on day so at least I can keep my options open!

You've got it all planned out. Good to have a plan. I was also thinking about a local HM in December - I figure I could try and keep the mileage topped up! Bournemouth should be good though. Have you ever done the New Forest ones in September? They keep popping up in my FB feed. It'll be too tight this year, but was wondering about next.

SvenandSven · 24/07/2016 08:36

New forest looks good and I too am thinking next year probably the half but maybe the marathon.
They are a week before the purbeck 16 so too close for my liking.

londonmummy1966 · 24/07/2016 13:27

I'd been thinking of signing up for the Great South Run at the end of October - only 10 miles so should be a doddle after Royal Parks.......not. My plan was to stay in taper mode after the HM - might that work?

How has training in the heat been - I managed to squeeze in 2 training runs and a very grim (hot and hilly) parkrun yesterday. Still hoping to get a long one in tomorrow but might have to get up very early to beat the heat....

Lonoxo · 25/07/2016 06:15

Congrats on the HM Sven, sounds fun, ouch about that wasp sting early in the race, what a trouper for carrying on.
I am now in double digits! Did 10 miles yesterday. Hot weather has meant I didn't run as many times as I would have liked. I did think about running after dinner at 9pm-ish when temp is 23 degrees but didn't fancy running in my area at that time in vest and shorts. If it continues to be this hot, I might have to set my alarm for 5am and go running before work.

chutneypig · 26/07/2016 06:34

The heat's a definite challenge Lonoxo, fitting runs and enough food in isn't easy.

I had a good long run last night, finished week 3 of my plan. 75 minutes and managed 7 miles, not fast but faster than I have been since starting this round of training, it felt really comfortable until the last mile too. My dad suggested dropping me in the next town and I run back, which was a great idea. I was only a bit Confused when I looked back to the spring and realised the seven mile run I did as run/walk took the same time! But this is much earlier In the plan so hopefully I can build on it.

londonmummy1966 · 26/07/2016 11:47

I wouldn't worry too much chutney as they say your body works far harder in the heat so you would have been faster if the temperature was the same as in the spring.

I managed to get out on Sunday night as the temperature dropped a lot at 5pm and managed the full 13.1 miles - but at a slow 3:1 run walk - at one point I was pacing myself to a dachshund puppy... So I know I can do the mileage on the flat which is a relief - now have to build in the hills. My local parkrun is quite hilly so I might try a session or two there and then try and do some of my next long run in the Royal Parks to get a feel for the gradient as the up and down route looks a bit of a killer.

Original poster
cherryminx · 27/07/2016 23:41

SAw physio about my hip and she said is piriformis syndrome and has given me a load of excercises to bulk up my glutes. Since she told me not to wory about carrying on running I have made a big effort to run faster and have managed a couple of 4 milers at something approaching the pace I did my HM in earlier this year. Think I had just got lazy and a bit bored of running on my own. Will have to download some good podcasts to listen to.

Am planning a 7 miler at end of week. Not sure when to fit it in as am working different days for the hols. Plus will start doing some hill sessions to get my speed up. I need to train a bit harder if I'm going to manage the Sept HM.

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signalred · 27/07/2016 23:55

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