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?

vet there are different ways of looking at this I think. But dont talk your way out of it!. After an hour or so I'd want a drink of water. I haven't experimented with snacks yet.

These psychological barriers are tough I think. If you carry a drink (or do a loop so you can pick one up from the car perhaps), then that might be enough to get you past the psychological barrier. I tend to go out with no expectations at al, at all, only that I will relax and enjoy myself. That really works for me.

When and where is the HM? Would you feel better with a friend running at your pace? The thing is, you will be at the back most likely. But not so far behind and there will be slower runners round about you from the sound of it. You need to let go of worrying about that. My friend does park run in 45 minutes - people cheer her on. Do it for the achievement and for you.

Epic post! Can you tell I've been up all night?!

I've found an hour is a cut off for me needing a bit of a boost Vet. I can do that on an empty stomach in the morning, but any more and I need something, Fifty recommended jelly babies so I have one every mile for any run longer than an hour and it seems to do the trick. I have just ordered some Clif shot blocks to try, as people, have liked them here too. I've never carried water on my own training runs, I hate carrying a bottle. But everyone's individual and it might help. As stilllearnin said maybe if you do a loop?

I've always found people very supportive of those of us near the back. I've been trying not to focus on distance as my plan is based on time and I think it's time on legs that helps with endurance rather than the distance as such.

Some people can do long distances without water or food, but I think that is something that develops with time, and most people start needing something at a certain point, which is different for different runners. For me I start wanting something at the 10 mile mark, so when doing runs of that length I take shot bloks and water. I hate having stuff in my hands, so have a Karrimor belt with a zip pouch and 2 small water bottles, as the bloks say to have a drink after each one.
So if you find it hard running after a certain point try taking some fuel - I have used jelly babies and dried cranberries in the past, and in the warm weather especially some water.

Hi stilllearnin , when is your HM? It sounds like you have come along great guns since you started the c25k so don't be hard on yourself. I have to run with water and take sips throughout the whole run and find it really helps. For longer runs of over an hour I put a zero tab in with my water - www.wiggle.co.uk/high5-zero-electrolyte-drink-20-tabs/ . They aren't sugary sweet, I can't stomach the gels and if I have to chew anything I can't breathe at the same time so the tabs in water work well for me. Music also gives me a massive boost. I have a running play list I listen too and certain songs definitely reinvigorate me a bit.

Sorry that post was supposed to be for veterinari

I am typing on my phone and can't see all the posts but wanted to add something about food and drink while running. I have read quite a lot about it. DS1 is a very sporty type 1 diabetic so I have spent many years balancing carbs with exercise and insulin.

Whatever energy boost you take - jelly babies, glucose tabs, gels or drinks take about 10 minutes to kick in, so you need to take it before you start to flag. My long route has a hill about 2.5 miles in, so I usually have a mouthful of water and a jelly baby then, and then something every 20-30 minutes after. That way you always have some accessible carbs in your bloodstream and your body doesn't have to expend additional effort to burn fat, which is the least efficient way of fuelling a run.

I can run 10k without needing a top up but if I am going further I need something a lot sooner than 10k. I went out on Sunday and did 8 miles. I took water but no snacks and was fine to 6 miles, found mile 7 hard and had to walk a bit of mile 8. As soon as my watch beeped I could not run any further and had to walk the last bit home.

vet I was last in our local v small HM a few years ago and I loved it. It is a weekend challenge with a 5 mile on the Friday, 8.1 on Saturday and HM on Sunday. It is two laps and I got lapped by the winner as I was completing my first lap. But I got a massive cheer at the end and the marshals were so encouraging all the way round. I was talking to a lady at parkrun who was also last another year and said the same. This year I met a lovely lady who was about my speed so we encouraged each other round. I find runners are incredibly supportive to one another, even the super speedy skinny wiry young men who go twice my speed. They are competing with each other, not against me! Just take it easy and ENJOY it!

Thanks all I know you're totally right about shifting my mental attitude (ironically that's what the experienced runners in the podcast say too!) I just need to listen!

I am running with a friend and he's already said he won't leave me (even though I've told him to). I'd rather not say where the HM is as it really is tiny but it's a beautiful rural location and I know it will be a glorious run even if I find it tough. I just need to shake off my anxiety about being an inconvenience to the volunteer marshals etc and do my best.

Thanks also for the water/snack tips - I hate carrying a bottle too. I have a tiny camelback pack so will try running with that I think

Well done Vet, progressing from 5k to HM in a year is a great achievement.

I have always carried water with me. I do use it as a mental crutch, whenever the going gets tough, have a sip of water which means probably carrying too much water. I've started to do 5k without carrying any water. For the HM, I carry diluted cordial for my sugar hit.

Fifty thanks for that tip. There's always a slow mile or 2 in the middle so I will try drinking 10 mins before I hit that usual dip.

According to my Garmin watch, I burnt 1900 calories during my 12 miles run. Extraordinary, no wonder I felt so wiped out!

Hello HMers. I have been away on holiday, over indulging in everything except for running. My achy hip has been achy and my training plan has gone to pieces. I did manage a few 4 mile runs on the beach with DD and some mountain walking but my head has not been in the right place for running.

My HM is in 3 weeks time and I don't know whether to just give up on the idea or to give it a go and just give up if I feel rubbish. If I give up the idea now I could instead try to get back on track for a couple of 10ks in October and December and then start training for a proper HM again in January like I did when I started this thread.

Its just that the HM I'm doing is rather nice and would be a shame not to do it. Maybe I'll try a couple of longer runs over the next two weeks and see how I go. I have just been really disheartened by how slow and rubbish I have become since May.

Some advice for vet who I think has been wondering about bowel issues. I really struggled with this and spent weeks of trying out different things and even downloaded a crazy poo tracker app to try and discern some kind of pattern to my numerous poo emergencies. Not much luck and in the end resorted to an entirely white diet for the last 4 days plus immodium - which worked pretty well.

Glad to see everyone else is going strong. Will report back this time next week after a bit of running effort.

cherry have you thought about running with walking breaks for your HM. It's ok to back out of course, especially if it'll hurt your hip but if you can do it I would. For me I'd think do it very slowly and imagine just how much better you'll be when you come back and do the same race next year!

Its me with the poo issues! I did 10 miles yesterday on my period too, and not a poo in sight. I cannot imagine having a white diet and running all bunged up. I think I probably need to pay very close attention to my diet for a few weeks before at least.

Hi stillearnin . Yes the walk run thing is a good idea and sort of what I had in mind. I'll do a bit of experimenting over the next two weeks and see what works. I'm sure some people do that on it as its a trail run and the times last year were as long as 3.5 hours so there must have been plenty of walking in there.

If you try out the walk run Cherry and it doesn't trouble your hip as much, which I should think it wouldn't, sounds the best plan. It would be a shame to miss out and as you say trail ones are a different beast.

I'm aiming for a long run this afternoon but not been for a couple of weeks what with holidays so feeling a bit tentative. I've been keeping things ticking over but this'll be the test, I've no real idea where I'm at with training at all this time round.

I ordered some Clif shot blocks - how do people time them or use them? Thought I'd give them a go ahead of the day and see how I found them. There's a lot of water stations on the route and one with Lucozade but I'm not sure I'd really get on with that, so thought these would be a way round it.

Hello Cherry and good to see you! I agree with still that run/walking is a good option - if people are finishing in 3.5 hours they will have walked or very slowly jogged almost all of the course! I think londonmummy is planning to run/walk the Royal Parks HM.

I had a double running whammy of parkrun volunteering yesterday morning followed by a 10 mile run with a friend who is doing the GNR next weekend. She is planning to run/walk the middle section if she needs to.

I signed up last night for my local running club's HM in December, which will be my fourth time running it. And that gives me an event a month for the rest of the year.

Thank you for the trail running advice up-thread. Someone told me about a 5K trail route nearby which is a bit hilly so I will try it out sometime.

Will post properly later but manically sorting out school uniforms etc at the moment. Cherry the Royal Parks HM had a training schedule for beginners (looking to a 2.40 finish time) which uses walk run - they suggest 4 minutes run 2 minutes walk the whole way round. I am aiming for 3:1 and trying to do my shorter training runs at 5:1 Otherwise if you google run walk run you will find a US page that has really good advice.

Oh gawd. Am dithering now. Having not managed to get out again today I had definately decided to give up and to just enjoy doing three runs a week without any plan from now on till Jan when I will gear up for the HM I did last year. But now you've all made me feel wistful about again. Gah!! Just need to get out there

Got out for 11 miles today and managed it in just under 2 hours - if I can pull that out of the bag at the HM I could walk the last 2 miles and come in under target. Extra gratifying as there were a couple of pretty big hills in the middle - but the last 4 KM were flat and Royal Parks isn't going to be that kind. I did add in a few strides sections in the last bit to try and simulate the exertion but I like speed and I don't like hills so I'm not sure it really worked.

cherry only you know how you feel. It is gutting to train and then be derailed by injury - I know as my first attempt at Great South was stymied by knee problems. Give walk run a try on a short run and if your hip is no better then you should consider sorting it out - no run is worth long term injury.

Go you londonmummy! Well done, super time!

Thanks fifty goes to show run walk isn't that slow after all! I think I may have worked out hydration as I had something left in the tank. I stopped to buy and drink a small bottle of water at 45 mins and and hour and a half - seems to have done the trick - the one advantage of carrying a lot of extra body weight is that I have enough (ahem) internal resources to fuel the run....

OK - so I don't normally go in for cheese but the following just popped up on my facebook and I thought it probably described us all...

Sometimes you wish it was easy, but if it was,everyone else would do it. Then you remember you don't want to be like everyone else.

Ha! Yep!

That's a brilliant time! Well done London

I'm feeling a bit happier about my HM now - so much if this running lark is about positive attitude for me, so your cheesy quote is perfect!

I'm doing a 12km Spartan run on Sunday - not expecting a great time as the obstacles will make me slow but hoping it will be fun!

Fantastic stuff london and very good to sort the hydration out. Very import at this time of year especially!

That sounds very vigorous Vet but great fun.

How's it going Cherry? Lots seems to be getting in my way at the moment. I've signed up for a virtual medal 100 miles in the month thing but I'm lagging a bit, thought it would give me the extra umph to get out

I keep wavering at the moment, my long runs aren't any quicker at all than the spring training but I feel my general speed and running is improving generally and I keep thinking it ought to impact my long runs more. But I feel on track with the distance so that's good and the clif shot things were great.

Well it's the morning of the Spartan run and I've started the day with a cold bath and 2 ibuprofen after foolishly doing a 'beginners' circuit class yesterday. I'm not concerned about the running, but now really worried about the obstacles and my total lack of upper body strength. I signed up for it as an intermediate HM training target but now wish I hadn't!

Go for it Veterinari, have fun!