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?

This one will be better. I'd not thought of the problem with tunnels though. I guess the time will be accurate just the pace/distance might be a bit off?

That's some serious training london crikey. Do they do the walk straight or is there an overnight stop?

Yes chutney very serious training although she has always been a bit of a walking nut so the week in the Brecon Beacons is a regular fixture. Her regular training reports on Facebook have helped keep me on track with mine.

Welcome Botters just googled Bath tunnels -Really jealous - it looks a fabulous route - why not just enjoy the views and not worry about the time, although I'm sure you'll be fine. (Although as a first timer at HM distance I think just completing a half is a major achievement...)

I've also just googled and I'm also really jealous, that looks fantastic!

Well I'm just back from my first 10 miler!!! (Actually 10.2) And it was the thought of reporting back to this thread that kept me going when I was flagging at mile 7!

It's starting to feel as if I might actually do this HM malarkey (though I won't be quick or pretty!)

I think I need to try and do more strength training, my legs get heavy and sore after a few miles and I seem to have chronic shin splints (despite resting, physio etc) but they do seem to ease off after a few miles.

I ran most of it except for walking a couple of short hills but it was mostly flat/downhillish and my actual HM has a couple of massive hill climbs in it so think I need to do more hill training.

Anyway thank you all - I might have hopped on a bus at mile 7 if it wasn't for this thread!

Well done Vet that's great going. ben is your HM again?

Yoga for me today, parkrun tomorrow (plus running up and down DS2's touchline for an hour and a half or so), and a long run on Sunday.

HM is mid Oct so I was thinking of 1 more long run next week then tapering off

vet Double figures!! Well done. I've not done so well this week. Hard 8 miles last weekend. A quick 2 or so miles to collect train tickets and then new running shoes so another 2 miles on Thursday. I really need a good one tomorrow.

Well done Vet, you can definitely do that hm.
Hope you get a good run in tomorrow still
Easy week in the training plan for me but I'm supposed to do a fast 10k tomorrow - no races on so I'll just have to try & push myself which I'm not always very good at!

That's really good Vet - you will be fine for a HM. I agree that this thread is so motivating - there have been a few times when I've only hauled my sorry backside off the sofa for a run because I would be reporting back.....

Just got my parkrun time - only 13 seconds more than my PB and I thought I was taking it easy today . My new tactic of a quick march rather than a run up the hills is definitely working. 10 miler tomorrow and then the plan starts to taper properly. I am going to go with the hilly route I did two weeks ago. So glad it is cooler now as it should make the remaining runs a bit easier.

Have a good long one tomorrow everyone

Good running everyone. Great to see mileage is increasing😃
I have Purbeck 16 tomorrow😃 I am ready for it.
When I look back to January when I came on here for my first half in March. I can't believe where I have got to. And the fact I originally said I wouldn't be able to the 16 then two weeks later Bournemouth half. If I can do it anyone can.
Good luck to all running this weekend.
Dream Believe Achieve💖

Good luck Sven hope you have a great day.

Yes good luck Sven you an inspiration to us all.....

Good luck botters too - I'm still jealous.

Enjoy it Sven such a gorgeous area - Bournemouth will seem very flat after the hills. Fantastic stuff.

Brilliant Vet

That sounds like parkrun progress london, well done.

Enjoy your runs tomorrow Fifty and still

I'm feeling a bit anxious. I did an inflatable obstacle course with the family this morning and really struggled. The obstacles I was expecting but the running was hard. I normally can't keep up with them but we were doing slow pace even for me. I've rested a bit this week as my legs felt heavy but I wasn't expecting it to feel tough today.

Best wishes for your race today Sven. Looking forward to hearing all about it. Sending good run vibes to everyone else too - sounds like a few of us will be out training.

Managed fast - for me!- 10k this morning. I guess it's meant to give a confidence boost for the hm, not sure it works but I am pleased that I didn't give up when I felt tired.
Hope everyone enjoys their runs today

OMG that was tough. But I DID IT.
That was the hardest race I have ever done. The start was two hills then onto the coastal path which was up and down. The hills were bad I got to eight miles which was back inland. And was then walking each hill. The worst was ontop of a hill which was still going up hill for a good two and a bit miles. I struggled but made it to the finish line in 4 hours and 7 minutes which I am so so pleased about that was 16.59 miles of hell but beautiful surroundings. I was thinking it would be 4h30m.

Great result sven! Sounds like you really worked hard for your goody bag - I hope you did get a goody bag! Well done, it sounds really tough.

Great stuff Sven - coastal paths can be so challenging and nothing wrong with walking a hill or two.

Huge well done to you Sven, that sounds really gruelling. I hope you are having a nice evening with your feet up and loved ones at your beck and call to bring you and and or

Thank you. Yes a great goodie bag which was an actual canvas shopping bag with race logo on(which will be used loads)in it was medal, t_shirt, bottle cider,apple, race keyring and discount for next years race and we were given ice cream at the finish too

Really really well done Sven a fantastic time for what must have been a phenomenal challenge. And a fab goodie bag to boot!

Well done too emummy - they often say to do a 10k race don't they but the timings never work. It's hard to push yourself on your own I find, I know some people are good at it, but it really eludes me!

Wel done sven and emummy - did you get a chance to enjoy the scenery sven?

I love a hill but i am feeling old and slow at the mo - I need a bit of a boost. Thing is my personal life is troublesome at the minute (my children don't live with me and are very tightly controlled so that I cannot see them that often - they live a mile away and I often run near their home) - and sometimes it seems to bed in to me when I am out running and the whole endeavour seems a bit silly - when the whole idea was to escape the downward spiral. Still, it comes and goes so maybe it will pick up soon.

Anyway managed 11 miles yesterday and experimented with jelly babies and a water bottle. I think it helped but I had a quick walking break at around 8 miles. Think I may reverse the route which will put a wicked hill in at around 9 miles!

oh, just read back - sorry to be a downer!

Ooooo can I join please?!

I'm building up to a half at the beginning of Nov (which is a build up itself to London marathon in April )

I'm out for a 7 miler today, Monday's are long run day as dd1 is at preschool.

I need to start thinking about hydration and nutrition apparently. I'm not used to running much more than an hour so I've got just some hydration stuff in a water bottle for today and a snack as soon as I finish.

I'm excited but absolutely terrified about the whole thing!