Half marathon new thread

[londonmummy1966]

Starting a new half thread - as we are running out of space - no I'm ot envious of the lucky guys with London places - no not at all...

That's fantastic winefortea Keep it up and you'll be in good shape for April

Well done wine that's great! My HM pace is not much faster than that tbh!

Thanks Still think you're right about the first bit of running thing - it definitely is harder for me at the start till my lungs get warmed up. I don't want to go back but I'm determined I will - I need to shift some weight and gain strength to improve my running !

Hi all! Well done to everybody for getting out in the damp and dark. My lovely DH took me to our local running shop for a gait analysis and new pair of running shoes a couple of weeks back. Turns out that I'm beyond crap at running on a treadmill and I've been running in shoes that are about as supportive as slippers for 2 years . They were fantastic and kitted me out with a lovely pair of shoes. Had a 10k race and managed to knock a minute off my PB, knocked 2 minutes off my 5k PB and managed to run half marathon distance a minute faster than my first attempt! Good ol' proper tools for the job.

I should add I still haven't got the hang of nutrition. I nearly fainted/threw up an hour after the first half I managed. Today I guzzled a bottle of Lucozade and a protein bar afterwards and felt better but still felt like I just wanted to lie on the floor and sleep for 20 hours. Have any of you tried gels?

Crikey nat, you're supposed to change your running shoes every 500 miles tops!

I think the important thing is to fuel yourself properly before hand. I'm sure someone mix more in the know can help you more though.

I tend to have porridge with grated apple in it for breakfast on the morning of a HM nat. Then I take a gel at about 1hr and another at 1hr20-1hr30. My HM pace is just under 2hrs. I do think they make a massive difference but worth trying different ones as the textures are different. I like the sms orange ones. You need to take the first before your legs start hurting ime. Otherwise they don't help as much.

I did a 10k today trying to go slow - ran with a friend so went at her pace. I was about a minute or so slower per km than usual but average HR still over 150. It felt easy today, was chatting and could have run for a long time but not sure how easy to run even slower. Might try a longer run next weekend and see how it goes.

Hope you've all had a good weekend's running

Hi all,
Managed to rag myself out of bed and run ten miles this morning. I hate getting up early but leave being out when most people are still asleep and that sense o achievement when it is 8am and you've already completed a run.
Busy week next week so trying to work out when to fit some runs in.
That's interesting about your running shoes natweb I am rubbish at getting new shoes but maybe I should take a look. I think I've had the same pair for two years and I ran a couple of Half's and a marathon last year.

Hope veryonevhas a good week.😃

Thanks mad and thats - lesson learnt, ha! Thats - thank you, I'll pop into the shop and grab a selection to try. I'd love to crack the sub 2 hour half eventually.

You're definitely doing better than me missmap, didn't make it out Friday with the rain and only managed 3 miles of the planned 6 today. I really struggled to keep my heart rate down mostly because it's 22C here. Beautiful day but it did get a bit much, so I played it safe. Managed to hit the 20k I need per week for the 1000k so not too bad,

I'm not keen on gels nat, I usually aim for porridge or a bagel a couple of hours before and then something throughout the long runs, either jelly babies or clif shot blocks for the longer runs. Otherwise I do feel quite peculiar after.

I've just had to ditch a faithful pair as they were definitely past their best, so ordered a replacement and a new trail pair too. They're the same model as I was fitted with in my first gait analysis, I know they do the job so tend to buy when I see them cheap.

Great news on e New Forest half still

I'd hugely struggle with that pace too Vet, it would probably finish me off!

Thanks chutney. The woman in the shop warned me off jelly babies but the shots siund interesting. I just really need to fuel myself properly beforehand I think.

I've just splashed on a new trail pair. My last ones weren't quite right. I'm gutted as my previous ones that I loved are no longer available.

What did she say was the problem with jelly babies nat? I did my first half on them but switched to the blocks for my second after they were recommended on here. It's definitely worth experimenting with feeling beforehand. I also keep a bar of some sort in the car for right after. That seems to help.

What did you go for mad? I bought a cheap trail pair last year but they feel pretty clunky so I fancied something a bit lighter and got a pair of Saucony Peregrines as I love my Guide 8s. I brought my older pair with me away though so it'll be a while before I get to try either of them.

I have a pair of Saucony Peregrines. I LOVE them but they're prob a half size too small for long runs (was a newbie when I got them and didn't account for foot swelling/toenail trauma) so I'll prob need to fork out for another pair quite soon

She said that because they're just sugar and don't have anything else to support you they can often cause unwanted tummy troubles. I do know a fair few people who swear by them though.

After ages of listening to science that I don't understand I've purchased this to try. We'll see!

I've just gone for a different pair of Karrimor. I loved my last pair, and having tidied away my running/exercise kit, I've realised the majority of my stuff is Karrimor.

Personally I think you should eat whatever works for you to get you through. I prefer flapjacks myself.

I tried flapjacks during my HM last year - dreadful!
Had to completely stop to eat them, and drink at the same time.
Far too claggy for on-the-run

Seriously disappointed by my new shoes that arrived today. Same size as all the other Karrimor trainers I've bought, but they're more like a 6 than a 7. Going to have to send them back.

Hello everyone, been stalking this thread a while since DH planted the idea of a half marathon in my head towards the end of last year. I've now admitted in real life that I am planning one, and where it is (May and very local!) so it's a bit more real.

Have been doing a new year fitness kick after starting running last March and will try to start a proper training plan with 12 weeks to go - need the days to be longer to fit in more than 3 runs a week around DH's work and childcare requirements. So have been adding workout videos on impossible to run days. Running is now Park Run (choice of 3, 1 flat municipal park, one muddy hilly trail and a 3rd slightly less muddy trail) although they're all at least a 20 minute drive away, longer run (at least 10k depending on navigation...) on Sundays and a hill repeats session on Wednesdays. Only done one hill session so far - was hard work but hopefully it will work!

Last year did some 10k mud runs and enjoyed them, never done a "flat" race although I'm looking for at least one flat 10k before the half - have got a couple of muddy 10ks planned though...

Hi random - I trained last year and didn't do any more than three runs a week do my half, very much like you're doing now, parkrun, long run Sunday and a speed interval session in the week. It's a good plan to get a 10k in first I think.

That's a shame mad, I think I heard Karrimor have changed a few things recently.

I think I'd choke on a flapjack, too much coordination, although very tasty!

I've managed to run everyday while I've been away but I am getting slower and slower, even since Christmas. So strange. But it's felt good to be moving, I need to start ramping up my long runs but I'll take it very gently.

If youve been running everyday but are getting slower, you need a few days off.

And I found that doing 2 x hill sprints, 1 x 2.5-3 mile steady run and one slower, longer run (about 5 miles) was my best training plan.

Concept of eating and running definitely concerns me - co-ordination isn't my strong point...

Thanks Chutney - that's reassuring. There's only 2 possible "flat" races and both aren't ideal as far as life is concerned. But the Pretty Muddy at Weston was actually quite a lot of running and not much queueing for the 5k so might have to do the 10k there if nothing else turns up. DH's on call is a pita!

Hi all,
I am going to my first park run tomorrow,am quite excited.
I plan to do park run on sat, long run dun and a 5-7 miker mid week. Also do circuits in the week as well. I was trying to do two 5-7milrrs mid week and circuits but just can't fit that in.
Am hoping that as it's snowy here park run will be a bit quieter and I can work out where to go ! Ds1 is going to come with me , really pleased we can do it together.

Managed to eat jelly babies when I did the marathon but not sure if I could manage a flap jack! I eat a brioche before my long run, I head out at 6am so can't face anything else.
Happy running all

How did it go missmapp ? I managed just 3.75 miles this morning...had to admit defeat in a hailstorm!!

My first snowy run ever at park run today. Only an inch and the snow was much easier to run in than I expected. Good training for fell and mud runs! Just the wrong side of 35 minutes but I was walking the really slippery bits and taking it pretty steady down hill compared to last time. Hills weren't quite as evil knowing that they would end and knowing I was on my last uphill stretch made me able to keep going when I was considering stopping.

Need to improve my speed probably more than endurance - I seem to run at a really odd pace - every thing I've done I've ended up on my own in the gap between the fast people and people who are walking some of the way. Suspect suppleness (or rather decided lack thereof) might have something to do with that as a longer stride would be more efficient.

Fitness would help most of all - being able to power up the hills without slowing down much at all would certainly help. Can easily do a faster flatter and busier park run when we visit in laws which might help with speed and actually running with people!