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...

Belated happy birthday london!

I think this time of year its hard to keep fitting it all in. Everything feels like a chore! Even exercise feels like it needs to be timetabled, for me at least. Shorter runs sound like a good plan.

I didn't do the half earlier in the month, I was so tired I had a lie in instead. A friend said it was the hardest she'd ever done so for the best I think. I've been reading about 80/20 and heart rate training and really slowing down in the main part with faster intervals. It sounds like my sort of thing generally and also won't be a bad place to start getting back into doing more. I've been sleeping better which has helped but won't be enough on its own I don't think. Luckily we're not going anywhere over Christmas so I'll have more time too.

Thanks chutney Yes I know what you mean - I've been running around like mad in the last few weeks so I guess I am pretty tired. I managed to get out with my next door neighbour this evening and we did 9k and it wasn't too bad so maybe evening runs are the way to go for a bit.

I'm certainly a fan of a varied pace - my long runs are done with walk intervals and I seem to be faster that way than I would be otherwise.

Hi all, not been on thread since finishing my half in October Sounds like you're all doing well. I've signed up for the Tiree half at the end of April and the Thrunton Thriller 10km (which is really 13km) trail run in March

I'm hoping the Tiree will be easier than my last (first) HM which was mostly big hills and lots of wind!

Hi. Can I join? Did my first two HMs in September and October and booked in for Cambridge in March. I've lost my mojo a bit though - mainly through baby-induced sleep deprivation. Did 11.5 miles today, which is my longest since the last HM. So feeling a bit more positive but could do with some arse kicking encouragement if that's okay. Have lurked here on and off.

Happy New Year everyone - hello toddler I think quite a few people have lost their mojo in the last month or so. I managed a long run on Saturday by running home the long way (13km) after parkrun on Saturday. I've signed up for the Under Armour You vs the Year challenge which is a free online challenge to run 1017 KM in 2017. It is not that daunting if you are training for a couple of HMs but it is good to see the miles ratcheting up and you get online "medals" for achieving certain milestones.

What are everyone's HM plans for the year? I've got Hampton Court booked for 19th March and Great South for October. Anyone know of a nice trail run that is accessible from London for late spring?

Hi HM'ers. I started the original thread last year with a very slightly different name. After achieving my goal in May everything went pear shaped in the second half of the year and I have done almost no running for the last three months. I'm going to try to restart this year but am almost back at a C25K level so need to take it gently. I think I might try for the same one I did last year which is mid May using the same training plan I did last year.

I really need to do some strength and conditioning work though which I struggled with last year. I'd like to find a good class for this as my own home based efforts last year were not very effective but its hard for me to do due to work/ family constraints. I've had an ongoing hip/ back thing that I'm sure would improve with the right excercise.

Just catching up on the thread and wanted to second Chutneys advice for londonmummy

It's really easy to get into 'grey zone' training where you're running your long runs at a pace that's too fast to use your aerobic system, but the run is too long to maximise your anaerobic system so you aren't actually training either system properly and 'burn out' quickly.

Long runs should be run at 70% effort usually between 130-140bpm HR if you use a monitor - it's really tough as it feels SO slow, but means you're building a strong aerobic base (should be 80% of your training) and keep the Fartlek and hill stuff for the other 20%.

I've recently started building my aerobic base through long slow runs and whilst they are time consuming the benefit is that they don't tire you and you're fresh and non-achey!

runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/wrong-long-run-pace/

Ok - training has started. Did 2 miles tonight very slowly and felt knackered at end of it but it gotta start somewhere. I'm so much less fit than last year - can hardly believe that I managed a half marathon.

Must check book to see what to do next - think it involves squats lifting up my LeCreuset pot (aka improvised Kettlebell).

Hi , can I join. I am doing a half in Feb. Have done a few before and did my first marathon in November. I loved that and have entered another in the autumn. Think the distance will be okay but now want to try and improve my speed. Any top tips ?

vet that's really interesting. I did quite a slow 7 miles on Monday due to frosty paths. It felt great. I don't really understand the 80/20 thing, but I am going to look into it. Not long before my next half mid Feb.

Hello everyone

You're not alone going back to basics Cherry, I feel like I've lost most of my energy if not pace but can't keep my previous pace going for more than 5 minutes, I've been enjoying the 80/20 training as it's a bit more gentle but works already got in the way this week and I've got a cold - sigh. I'm away with work next week so hoping for warmer runs and enough time to do them.

That's good to know Vet, I've not got as far as a long run yet!

Slows good on frosty paths still! Sounds like it's going well for Feb.

Hello missmap! I've found speed intervals made a huge difference to my pace, even one session a week and only20/25 minutes still made a difference.

I'm aiming spring and autumn too london, repeat of my first half local one in April and an autumn one, not sure which yet. I guess there's a few trail runs in the New Forest which is pretty accessible by train I think. near Brockenhurst.

This probably sound terribly, but it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who's struggling. I'm aiming for another half in Feb, but have done next to know training in almost 2 months and gained a good 6+lbs.

Keep up the good work though ladies.

can I join too please? I'm signed up for one in April which is meant to act as an incentive to get out running and get fit. I'm fairly unfit at the moment (think no formal exercise but usually achieving 10-15,000 steps a day)but am hoping it will be doable if I stick to the training and slowly up my strength and endurance, and that the worst case scenario would be that I walk part of it (ever hopeful!). Has anyone else gone from couch to half in 14 weeks? Any tips please? I think I have found a running app I like to record progress (runkeeper) but could use some advice with breathing techniques I think as that seems to be all over the shop!

It's funny how a lot of us are feeling like we're struggling. Hopefully it will all pick up soon!

Welcome winefortea! I trained last year for my first half in April starting January. I'd mostly done 5k and the odd 10k but didn't have a huge weekly mileage. I'd think it's very manageable with the right training programme and there's so many around, just a case of picking one starting from where you are, if that makes sense. I've walked some of both my halfs. Breathing, apart from the basics, eludes me

Forgot to say, I've also signed up for a virtual 1000k in 2017 just for the extra push to get out of the door. Which means I might get up early to run round the village in the dark tomorrow. Maybe!

Chutney , I have challenged myself to run 1000 miles this year as well. Need to go out for a run tomorrow to add to weekly total so will virtually run with you if that's okay

Interesting article vet. Think I'd struggle to run that slowly but might give it a try. I can imagine it feels counter-intuitive to start with.

In other news, the toenail that's been bruised since August has finally come off. Oh the glamour!

I'll report back missmapp, I've failed for an early run, I got up in time but my colds still lingering. I'm currently hoping to fit one in before I pick the kids up. I'm travelling all day tomorrow so really feel the need!

That article is a good read Vet. I've heard good things from people who've tried this approach, although they all said it was hard in the beginning. Given I'm not feeling my best at the moment that's not proving too much of a challenge and at least I can feel positive about it!

Is it sore Thats?

If been running slow for a week now - def find I need my HR monitor as it's so easy I struggle to stay slow enough! It is all about time spent rather than mileage so I'm just focusing on that rather than distance during the week but then trying to get out for a proper long slow run at the weekend. I did 5km at normal pace with some interval sprints yesterday and have a circuit class tomorrow so thats my anaerobic contribution for the week.

I'll let you know how it goes - it'll be an interesting experiment if nothing else!

No, not sore now chutney. It was bruised back at the beginning but I've just been waiting for it to detach itself!

Thanks Chutney! I haven't run since my school days (and they were a good while ago!) really so am expecting it to be quite a challenge but my aim is to get round rather than to smash any speed records.

The training plan on the half marathon website which is based on running for certain time lengths rather than distance but I have found one on the women's running website which also includes a distance run once a week so I might switch to that. Plan is for a 5 mile run/walk on Saturday - I hope the weather is nicer than today!

chutney I managed 5 miles tonight , did you fit one in ? Planning a long run on Sunday morning , ,hoping it is dry then , tonight was a bit soggy !

I was hoping to do a 5 miler tomorrow, but I've been bedridden with flu today. Fingers crossed I'm better tomorrow!

Ouch! First circuit class for about4 months and it was SO hard! It's outdoors and we start with a 2km run to warm up its run at about 5min/km pace and it's SO hard for me (though everyone else manages fine ) my usual pace is more 6.5-7ninutes/km which I know is super slow. I just don't understand how I can run a HM (albeit slowly) then struggle with 2km. And don't get me started on the upper body exercises!

I guess I need to work on my upper body strength and high intensity training too

How did it go winefortea? did you manage to get out?

vet I have tried some classes recently and whereas I used to manage fine, I feel so old and feeble now that I am seriously considering a personal trainer to get me on the way but at my own level. Also there is that whole 'first bit of running is the hardest' thing, because your body is desperately trying to cope with the exertion. I think that is what makes 2k harder than 13.1 miles.

I have entered the New Forest Half in September. Really looking forward to it.

I managed 10 miles today. average pace was 11.22 (min/mi) which seems terrible to me but I did try to go slower, so I should not be so put off.

I did still! And I didn't die!!!

The training plan said to run for 3 mins, walk for 2 and I managed that the whole way round apart from 2 places where I had to walk through a run as the hill was too steep. I was a bit daunted by the prospect when I set off, as previously whenever I have tried to run I have found myself out of breath very quickly and never really recover it enough to do any distance, but I followed the advice about taking it very slow and it really seemed to work for me and I managed the whole distance - I even felt I could have carried on a bit at the end, which I was amazed by!

By slow, I mean really slow though! 15min/mi avg slow! . Still, it's only my 1st week, so hopefully will be able to build up distance and speed before April!