Half Marathon thread

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

Anyone up for a bit of half m support?

I'm registered to run my first half m in early September.

I'm struggling a bit with motivation tbh. I think I peaked too soon - could have done it 6 weeks ago. I've got time to get prepared though - it's 8 weeks away and I'm not starting from scratch. The most important thing for me is to keep up the strength work or my knees go kerboom.

Anyone else?

*running shop to me

Not tonne !

Well done everyone!

There are some vegan gummy sweets, I did ok with soft eating liquorice on training runs but too stodgy for the real thing. Those baby fruit snacks (paws) were really easy to eat - not the cheapest but probably cheaper and easier on the stomach than gels!

Not quite fancied gels and will see how I go in training - have been fine doing 5k in the mornings before breakfast which might help! Will probably try to carry and use only when I need them for training purposes but make a plan to use them in advance of trouble in the race itself.

Hello! Didn't realise there was a thread on this!

Planning to do a half in September. I haven't done one for two years.

I managed 7m fine last weekend and am going to try for 8m tomorrow. Trouble is, I haven't run for a week as I had a swollen ankle...although it's better now...I'm scared I'm unfit

I can do this, right?!

Thinking fuel on runs might be an issue for me too - did 17k before last half with nothing then had a few jellies on day of race.

Going to purchase this hydration pack from decathlon too, has good reviews on run mummy run Facebook

I also purchased a Fitbit & am following Richie Howey so all this should encourage me to run more often.

Sendcoffee that's fantastic to have some of your training runs organised & others to run with

mammy you sound really motivated atm

wine it sounds like you'll sail through this

There's a lot of discussion here regarding nutrition and I'm very interested to know the advice. Does anyone know anything regarding salts? I've been doing well on all my runs up until this weeks long run but I've crashed. I felt really ill after the long run. Then skipped a run. Went out for a 4/5k this am. I hadn't been since Wednesday and although my pace was good, I couldn't keep up endurance and my legs were knackered. Previously when this happened I ended up deferring my race place as I just struggled through the runs leading up. When I came back this am I felt exhausted and wobbly. I drank lots this am and had some of the dc jelly beans. HOWEVER, after this mornings run I had a few leftover salted nachos and felt instantly better. Could this be the problem? And the solution? I hope so as I'm losing my running mojo. Going to delay tomorrow's run to Tuesday.

Oh and I know there are issues with over training but I don't think it is that and (thankfully,touch wood,cross fingers) I'm injury free atm. Just tired legs not aching or sore.

Thanks minesapint

Getting salt back on board after a long run is an issue for me. If I don't, I get a terrible headache and feel wobbly. The lack of salt causes this (as I found out after my last half marathon - a friend advised me to drink sugared/salted water and it got rid of the blinding pain!).

My current regime is to eat porridge with honey 1.5-2 hours before a long run. When I get back, I immediately have a cup of tea with sugar in and a packet of crisps! Maybe give it a go?

I've done 8 miles this morning at my HM pace and I'm feeling good!

Managed a lovely run this morning, just over 6 mile was hoping for more but felt like I'd run miles! More route planning needed but its put me in a good head space
I'm about to have a packet of salted crisps and hope the pp advice about headaches works as it's something I always suffer with from about 5 miles onwards.
I tried sainsbury s jelly beans as they are veg suitable today and feel they worked, also tried them before I felt I needed them and really feel I felt the benefit.
I known I shouldn't try more than one new thing per run as ill not blowhard worked hasn't but I also had a little porridge before heading off as I usually run on an empty stomach but find I crash too soon.
Also tried my new running belt with little bottles of water attached and it was great, my elbows hurt anyway and holding water bottles gives me real pain but this was a hit but in did struggle to free my sweets

*blowhard know what has.

Evening all I did 10k in my best time today but have had a dreadful headache since. Think its the salt loss like you all say. Im going to get some electrolyte tablets to put in water. Scared to try gels. My stomachs not great at the best of times!

Well done shortaris!

Did you run on an empty stomach? I really need to make sure I'm hydrated and properly fed (but the food's left my stomach if you see what I mean!).

I then find no need for a gel until I get to the 9/10 mile runs and more.

I can't do thick gels - bleurgh. I used to buy some very watery ones, but they're no longer available . I have bought some SIS ones to try but haven't road-tested them yet.

Could you try a few Haribo or wouldn't your stomach take it?

Hello everyone.
I am doing a HM in October, I've done this one before in 2 hours and 26 minutes but it was 2 years ago.

Got myself up to 10 Miles which I did yesterday but I am feeling a bit of a niggle in my right knee, I am not sure if it's something to be concerned about but will take it easy over the next few days.

also, just wanted to add mammy, I bought the 8 litre decathlon backpack which is a 2l bladder and tried it out for my run yesterday. It was great

Thanks minesapint whether it's motivation or just sheer disgust at lack of progress on weight loss front I'm not sure but somethings got to change

Interesting reading about salts here, I did a bootcamp sat morn and was like I was hungover then in the afternoon with tiredness, maybe this was the reason?

On runmummyrun a lot of the women use something called tailwind for their running.

I've never been a fan of gels and prefer to run on an empty tummy but have figured out that this doesn't cut it for the longer distances. There's a local run on next Sunday @ 9.30am, thinking I'll do the 10k to get back into it.

deepfriedpizza that's brilliant I'm delighted to hear another good review
hoolit even the water belts annoy me!

I'm really struggling to get my head back in the game. I'm dithering about going out this pm for 4/5 miles. I really should.

Mine get out there & do some running

Evening is beautiful here but my inner thighs still hurt even to walk so I thunk running will have to wait until the morning, might do a short walk instead.

I ran 6k but it was a bit of a disaster as I took a wrong turn and ended up doing some mountainted climbing/hiking in the middle . The rest of it went well though and I tackled some nasty hills (I live in the Welsh valleys so it's pretty awesome hard for Hill training here) so I'm quite happy but still nothe feeling on quite on top of things. Hopefully I will get there in the next couple of runs.

Went for a little 1.5 miles today to wear in some new shoes.
Only it was HARD. this running malarkey is meant to get easier isn't it? Why is every run I do getting harder, and I'm not even managing to run for a full mile at the moment.

Grrrrrrrr

Omg it's August.
I'm running a half marathon NEXT MONTH.

Omg pikachu do not do that! it's not August until tomorrow here

send I have days like this. It really really sucks. Not sure why they happen but just keep on going is all I can suggest (bit rich coming from me at the moment, I'm in a bit of a slump)

I had a nice Fartlek run with the running club. Was still able to sprint at the end which was a pleasant surprise - actually even being able to sprint was a surprise - I started this running park very one paced

Morning all - I just had a short but fabulous morning run. Tomo I will have made my breakfast & lunch the night before & will be able to do a longer run

Random I've still only got one pace! That sounds good, maybe I should join a club & force dh into accommodating it

Pik that made me feel better about my half its 6.5 weeks away!

Sendcoffee were you tired before you went? That makes it much harder.

@mammy I'm always tired at the moment which I don't think helps. Doctor can't work out what's causing it. We're on our last option before they look into potential sleep apnea which is a depressing thought.

Plus I've woken up this morning with a hacking cough. Joy.