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?

@revolution909 I did 11km a week or so ago (which contributed to the sore ankle, unfortunately). Was feeling pretty pleased with myself - hoping there is still time get back on track.

Do you do them in one go or throughout the week?

The Run Experience video on improving your long run.

My plan was initially to do 3k ring 5 days per week & long run at weekend but that's not going to be enough so going to aim to do mid length run one evening & do 3-5k three other days instead

What has worked for me is 2 sprinting/speed sessions, one short run (5k), one midrange (8k), one long one (12k+)

Welcome Mumthatruns and Chamomile :)

I'm just back from a 12k run. It was cold and pissing down, and very hilly, but I enjoyed it. I do hear what some of you are saying about me needing to run longer distances. I think you're probably right, but I'm so nervous about my knee. My aim is just to finish without walking. Am not worried too much about times.

I listened to another mother runner podcast. It was okay. Interviews in the style of American daytime tv. Will try something different next time.

Did you run alone at that hour pik?
I run in the early morning and often ran in the dark at 5.30am(never had any fear) but we've a dodgy neighbour for past year and a half and I've not ran on my own road since, we live rurally. He's meant to be evicted since last week but until I'm certain of that, I drive to a diff route.

Different time zone mammy!! It was a mid morning run!

I am brainless

Can I join in?
Did one last year at 2:18 but it was completely flat.
Doing Great North Run in sept and really trying to get my head around it. Finding the training so much more difficult this time. Managed 8 miles last week but that was flat.
Aiming for runs three times a week , shorter runs of 4-6 miles and then one longer run with my running buddy. I swim on my non running days and horseride once a week.
My big worry is that I HATE running in the heat and we have 2 weeks away in August in a hot country. I know I will struggle to run there.

Hi! Please can I join in too?
My first half will be on the 8th Oct all being well.

Hello both! 2:18 is a great time!! I ran in the heat today and yes I struggled with 8k. In my experience if you can find a hilly track that gives you an edge. Last Saturday everybody was complaining about some hills and I overtook them all ;)

Hello to all the newbies

Am thinking realistically and I just dont think I can get my marathon down to 2:30, so have sent an email to the company asking if I can transfer my place, and instead doing my local Robin Hood Marathon in September.

My fastest split so far has been 12:09, but I need to shave another 2 minutes off and I have six weeks to do it. Plus running that split was hard, I couldn't do another 12 of them.

Where do you all run? I am mixing it up between our local country park and the roads near where we live.

I only run around my local area. I'm a roadrunner which means it's sometimes tough to find routes that give me the mileage I want.

I run around my local area and sometimes on the treadmill at the gym although I find that extremely boring and also my time seems to dip

Hello everyone - glad I found you!!

I run in my local area but I do a mixture of road running and off road hilly runs which keeps it fun (well, keeps it interesting I should say!!).

There is a lot of hilly land with trails galore near us so we are lucky.

I have also joined a running club and one day per week there is an interval training session, another day there is a 5 - 6 mile group run. I currently do this, a long run on a Saturday with my husband (currently 10 miles), and then a hilly 5 mile run or some hill sprints. I do two classes a week which are mainly body weight strength stuff.

The running club also does a special run at a nice location one Sunday a month and a 10k handicap race once a month. All for the grand sum of £27 per year!!

I go on holiday the last two weeks of July so will do some running while we are away hopefully and then I have planned out a bit more of a structured plan for the 10 weeks I have when we get back.

I'm excited but nervous about it all!!

LaFlottes in all honestly your current training plan sounds great!

rmc I can't do treadmill at all - did a bit when it was wet in winter & ds was a small baby but otherwise I'm allergic!

Revolution Have you tried sitting down to mapmyrun on pc & finding circular routes for the mileage you want?

Anyone run in their lunch break? I've a friend that does this. I only get 30 mins & when you take locking up & changing gear I'd be down to 15mins

Nope I haven't, good idea though!! I think I can run up to HM distance around my hood but if I ever want to start training for a FM I'll struggle!

Thanks Revolution - my routine works for now but I keep reading these proper training plans with all different kinds of speed work and long runs being long one week and then shorter and then even longer....it's a bit mind boggling isn't it!! It makes me feel like my current training isn't right, but maybe it's actually ok?!!

Mammy - I can't stand treadmills - I'd rather be running in the pouring rain and freezing cold! I just can't do it on a treadmill, too much temptation to stop!! Map my Run sounds good - I didn't realise you could do that!!

@LaFlottes I basically did a couch to HM in 5 months with no real training plan nor outside coaching beyond a FB group

Revolution - that's great! Maybe I will just stick with what I'm doing and aim to get a bit quicker and stronger! I've never run further than 10 miles yet!!

Well done on your runs everyone! I can't wait to get back to it after my marathon hike on Saturday!! Missing the running so maybe a week off is a good thing to make you realise you actually do enjoy running !!

Did run part of fitness test this morning after 4 weeks of bootcamp took a full minute off my previous 4 min time

I am in such a muddle with my training. How do I rescue this?
This week I did -
Monday - 7k running + 60m bootcamp (+60m zumba - does that count for anything?)
Tuesday - 60m aqua running
Weds - 12k run
Thurs - nothing
Fri - 60m bootcamp.

I'm just not running enough. I'm so bloody nervous about my knee. I feel like I'm really fit and could probably run 24k, but I'm nervous of running too much and buggering my knee training, which is really stupid.

I could go for a long run now? Or tomorrow?

Is it rescuable or have I already stuffed up my chance of completing the half? It's in 8 weeks. Is that enough time?

What about that sports tape everyone seems to wear these days? Could that help my knee?

Hey Pikachu KT tape works as far as I know - never used it though- what's the furthest you've ever run? A rule of thumb is to add 1k on a weekly basis to your longer runs, so 8 weeks would take you to 20k which is basically HM :)