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?

10 miles done today 2E, 6HM 2E actually faster than HM pace so my fastest 10k and 15k to date. Might amend my planned pace up slightly as it felt pretty comfortable.

Woops, fell off this.

Ipswich HM on Sunday. Weather looks good. Last easy run tomorrow (well 2 actually - drop car at garage, run home, run back later, drive home).

Lot of races looming here!

Mine is a week on Sunday, race pack has arrived and last long run completed (12 miles in 2 hours exactly). Tapering now which always feels wrong! So glad to (fingers crossed!) be making the start line after an injury over the summer.

I'm running Sunday week too and also find the whole tapering thing weird. I've done 2 four mile runs this week and will do another 4 miles tomorrow. Sunday would normally be my long run day - not sure what distance to do.

@HRHPrincessMegan I did 6 miles Sunday before my half.

I've actually not run at all this week, been smothered with a cold all week, did 6am bootcamp tues morn & that was where I realised I wasn't feeling 100%, introducing dc to junior parkrun on Sunday so that'll be my only run this week

A week before a race I would normally just do a 5 or 6 medium pace.
I did actually race last week (9.35 miles) but I'd taken it pretty easy all week and it felt good to get my legs moving.

I think as long as you feel comfortable and tell yourself it's NOT training then you'll be fine. It's standard to feel you can't breathe, legs don't work and everything hurts!

. HRH I plan to do 6 miles probably this weekend which will feel strange! Are we doing the same half? I'm in Glasgow for mine.

Mammy enjoy junior parkrun, my two are big fans. We are going as usual on Sunday. Feel better soon!

purplerunner dd has a great stride but is like me and isn't sporty or into teamsports. I didn't find running until I was 27, wouldn't it be great for her to discover a love for it at 7! Ds is very energetic anyhow and regularly spends ten minutes jumping on the spot to burn off energy before bed. Going to take buggy this week for him, he's not 4 until Nov and see how he gets on. Must print barcodes again!!

Well I must be very lazy as I absolutely love tapering! I love having the excuse not to train hard and my legs feel great. Feel like I want to pig out on junk food and alcohol but I'll save that for the week after next!

Don't get me wrong I love like running but it's very nice to take a break from slogging it out.

mammy hope you feel better soon.

Hope you feel better soon mammy, and good luck mines for Sunday and others running HM.

I got a quick lunch run in today just 5k but still hope to do a longer run on Sunday. It's nice that it's cooler to run now, I much prefer it.

Thanks tri but my hm not until a week Sunday. I'm planning on running 0km this Sunday!

I'm loving the cooler weather too Autumn is my favourite season.

Good advice - I'll do 6 miles on Sunday.

Is it normal with 1 week to go that 4 miles is no easier than 12 miles? I ran 4 relatively flat miles today as opposed to my pre-tappering hilly long runs and I found it just as hard. My issue is purely breathlessness - muscles tend to be okay if a little tight but my legs never feel wobbly - but I'm no less out of breath on a short run than I am on a long one.

Is this normal? Does it mean I'm really unfit? I find it more than a little disconcerting and slightly disheartening.

A boot camp at 6am mammy is above and beyond less than a week after a HM in my book

Purple I'm not doing Glasgow. I'm doing a teeny tiny HM in Kent with only 1600 places.

I ran 10 miles again today - planned on 6 but found it ok so carried on. Started off at a good pace but had to stop to refuel and struggled after that. After mile 8 there was a fair bit of fast walking thrown in.

mines I can't wait for tapering. I've completely lost my mojo and just want the whole thing done. My pace has completely fallen off since I hurt myself and even though a massage has really helped that I've just lost some of my enthusiasm. Meh

HRH that's not small, I do one in SW Scotland in the spring which has around 150 runners. No where to hide

Mammy my two have parkrun wristbands with their barcodes on. Don't need to worry about soggy bits of paper then, which will prove useful given the weather forecast for this Sunday!

My 1st half had about 300 runners - mostly club types. Nearly killed myself trying to stay with the back of the pack.

Am bloody terrified of Birmingham - 10k people... how do I even move?!

random are they starting in waves?

Try to keep an even pace and don't waste energy weaving! It'll soon spread out and you'll be able to pass people.

Definitely waves. I'm in the penultimate pen.

I know what I want my pace to be and will aim for a negative split from just behind that pace. I've never run in lots of people - I'm always in the hole at around 31 minutes at all the park runs I've done so running in a pack just never happens!

I'm feeling like I want to run today
Must be getting better

Glad I didn't run , declined rapidly at 7pm & was asleep by 8.30 last night

Oh dear mammy hope a good nights sleep helps. I was like that last week in bed by 8.30pm every night. This week I'm feeling SO much better.

12k run done this morning but for the first time in a very long time I got a painful stitch at the 10k bit when I was on the easier downhill bit? Ended up walking as deep breaths didn't clear it.

Trigirl maybe it's the comedown from an event so? I think I was just brewing it for ages & staved it off until I'd run the half & now I must suffer it!

Running group is tomo eve but I'm meeting my cousin for dinner instead. Will do 6am bootcamp tues & thurs & if I'm able then run wed eve.

I've been asleep by 9.30pm most nights for the past 2 weeks and I haven't even my HM yet!

I'm looking forward to having it done now. I'm tired, my legs are tired and my muscles are tight again resulting in some really undignified tripping up at random moments.

Today I ran 5 miles and next week I'll do two 3 mile runs and one 4 mile before HM on Sunday. I'm going to try to get to a Pilates class to stretch out and I've booked another massage for Thursday.

Just creeping in to lurk for a while.

I've signed up for a half next year, thinking about doing a 10 miler before Xmas. Furthest I've run in training so far 8.75

Hi auntie welcome🙋

hrh I want it to be over too as I'm fed up of wondering if I'm going to make it through lol. I've also been in bed early but think it's out of boredom. I've not been going to sleep early at all though so going to try that for the next week.

What kind of things should I eat this week? Pasta,chicken,potatoes? Loads of water?

It sounds like you need to rest mammy get well soon