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?

Just managed a 5 mile run at a good pace for me - 10.48 m per mile. Won't get to run this weekend as away. Although I
Might chuck my trainers in my bag and see what happens. If I managed this 9 miler next week I think I might actually believe I can do this.

Can I join? I have a HM in October and training got derailed by holiday. Now back to normal but lacking motivation. Using myasics plan and most of the runs from now on are a minimum of about 4.5 miles which for me is about an hour. Struggling to find the time in between work and life. Got longer run planned for tomorrow but weather looks rubbish.

Hello @Rankellior! Rum in the rain, I find it empowering ;)

Mmm rum in the rain. That'll warm us up.

I'm just back from 19k in the pissing rain. Soaked to my bones. Wind was howling too, which is worse than the rain. Quite enjoyed the run though. Madness.
Time: 2hrs 6 mins (would have been faster but I had a side quest to catch an escaped rabbit on the main road)
Elevation: 369m

Pikachu well done on your run - was it raining before you went out? I don't mind if it starts once I'm out there but I won't go out intentionally in the rain. Probably means in winter I'm going to have to go on treadmill in gym or get over it!

Can I join? Hope no one minds. I did my first HM last year as a complete beginner and then went on to do a Full this year so if anyone has any questions I'm more than happy to try answer them

It's been raining for days Mammy :( . If I waited for a dry spell I'd never go. Glad to read you've got your mojo back. Go you! You'll be great on the day :)

Welcome RunningAdict. Congrats on your marathon!!

Hey runningaddict question for you! How long did it take you to do couch to HM? And once you did a HM how long did it take you to train for a full one? How did your training change?

Thanks pikachu

I know how it is trying to get the training and race nutrition right (which I discovered was a thing halfway through the HM ) can be!

That reminds me of something that happened to me this week that I stored away to share on this thread. So, I was at my aqua running class. It was designed by a marathon runner who was injured and wanted a way to stay running fit without further damaging her knee, and she still runs the class. There are lots of injured mega-fit runners in the class, quite a few older or less fit people too - a very friendly mix of all sorts. I got talking to a woman in the class who was telling me she's injured and not running at all, and rather nervous because she's registered to do the NY Marathon in a couple of months time. I agreed it was tough not being able to run as much as you'd like, and said that I was registered to do my first half M, and really struggling with knee pain, made worse every time I run. She looked a bit puzzled and clarified "a half marathon?" Yes, I said, my first one! "Oh, but you don't really have to train for a half m do you? You just run it..?"

That's us told!

revolution909 took me about 8ish months but that was through the winter so training was need much more motivation once I'd completed it i got a little bit addicted haha! So I did the marathon exactly a year after. Training for that was very very intense, lots of sore legs and time spent googling how eat the right stuff as sadly diet was a massive part. Als used up a lot of my time but worth every second.

Wow Pikachu I think I would have slapped her!!! Runningaddict yeah my biggest issue right now is hydration and how I refuse to get one of those belts with bottles on the side. I'm thinking a vest would be a better idea. Also, I hardly get more than 3 hours for my long run, and I'll never get close to Marathon distance with just those 3 hours!!

Revolution what do you have against a belt with bottles?

Do any of you snack mid-run? I got really hungry after the first 90 mins this morning. Found myself wishing I had one of those 'peanut butter slugs' with me!

I currently wear a bum bag and it really annoys me that it rarely stays in place

I use this one. Two small water bottles and space for a phone / $5 / house key.

It does stay in place. It has a thick, strong elastic band.
Not too heavy (bottles are small and on both sides).
It does give me slight back ache after the first hour or so.
I tend not to use it to run races because there's always water available on the course.
Today I ran 2 hours + and didn't use it once because I wasn't thirsty running in the driving rain.

Would rather run in the rain than the heat any day!! Must be the only person looking praying for cool over cast weather at the moment!

I don't use a belt or anything atm just picked up the water on the way round on the course and carried a bottle with the hand hole in training, tried a belt but it kept riding up and rubbed all along my stomach was agony! time is always the hardest part of training to find...

I like those , thanks Pikachu

I carry a belt for phone, key etc as I hate the arm belts. I only use the water for long runs. Over about 8 miles I take snacks - baby fruit paws are my favourites as very easy to swallow. Jelly Babies also went down well on my 1st half.

Quiet weekend for me running wise - in charge of pushchair intolerant 2yo while DH works (from 8.30 Friday to 5.30 Monday) - might manage to sneak a speed session up the steep hill 5 minutes away if it's quiet tomorrow...

I use a belt for all runs for my inhaler and phone. Don't normally need water until after 5k.

I use gels from 10k onwards. Can't eat when running generally although when people are giving out jelly babies during races I can't resist them!

Hmm. Have never ever eaten on a run. I'm going to try it next long run to see if it works for me.

Never thought a wall but found a wall at 8.5 miles.

pikachu well done on the 19k.

And welcome to the newcomers.

I'm slipping into a bit of a funk.
Thurs-ran 10k but started out too fast, got a bit lost, couldn't be bothered to run up the hills and ended up run/walking a fair bit. Disaster.
Fri-did some sprint work. Slower than usual as legs were tired. It was TORRENTIAL rain ended up getting my phone (which I use for strava) wet and it stopped working. Took to shop this am and luckily they exchanged it under the warranty but still...rubbish! On that note it's worth saying I put my keys in my leggings pocket and hold my phone or use arm strap (I hate it). I take water on a hot day and am going to try the jelly beans!
Today- not my usual running day but now it's school hols have to change my days about. Set out to do 5k. Was wearing the wrong kit. Leggings kept falling down and wore a waterproof which turned out to be sweltering. Turned it into a decent sprint session for a shorter distance but not happy really. At least I made it back before it poured down again!

So my plan is. Big rest day tomorrow. Monday I'm going to attempt a slow and steady 10k without any walking. If that goes well I'll feel better and will up my next run mileage. Just hope Monday goes well as I think I'might losing my mojo now!

Slow and steady is a good plan minesapint. It's been working for me. I've been setting out at a gentle plod and found that I avoid my usual 7 minute wall, and also keep up a better pace throughout do my times aren't slower.

This half m is a very different fish to a 10k.