Have I blown it for this half marathon?

[paap1975]

Have been a bit behind with my hm training but have been upping instances the last weeks. I ran 16km on Monday 25th, a quick 10km on Thursday 28th and a horrible 14km on Monday 2nd. It turns out my 14km was horrible because I was coming down with something. Sore throat on Tuesday followed by full-blown cold since Wednesday.

My hm is in just over a week (15th), but I don't know when I am going to be able to train. I had planned on 18km last night and 10km or so on Tuesday, but yesterday didn't happen and I don't know when I'll be able to run. Also, say I can train on Sunday or Monday, could I/should I try a long run or what? My longest run so far is 16km and the jump from 16km to 21km is huge. Also, if I don't train and run the hm, my last run will have been 14km two weeks before.

Has anyone been here before? What did you do?

Rest, it's taper time. You've done a good distance already so there is nothing to be gained by pushing yourself and racing exhausted.

I reliably get a cold in the first week of the two week taper!

I'm doing a HM on the 15th too. Last week, I did my first ever half distance while training, I don't usually get much further than 10 miles/ 16k. This week my long run was 5k to a fitness class then the 5k back.

I had a bad day on my last HM and felt quite spent by 10 miles. I got through the last 3.1 by singing "one parkrun to go!"

The last stretch is much easier in a race than training.

I've always done 6-8 miles the weekend before a half, then 2 clear rest days before it, and between that some leg looseners of around 3-5 miles. You'll be fine!

You've put in the leg work already so you should be fine.

I only managed 6 miles for the 2 weeks before my HM (Sunday past) as my knee had been niggling. I "ran" the HM and my knee gave up at mile 1 and I hobbled the rest of the way in 2 hours 38. I have since been to the physio and have patella tendonitis and can't run for 3 weeks at least

You'll be fine. I only went up to 16k in my training due to lack of time etc but told myself the difference is only 5k and I know I can do 5k

You'll be fine! I'm sure its not recommended but I had only been running up to 10k and for 5 weeks before I did mine

A good level of fitness and the crowd will get you round

Thanks everyone. I was really considering pulling out but I think I might give it a go, as long as the cold clears up

You'll be fine. Rest up and get rid of the cold. Any running Wong make a difference! Let us know how you get on if you decide to do it :)

I did one recently with no training. Sore knees for one day and sore thighs for a few days longer. Probably not recommended but you've done 100% more training than me!

Do a few short runs this week when you feel up to it. You should be tapering now anyway. I have a half on the same day as you and I am planning a nice slow chatty run today of about 7 miles with a friend. Might not do anything else before the day. You've done the work already. Good luck !

You'll be fine, plenty of water, sleep & some cold & flu medicine. You'll do great. Be prepared to feel unwell week after it though.

I was like this week prior to my half marathon ran 6 miles week before, 2 miles four days before & was smothered with cold. Did hm in 2hrs 28 was miraculously ok for race & two days late came down with wicked cold once more.

I'm doing a HM for the first time since March 2013 on 15th October.

I ran a 10 mile race in July. Since then I've not run more than 8 miles in one go, although those 8 mile runs were hilly ones.

I read an article last week that said that if you can run 10k without crying, you can do a HM. It might be a bit slower than you were hoping for, but if that's the case, make a virtue out of it and enjoy it. Mine is overseas so I am taking my phone and will stop from time to time to take photos!

Oh and yes, the jump from 16k to 21k is huge but I have never run more than 10 miles in training for a HM. Better to be undertrained and uninjured. If you do parkrun, just think to yourself "only a parkrun to go" when you get to the 10 mile/16k mark.

I'm going out this lunchtime to do about 4 miles, and that will be it for me until Sunday. I swam yesterday and will do a PT session tomorrow, but no more running.

disaster I read that somewhere here about only another parkrun to go, and I've never done a park run but thought it at mile 10 and it really saw me through to the end

If you’re doing the Birmingham HM on Sunday then practice a lot of hills in your runs this week. Don’t quit though - some people walk most of it and manage.

Thanks everybody. I did it. It took me 2h36m05, which is the slowest of the 3 I've done, but hey!

It was hot and I had a relapse of my cold on the Friday, so all in all, not too bad.

@paap1975 Well done, how are you feeling now?

I felt absolutely fine the two days afterwards. The half marathon was in Bruges, so we strolled around after our showers being tourists. I think that helped. Hardly any stiffness

You'll be absolutely fine. Miles are in, just rest up and get better.

Slightly behind haha well done!