GNR 2020

[aspiringnurse]

Hi all!

I'd love to do tat GNR next year after cheering on family members today.

I'm a total none runner and am not fit at all, I'd like to lose a bit of weight too so unsure if healthy eating would be the best in addition to training for the run.

Where do I get started on training for it and will healthy eating aid to losing weight?

Thank you for any advice

Hi

It's a fantastic experience... today was my third time and DDs first... we ran together ...

You have until 13th September next year to get ready so it's doable...

Start with just being more active... go for a 30-40 minute walk 3x per week for a couple of weeks then add in an extra day.

Nutrition ... just make gradual changes to balanced meals, reducing sugary stuff and go for good Lean choices.

Once you've got comfortable with walking, try couch to 5k... after that you can build mileage so that once a week you're running further and over weeks- months you can run s longer run once a week.

OK, going from nothing to a Half marathon is a quite something.

I did it in about 18months, in my 50s. If you are younger, then a year may well be possible (remember, if you are not fit enough and injury free, you can defer a place to the following year)

Running won't make you lose weight (indeed once you are running a lot, you'll be ravenous) so you need to look at that separately, and find a way to eat less but healthily.

Start running with C25K. That's a 9 week programme, but might take a week or few longer if you find any part too tough or are ill/injured. Various apps will steer you through it, and Zombies!Run! has released a training app which is similar running training but with added undead incentive.

Start parkrunning just before completing C25K (as you don't need to run the whole thing) and enjoy this distance for a while. Maybe see if there's a running group or a branch of the Good Gym near you.

Then take another 3 months to double your 5k to 10k. This is actually easier than going from 0 - 5K! Enter some 10k events.

Then find a Half training plan. If you google, you will find lots. But if it helps you to have a recommendation, thus is one I found worked really well (led to my Personal Best)

raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/RFL%20Half%20Marathon%20Intermediate%20Training%20Plan.pdf

And have fun!

I was a fat non-runner 3 years ago. Who would have laughed in your face if someone suggested running. I was a somewhat thinner brand new runner 2 years ago. Now, I run Half marathons because I enjoy them (I'm halfway to me aim of doing 8 this year)

You can do this!

But I must sound a note of caution - a rapid training plan risks injury. If things start to hurt, slow down and defer your place to 2021

Thank you both @putthehamsterbackinitscage and @AuntieStella

Congratulations on doing the GNR!!

I'm 25 so not too old (yet) but will start with walking with the pram a lot more to build up a bit of fitness, im lucky I live near the route but also in a very hilly area so can add some of these in when ready too.. I have signed up with my local ladies only running group and look forward to running every week with them and there is no added pressure of always having to run you can walk a lot of the distance until you feel ready too run.

I have been for my gait analysis and trainers are ready to go just needed the advice on where to start..

Thank you again and I hope to make it to next years half marathon

Course you can do it, OP! I went from couch - like, so unfit I threw up after a two minute run- to my first half marathon in 4 months.
Started couch to 5k in the January and ran my first half in the May. I was really bloody slow - did it in just under 2:20 - but I got round!
You've got AGES. Get cracking on couch to 5k!

You can definitely do it! I joined a beginners running group in April and I am running my first half marathon in December. I am 39. Honestly once the bug takes hold it is addictive.