Half Marathon training

[ohhhhitsme]

So after maybe a year of running aimlessly to 'just get better', I'm now officially half marathon training. I'm starting at Week 6 of a 13 week programme, as I'd say I've already really being doing what the first five weeks entail.
Anybody else got a half marathon as a goal anytime soon?
With a bit of luck (luck or effort?) I should be running the half by the last week of March/first week of Feb 🤞🏾

I've signed up for a virtual half at Easter.
I suppose I'd better get my butt into gear because I've settled at 10ks in recent months.

my time was well over 2 hours!

which one you doing op?

Yes I am! I'm currently at 11k I'm hoping I'll reach HM distance by the end of February

I'm doing a programme I found in BUPA.
Furthest I have ran so far is 12k, and that was pretty comfortable so felt I'd be ok to start at week 6 now. I did a 10k today with my friend (her first), slightly slower than I run alone and I felt like I could have carried on for a while!
The programme consists of 4 runs a week (I usually do 4 or 5 anyway) but different types of runs. So this week there is a 40 minute 'easy' run, a 30 minute tempo run, a 40 minute interval run then the long run which is 13km this week.
I don't usually vary my runs up like that so fingers crossed for seeing some progress and results!

@MrsMercedes

my time was well over 2 hours!

which one you doing op?

I'm think 2 hours 15 would be good for me!

How much over 2 hours were you?

@BogRollBOGOF

I've signed up for a virtual half at Easter. I suppose I'd better get my butt into gear because I've settled at 10ks in recent months.

Good luck!

I’m building up fitness after a long layoff with injury last year, hoping to be half marathon fit by April

I ran my 13.2 PB after following the CRUK plan - it’s about time on your feet rather than distance. I found that encouraging - because you automatically get faster as you get fitter and stronger so can really see gains

I really like half marathons as a distance- not as fast and all-out as a 10k, yet not a properly long run like a marathon. My last race IRL was a half, in March last year. Covid locked us all down just a week or so later.

You'll be fine OP; just try and get at least one or two 10-milers under your belt first, and don't go out too hard in the first few miles.

@BogRollBOGOF

I've signed up for a virtual half at Easter. I suppose I'd better get my butt into gear because I've settled at 10ks in recent months.

How are you doing? I've just realised Easter is the week after my 'race day' so we are due to run it around the same time

@iVampire

I’m building up fitness after a long layoff with injury last year, hoping to be half marathon fit by April

I ran my 13.2 PB after following the CRUK plan - it’s about time on your feet rather than distance. I found that encouraging - because you automatically get faster as you get fitter and stronger so can really see gains

I agree with this. I think that's why I enjoy running as I can see the progress and results from just basically running frequently

Anybody made any progress with training?
I did intervals today for the first time, I loved it and hated it!

I did a half marathon in December last year after regularly running 5k twice a week and 10k once a week. Took me around 2.5 hours. (I had been running for 8 months).

I'd like to try and improve my time so going to start adding intervals and hills to my running.

@Coulddowithanap I've recently started doing tempo and interval runs and have definitely seen a difference in my pace.
I have just done this week's 30 minute tempo run, and shaved 19 seconds off my 5k PB (previous PB was achieved during last week's tempo run).
It's so good to see the effort having an effect

Once I was more than comfortable running 10k's every other day, I focused on lots of long, slow runs to train for half marathon distance, with the odd fast 10k at race pace very week or so.

Every time I attempted a HM training plan, I suffered injury so I ignored every plan and listened to my body, slowly building time on my feet.

It's taken the best part of 4 months but when I managed my first half I found it fairly easy, I definitely could have gone for longer, had no aches/pains, and I enjoyed a recovery 12km run the day after!

I'm training for a marathon now.

It's so individual but listen to your body for sure. :) sometimes plans can hinder you. I'd say once you can manage 15km comfortably, you're VERY close to being able to enjoy completing a half.

I'll take that advice on board, thanks @MeadowViews

Week 2 of a 12 week programme from Runners World. Target of sub 2 1/2 hours which is the slowest. Going OK so far.

I've signed up for a HM but not till November. It's part of a total life transformation for me.... I've lost 3 1/2 stone already and another 2-3 to go.
I'm up to doing 10k's once a week and trying to improve the times.

I did C25k but I can feel my heaviness prevents me from keeping a decent pace so working on that as well as distance.

Still in the 'anything is progress!' zone!!!

Good luck @nostaples, keep posting your progress.

That's brilliant @PuggyMum You're tights bout anything is progress. You're lapping everyone still sat on the couch.

I have a 16k to run on my programme this weekend! Hoping for around 1hr 35

Ohhh I've just finished couch to 5k last month and still running 3x 5k a weem. I ran a few 10k pre baby.

I'm not a natural runner at all and very slow but I'd love to do a half in the next 6mths or so as I need a proper goal to focus on!
Well done op and good luck.

That's why I'm doing it @Pleaseaddcaffine
I feel I just needed a goal.
I plan to only do the one HM, I don't think I can say I love doing the distances, and then hopefully focus on 5k and 10k races when they are back on.
Good luck with yours

Ok so I've just done 16km under my goal of 1hr 36. My breathing was great, wasn't out of breath at the end, but oh my god my legs and hips are achy and heavy. I clearly need more leg muscle to go further comfortably! Anybody any tips please?

Agree - I'm training for the London Marathon in October (hopefully). I ran it a few years ago.

I think training has to work for you - its got to be realistic, and enjoyable. Personally, I bloody hate interval training or fast runs - if I had a plan with that on, I'd suddenly have a deadline that meant I couldn't run or childcare issues! Its about finding a schedule that works for you. So many people don't even make it to the start line, never mind the finish line. I've had friends saying "yes, training for a marathon, following an 'under 4 hours' programme" when they've never really run before, only to get a few weeks in and give up or get injured.

For me, its about regular runs and clocking up the miles. As I do that, I get fitter and therefore faster.

Also started the BUPA HM training programme. Actually commenced from scratch a year ago but became really unwell with pneumonia, so had to start all over again late last year . Did 11.5km today, my longest run ever.
I haven't signed up for anything but hope to be HM ready for the end of April, then can work on speed.
16km? You are absolutely killing it!!! I cannot imagine running that far that fast yet.

@Forestcantrun Thank you, although neither could I a couple of weeks ago, so I feel like the programme does work (and I'm sticking to it religiously). I just need some advice now on how to make my legs go further!
Over 11k is brilliant, when you've had pneumonia. I'm sure you'll be at 16 in no time too

I plan to only do the one HM

That's what I said, when I signed up to do my first in March 2018

I must have done about twenty by now.....