Half marathon training, starting 1/1/23

[JessicaBrassica]

Hi,
I'm planning to start half marathon training in n Jan 1st. Aiming definitely for an event on May 13 but plan designed around a race on 22/4. Just in case.

Anyone want to join me?
I've done several halfs before but not run a good one for a few years.
I'm using the Garmin beginner 3x a week programme.

Anyone want to join me?

Resting the running legs today after yesterday's 8 miles.
The kids got me a massage gun for Xmas so I used that last night which I'm sure has helped.
Did a short half hour bike interval session this morning on Zwift then went to lunch time lanes for a swim. I'm making the most of being able to train again this week...and both kids have late pick ups so more time!

Hi! I would like to join too. I have a half marathon at beginning of June. I was worried about running again after recent severe back pain but actually some small slow run walks along with strength training has helped it. I use the Nike app which I find useful. Well done on those wintry long runs you’ve been doing!

Fist bump back @OhOneOhTwoOhThree! Knowing you were going out too did give me extra motivation when I could feel the excuses starting to come in. I was a little disappointed not to see much improvement in my intervals over the first time I did that session in week one but I was being a little more careful of my footing given how icy it was in the morning.

You're certainly embracing getting back into it @brooksghost - great stuff. Would you recommend the massage gun?

Welcome @Cantdoitallperfectly! June will be a fantastic time frame to work to and it's great your back is easing up.

Bodybalance for me this morning and I absolutely feel in need!

@brooksghost I’ve been thinking of getting a massage gun. Would you recommend it and if so which model do you have?

50 minutes jog, 5.1km. I’ve noticed I can speed up on flatter areas. It’s an achievement for me, so I’m pleased. I took my dog again, but went different way. Now she’s very dirty. I wiped her with the towel, but keep her in the kitchen until she’s fully dry.

@tommyspud @chutneypig
I have one of the cheap massage guns from Amazon- I saw some similar ones in Aldi today today for £39.99
I can't compare to the Theraguns at £300+ as I've not tried one of those but mine seems to work very well.
I'd recommend one as my legs and back seem to have benefited from jt. Even my kids ask for a back massage with it so if that can entice them from their rooms, then it's a win!

I'm waiting on a delivery of new running shoes today...and then I'm going for my run. It'll be just my luck that they arrive at 8pm or some other daft time!

Urgh, I have "speed repeats" on the Garmin plan today. Struggled getting to the required pace last week when they were for 1 min intervals. This week they are 1.5 min intervals.
Was going to go at lunchtime to get it done but I'm starving and having been in meetings all morning had no time for a mid morning snack. So going to eat and maybe give it a go at about 4 pm hopefully before it gets dark.

5k for me this morning, was fine but I wasn’t really feeling it and it was freezing. I am also a little concerned that my new runners are a bit small, they felt tight on one foot. A bit late to change them now so I am hoping they’ll stretch! They’re ASICS and the same size as my last ASICS but my feet feel squashed in them :/

@Jumbojem DO IT! Think how great you'll feel if you get out at 4pm.
Then you can come and brag tell us all!

@Jumbojem did you do your speed repeats? My Garmin plan had them as well today. It felt pretty daunting: 3x 5mins at 4:20-4:30 km pace (3min recovery) followed by 6x 30 sec sprints (1min recovery).
I went out before it was light and before I could talk myself out of it!

My new trainers arrived this afternoon so I took them out for quick test a short while ago.
Oooo, they are fast! I jumped on the Vaporfly bandwagon (only because they had £120 off).
I tested them on my 'night' route (3.6miles) and then compared the ave speed with heart rate over the same route- I do like a bit of data!
I'll only use them if I ever do any speed work and in races. I have a 10miler in 2 weeks and then the half at the beginning of April.
Downside- I sound like a penguin as they slap the ground hard!
Anyway, a good run.

Well done @shamoola and hope you got out @Jumbojem @chutneypig knowing you were running yesterday lunchtime kept me accountable!

I put on running gear this morning, dropped DH at the station at 7.15 with good intentions of running before work. Dropped the car home, checked my phone, got bogged down in work and decided to run at lunchtime. Got sent something on a tight turnaround so couldn’t go out and decided to finish at 4pm and run then. Got something else with a short deadline, so decided to run after I picked DH up from station at 6pm (I told myself I’d run home from the station while DH drove home but it was so cold I decided to go home, finish the last bit of work and then run). As I was going out (in a fairly bad mood by this time) I had a call to say someone dear to me was very ill. So not the greatest of days, but I went out and ran in the hope I’d feel better afterwards.

My random 80s playlist helped buck me up. I had “There She Goes”, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for (despite claiming mountains and running through fields)”, “Pump up the Jam”, “500 miles” and “Girls just wanna have fun (running in the dark on a wet Thursday evening))” I also had “Everybody wants to rule the world” which I think was repurposed as “everybody wants to run the world” at one point. So a pretty good mash up and I do feel better for it.

Commiserations on tight shoes @Lamontaine I noticed yesterday that the spare (old) pair I keep in the office felt a bit baggy - they had split along the side where the upper meets the sole, so I had to bin them.

Glad you had a good run with your new kicks @brooksghost !

Sorry to hear you had a rough day @OhOneOhTwoOhThree but I'm glad to hear the run helped. I'm quite tempted to steal some tracks for my playlist!

How frustrating on the shoes @brooksghost. I've got new shoes this week but not tried them, I've always been confident ordering online that the sizing stays the same - nervous now!

5 minute speed repeats sound grim @shamoola I'd have talked myself out of that. Hope you got out for yours @Jumbojem

I'm adding in an extra run this morning, almost junk miles but it's a good sign I'm wanting to, feels like my motivation is clicking back in.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree i have days like this where everything takes priority over the run. Well done on pulling on the trainers and doing it!

I’ve been feeling really tired the last 2 days, I perhaps have been overdoing it? Does anyone else get this? I feel like I could sleep standing up! I’ve only done a couple of 5km and upper body strength training (along with daily 1.5h dog walks). I have only recently got back to training since back pain issues. Last ran in September and even then it was sporadic. Also I’m finding my age is maybe an issue but would love to hear about getting fit in mid forties for anyone who could share? Sorry lots of questions but I’m struggling with motivation.

Sorry you had a bad day @OhOneOhTwoOhThree and well done for getting out there. I love an 80s playlist, mine too as Everybody Wants to RUN The World :)
Hope you feel more energized soon @Cantdoitallperfectly - I think it’s important to listen to how you feel, take it a bit easier when needed. I’ve just been to Pilates and it was great. @chutneypig good on you for doing the extra miles!
@shamoola wow - I can’t imagine ever running that fast!

@Lamontaine it was not a pretty sight!

@Cantdoitallperfectly I have recently got a lot fitter. I turned 50 last October and broke my 5k Iife time pb twice since then. It was all down to a period of consistency - going for a run 4 days a week, the most important elements being a slow long run and some hard sprint and tempo intervals. The faster stuff was something I'd never done before and while not particularly pleasant at the time, they made a massive difference.

I'm now having a go at the half marathon - let's see whether I'm faster in that, then I was when I last did one in my early 30s.

Thanks @shamoola this is inspiring to hear. Well done on smashing those PB! I don’t currently follow any running plan but will start next week with a schedule that includes a slow run (I find it hard to slow down and Keep thinking I must run as fast as possible) and have those rest days. How do you do the sprint runs? I have a good hill beside us where I might try and incorporate some “sprints” up that.

@shamoola that's impressive PB breaking!
I have 2 sets of PBs- pre children and post children!
What's your aim for the half?

@Cantdoitallperfectly for fast intervals for a half would try 1k intervals as fast as you can sustain for that distance knowing that you have to repeat it 3-5 times more with about 3mins rest in between each. Fast uphill for about 30-40 secs and jog down is also great.

@brooksghost I got my 5k down to 23:08, still want to go sub 22 but keep putting off trying as it's going to hurt! For my half it's a bit more of an unknown quantity - would love to get 1 h 45mins. But would be pleased with 1:48. There is a real risk that I go off too fast and crash as I've been working for so long on my 5k time.

What are your goals?

@shamoola thank you! I’m going to do a long run tomorrow then start the interval etc next week. Actually feeling excited about getting back to training!

@shamoola those are great goals!
I started running again this time last year after a gap of about 7 years. I somehow I broke my 10 year old parkrun PB in June; then I got covid in Sept and had 3 months off. I'm not back to pre-covid times yet but chipping away (when the ground isn't like a quagmire).
Half wise- I have a 10 year old PB of 1:44 so I would love to break that. Had I not suffered with the after effects of covid, I'd have said 1:40 was in reach but I can't see that happening by April. So, I'll be happy to finish in 1:50ish, but a PB, even by a second, would be amazing. I think it's too early though so may have to plan an Autumn half. I have a 10miler in 2 weeks which will be a good indicator.

Yay, post covid Parkrun best time...still 40 seconds slower than my best, but a step in the right direction. I got Covid at the start of September, had to take 3.5months off so this was a positive run. My mile splits were consecutively faster for each mile so I'm happy with that. Ran there and back so a nice 5 miles for the day.
Aiming to try 4 runs next week including a short interval or hill rep session.

Well done @brooksghost that’s brilliant!
I managed a slow 7km today, split time 6.27, very slow compared to times 2 years ago but I’m happy to have done a long run and my back feels completely fine. Rest day tomorrow so will do some yoga and start speed runs next week.

Happy Saturday runners! Thank you for your kind words.

I tail walked at parkrun this morning, and it was a really slow one today (over an hour) so couldn’t count that as my three miles today. Have just been out for a misty run along the river and over the local golf course. I saw a pheasant, sheep and a squirrel which were a nice change from my city centre runs on work days.

@Cantdoitallperfectly - I didn’t start running until my mid 40’s. I’d always been vaguely sporty (no talent, but enjoyed it and always did something) but stopped for a few years when DCs were young and I was juggling children, busy job etc. DH and I went to watch the marathon one year and I realised that anyone, any shape or size, could run. I joined a C25K thread on here a few weeks later and the rest is history 😄