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?

Ah sorry to hear you’re under the weather @TheOrigRights
I finally got going with the interval run. I managed to do 200m sprints at hard pace with 1-2 minute recovery between managing about 12. Warmed up with a 1k and same for cool down, my legs felt wobbly at the end. Definitely need to try the 5km pace for longer sprints next time and see how that goes. Give me a long run any day over doing these but I know it’s the only way I’ll improve time. Now off to walk the dog and clean the house. Think I’ll do upper body work tomorrow and give my legs a rest ready for long run on Sunday. Aiming to do 6miles.

Hope everyone who is feeling poorly is feeling better soon.
6k for me this morning; a new and very flat run in my sister’s town which is not what I’m used to as it’s hilly where I live. I would love to have done longer but we had some appointments so did a fast paced run.
Will try a nice long easy paced run on Sunday before coming home and starting on the sprints - thank you @TheOrigRights for the tips!

It's nice to get out and see somewhere different @Lamontaine, enjoy the long run.

I'd be inclined to rest and be feeling in shape for the long run @TheOrigRights - I completely understand the pull though. I've had very slight sniffles all week and keep wondering, I've pushed on as it's not seeming to improve or decline.

Glad you got out @OhOneOhTwoOhThree, enjoy parkrun.

I had a slight panic last night when I got home and no one had seen my watch parcel. Evri had dumped it with no info but we located it. I did of course set it up last night - no patience . I've been very entertained that it's putting my current 5k time prediction at 26.05 which I've never managed in my life. I imagine it will revise its estimate after parkrun

Feeling much better today. Didn't do the speedy Parkrun I was planning but I did get out for a slow 10k plod and feel much better for it.

Long run tomorrow - hopefully about 11 miles and we're back to the schedule next week.

Had a great parkrun this morning.
I ran a post-covid best which was only 16seconds slower than my PB.
Mile splits were very consistent even though the last mile felt very hard. I got 4th last and 1st in my age group so happy with that as well.
Ran there and back for a nice 5 miles.
Highest weekly total this week with 20 miles over 4 runs.

@brooksghost presuming you mean 4th lady (not last) 😆 well done and great effort!

I love autocorrect!
Yes, 4th lady!
The results say 444 finishers today which is far more than normal at our parkrun. There was a great atmosphere and tons of support today.

Well done @brooksghost !

I like your Garmin's style @chutneypig 😀A bit like when you get a "helpful" insight on Strava or Garmin.

Good stuff @shamoola , hope your long run goes well tomorrow.

I had a good parkrun and then did another mile to stick with the plan. I forgot my watch so didn't have the prompts for run/walking, so I just ran the whole thing and surprised myself with how not too bad it was. Swimming tomorrow and then I need to run 6 miles.

Fantastic @brooksghost!

I just squeaked understand 29 minutes, first time in a long while. Pleased with that but I do think the sniffles weren't helping.

I'm in love with the 255 though, all the extra information! I do love a bit of data. My VO2 max went up today so I definitely feel everything is headed in the right direction. It's still insisting I can manage 26.30 for 5k which is pretty much my all time PB. But oddly 2.16 for a half, which is slower by a few minutes than my PB. I feel like I'm still a way from that. I know it's only a guide, I'm sure it'll get more accurate with time.

10 miles in the morning, one of my favourite circular routes. I made some recovery flapjacks earlier but ended up with granola

@chutneypig glad you love the 255. Mine also thinks I can do a 5k in 26.22 (so very similar time!). My PB is 27.40 so I'm way off that dream time at the minute.
I did Parkrun as well today, don't do it often due to clashes with football. I ran with a friend and it was a chatty one but she's faster than me so dragged me round in 28.20 which I'm pleased with.
Going to try for a longish slow plod tomorrow.

Excellent parkrunning @chutneypig and @Jumbojem !

I had a lovely swim this morning. It had been a bit of a week at work last week but as soon as I got in the water I could feel it all just melting away and I felt so much more balanced when I got out. Water was a bit warmer today, so I stayed in for a bit longer. I started swimming in June last year, and have kept it up each month since - just March, April and May to go but I think I’ve been through the worst of the winter now.

Then had a very pleasant 10k bouncing around in the sunshine with 10000 Maniacs in my ears. The middle chunk is on trail and over fields so my splits were a bit slower.

I will do some intervals on Tuesday when I’m next due to run. Promise!

Did my long run today. 10.5miles in the cold sunshine with 10mins in the middle at a speedier 4:30km pace.
My normal route got tangled up in a large mass participation race taking place in London this morning so went on a new route via Covent Garden and Bloomsbury. Love exploring these normally busy areas early on a Sunday when you have the place to yourself.

Great runs all! I’m tempted by you all raving about the 225!
Despite a bit of a sore throat and stuffy nose I went out and did 6.6 miles today. My longest run in 2 years! Split time was 10.12. The second to last mile was tough as it was uphill but the last mile was glorious as it was coming down the other side. My pace was pretty steady throughout so I’m pleased.
Should I am to add a mile onto each long distance run each week now? Or is that too much?

@shamoola well done on your run. My plan has short-ish runs (3-6miles) T/W/Th, 3 or 4 miles on Sat (in my case parkrun) and a Sunday long run that goes up by a mile a week up to 10 miles, then a taper. I think from memory that the advice is that you shouldn’t increase distance by more than10% a week.

Have you run HM distance before?

Apologies that homily on long runs was for @Cantdoitallperfectly !

@shamoola I envy you your routes. I spend half my week in central London running around the parks and the river and the other half in the sticks with muddy fields. A few people I know were doing the 10k today.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree I'm actually embarrassed to admit that I’ve done marathons before. 10-12 years ago (pre children) I was super fit, had it from school and competing at Uni and whilst living in Australia would think nothing of running 10-15 miles for fun. I surfed, did CrossFit, cycled everywhere. Then moved back to the uk and had kids (then divorce) and basically became a couch potato drinking a lot of wine. I’m annoyed that I lost that base fitness and over the last few years have made half hearted attempts to get back into it but have always given up. This year something just snapped inside me and I am determined to get fit, strong and also do something for me! A rather painful episode of back pain was the final straw along with my physio (friend) telling me I was out of condition.

So here I am, I feel like a novice but have experience. This thread has been so useful! My half is in 4 months :)

That swim sounds fabulous @OhOneOhTwoOhThree, especially followed by a good run.

Fantastic stuff @shamoola. I'm no so jealous of London running - I lived there for years but didn't run at the time. My half is in London though - so I'll get my fix.

I tried for 10 miles and failed. My legs felt very tired from yesterday and my watch had randomly reset the HR zones which didn't help. I also felt a bit stuffy too @Cantdoitallperfectly
but decided it was sensible to stop coupled with tired legs. I've got a longer interval session next week so I thought I'd bring it forward tomorrow to keep momentum.

Some fab sounding runs from everyone!

After parkrun yesterday I decided on an off road bike ride today. Had a great ride round the local byways for 2.5hours.

I'm not sure what I'm doing next week; I have a 10mile race on Sunday so I guess Monday and Thursday for runs. Long run tomorrow (not sure how far to run) and intervals on Thursday. Maybe a steady 8 tomorrow but is that too much before a 10 on Sunday? Hmmmm.

@Cantdoitallperfectly - well there you are, you know how good it used to feel and you can get back to something like that again (with a bit of time and effort and training). You'll get there. Even if you are not back on old form, I think the benefits are probably greater as we get a bit older than when you are young and bouncy and have endless energy.

Sorry to hear about your tired legs @chutneypig . Good call to cut the run short. Which half are you you doing (if not too outing to say)?

@chutneypig interested to know which half you're doing. Mine is the Hampton Court Palace half. Which is a flat one!

London running can be a bit annoying too - lots residential streets particularly on the shorter ones and if you time it wrong too many people and other runners. I was once running through Battersea Park which is right on the river and there were so many people jogging that it felt like I was in a race!

@shamoola its London Landmarks. It'll be the third time I've done it, I've been quite lucky in the ballot!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree good stuff on the outdoor swimming! Our nearest parkrun involves running past all the outdoor swimmers, I'm always in awe of them, they are there year round and most swim without wetsuits. It's seems a lovely inclusive group with all ages, sizes and sexes all chatting and changing pre or post dip. Its a marine lake and I just can't bare the thought of swimming amongst the seaweed, mud, and especially the eels (I know they won't come near me but still...).
Had one of those crappy runs today, put off going for ages then everything hurt and it felt like hard work even though I was going very slow. Wanted to do at least 10k but ended up only doing 9k in the end.

@Jumbojem I'm a year-round wetsuit and bootie wearer (and gloves at this time of year as well) because I don't like to think about what else is in the water/underfoot. We have some big carp at one of the lakes I swim in, often to be seen basking in the shallows on sunny days, and had a swan on the water this morning. We also have nesting moorhen along the bank and lots of ducks and geese. If someone had told me five years ago I'd be doing this I'd have thought they were mad. A couple of friends took me river swimming during lockdown (they are both very experienced) and I was hooked.

I'm interested to learn how people fuel during a longer race. I've been trying out veloforte chews. They taste great, but are hard to open and then really hard to eat whilst continuing to run. Fine in a training run as I can stop. Not so good for a race.
Any recommendations? Presumably gels are the way to go, but last time I had them about 16 years ago(!) they were pretty revolting.

@shamoola I struggle to eat whilst running so have been taking a gel with me on runs. I'm currently trying SIS but I prefer Torq for flavours and texture...not price though!
I've used jellies (Decathlon own brand) on the bike and they seem good, but for me, it's easier to chew whilst cycling than running.