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?

I know this week is meant to be relaxing but because I haven't managed so much in the past couple of weeks I feel like I need to do more, although I know that's probably not sensible! She's still not well unfortunately, the doctors think she has reactive arthritis so she's in a lot of pain and needing lots of care right now.

Thank you all for the tips, I will try to eat well, stretch and do a couple of shorter runs

Some days are just not worth even trying to run...but I did and it was a disaster!
Aim was 10 miles on an out and back route.
Got to 4 miles feeling sluggish, tired and stressed so stopped and jogged/walked back to the car.
It's been a very stressful few days; my whole body is tense which impacts everything for running...tight muscles/joints, no flexibility. I sat at 4 miles and just had a good cry about everything...which didn't help as I was still 4 miles from the car!

Oh well.
4 miles of running then 4 miles of walk/jog which is better than nothing.

Was aiming for hill reps on Thursday but might just do another 8 miles or so to make up for today's shuffle.

Ah sorry to hear about your run @brooksghost I’m having one of those days too (emotional!). No run yet today for me but taking it easy this week. At least you got out there and did something even if it wasn’t exactly what you wanted to achieve. You’ve had a pretty busy time with the 10m race and bike ride so maybe your body’s way of telling you to take it easy for a few days.

@brooksghost sorry to hear that, but they can't always be great runs. You did get out there and you did cover 8 miles which is pretty amazing really.

Switched my week around and did my intervals today. 3 mins on/3 mins recovery (mainly walking!) which is the same as last week on the plan but with one more rep. Felt ok but hoping the reps don't increase again next week. I'm going to try for at least 10 miles Friday as I think I need to do more longer runs at easy pace.

Sorry to hear you're having rough days @brooksghost and @Cantdoitallperfectly - when runnings a release it sucks when you can't get out or the run doesn't pan out.

I sacked off my run today for similar reasons, hoping I can get out tomorrow. I'll do my planned tempo run if I feel up to it, else a recovery run just to get out.

You sound very on point @Jumbojem! Great work.

@brooksghost those runs happen, and sometimes there's nothing you can do about it but remember you have done something and the next one could be much better!

Ahhh @brooksghost sorry to hear you had a bad run yesterday and that life is so stressful just now.

I had a steady four miles yesterday morning and did 6 this evening after a long day doing business planning at an away day (as in away from our desks, but still in the building). Google maps took me a different way to the way I usually go so it was a nice change.

I don’t suppose any of you have ever done a triathlon? I have found a super-sprint distance near me, which I thought I might attempt as a dry run for a sprint triathlon at the lake where I swim later in the summer. There’s probably a thread in here, but you are such a helpful and friendly bunch I thought I’d start by asking here.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree
I was once a triathlete. It was my sport before having the DCs. I'm hoping to do a few this summer once the half is done- it's been close to a 20yr break! I do have a duathlon booked in for next weekend which looks fun. Happy to help with any questions but it seems a lot of equipment etc has changed in my absence!

I don’t suppose any of you have ever done a triathlon?

I have done 2 sprint triathlons and have my 3rd booked for May.
I come to them being a runner, who started swimming properly in my 40s, got sucked into doing an open water swim race and then (cos I clearly mix with the wrong crowd!) was told the next natural step was a tri!

I love them. Totally different to my running goals. Lots of fun, a really nice bunch of people, a bit nuts and ALOT of faffing. With a running race, you start and then stop when someone tells you.
With tri there are SO many rules and instructions and kit.

One was a pool swim and the other a lake one.

I don't place very high because I am not a particularly proficient swimmer or cyclist and the run isn't long enough to make up the time difference (though it's a good feeling for running shaped me to cruise past the lumbering big, strong swimmers and cyclists who look like they're really hating it!).

I did overtake 2 cyclists in my last race - one had fallen off and the other was just a member of the public who happened to be out on their bike.
And I didn't do enough laps of the run (what with all the instructions etc) so even though I went out and did the 2nd lap, my chip had chipped so I was disqualified.
I will be quicker on the bike this time as I have cleats now.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree Pre child I did triathlons (one when I was pregnant before I realised!).
Like you@TheOrigRights I was a runner who had branched out, but in the end I think I was better at the swimming and the cycling then the running as I spent more time training those. I also used to always go too hard on the bike so by the time I got to the 10k run it was pretty miserable! 😆 I would always say I should have saved something for the run!
I always said that I would go back and do the London Triathlon when I turned 50, but that has been and gone! I need to find a smaller event I think if I ever want to dip my toe in that water again.

Phew- got a 10 miler in this morning...and it was so much better than Tuesday's stress-shuffle!
I did an out and back in the opposite direction to my normal out and back. This was much muddier and far more rural so made for a great run. I only met 2 other people in 10 miles so a very quiet route...compared to when I meet 2 people every step when I go the other way.
I have 4.5 weeks to go until my half so hopefully a good 3 weeks of consistent training before tapering down. This week has been a blip and I have to remind myself that it was just one week out of a fairly consistent month or so.

brook your chakras are back in alignment! Phew. The bad runs make the good ones all the more sweet. Well done.

I'm just back from my last leg stretcher before the race on Sunday. I had a calf and foot sports massage yesterday and am feeling that a bit today. I've been woken in the night twice this week with calf cramp.

Life has been a bit horrid this past 2 weeks with trying to sort out not having a car alongside all the normal stuff and I've been very stressed with it all. Dealing with insurance, loan car companies & car sales people all at the same time is enough to send the most patient of people over the edge. I am not the most patient of people so I fell off the edge a few times.

Ooh you're first up @TheOrigRights good luck!!!

Mine is in three weeks. Plan said 45mins run at race pace - oof not sure how I am expected to maintain that for another 10k.

@TheOrigRights Good Luck for the weekend!
Do you feel prepared?
Are you aiming for a specific time?
I hope all goes well and that course and spectators are fab!

@TheOrigRights good luck for the weekend!

I think there are a couple of others on here racing at the w/e too?

Thank you for the luck.

Race pace training runs mess with your head.

Thank you.

Of course I don't feel prepared! I am full of uncertainty. Until I was laid low with a cold (haven't we all been, eh?) I was on track to be where I wanted to be.

My original plan was to aim for a time about 10 mins slower than my PB, which would be faster than the horror show of last years HM attempt, and to feel strong and run an even paced run, and feel like it was a good base for the rest of the season.

Current plan is still broadly the same, but I'm more open minded about the time. I want to run evenly and hopefully hit that sweet spot where it feels good.

Good luck @TheOrigRights and anyone else racing this weekend!! You can do it!

I’ve had a slow week with just a 5k on Tuesday. Going to try an easy 15k tomorrow and then weights on Sunday. Legs have been protesting so I’m hoping the rest will have helped.

As promised a few weeks ago, here is the race list. I've rounded up as many as I could find in the last few pages of the thread.

Please amend, add missing info and add yourself as appropriate.

OrigRights : Cambridge, 5th March.
theworldhasgoneninsane : Cambridge, 5th March
@FusionChefGeoff : Cambridge, 5th March

@chutneypig : London Landmarks, 2nd April

@brooksghost : Reading, 2nd April

@JoanDarc : end of April

@Lamontaine : 7th May?

@Jumbojem : Weston-super-Mare, 14th May

@Cantdoitallperfectly : Edinburgh, 28th May

@SomeMonstersEatTelly : Royal Parks, 8th October
@Sammysquiz : Royal Parks, 8th October

@shamoola ????
@OhOneOhTwoOhThree ????
@JoanDarc ????

It seems theworldhasgoneninsane is no longer a user. I don't know if that means a name change or account deleted.

I’m also doing Bath Half on 15th Oct. Anyone else? I have mixed feelings about it - it’s my hometown which makes travel logistics easy, and it’s also a very flat race (my favourite kind!), but it’s two laps of the same route which makes it quite dull.

Mine is Hampton Court Palace half 26 March

Hopefully the trains will be running earlier enough or my plans will be scuppered!

Thanks @TheOrigRights , mine is indeed the 7th of May, Geneva 🇨🇭

Oh I say! Geneva is on my list of places I've been to for a conference and would love to live, but could never afford to (along with Long Island, Toronto, Pasadena).
I think May in Geneva will be beautiful.
We have sleet predicted for Sunday in Cambridge FFS!

Thanks very much @TheOrigRights that's incredibly helpful. I'm also doing Royal Parks and Robin Hood (September 24th).

So exciting to think we're starting to hit the races.