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 hope things are easing up for you today @brooksghost. The trail run sounds great, a literal change of pace and scene. I've got a trail 10k later this month, one we've done for years so really looking forward to that.

I started out on my pace improvement today, Garmin 5k with Greg, and did my benchmark run this morning. I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into that.

Well done @chutneypig !

Hope you are feeling better or at least a little less wiped out @brooksghost.

I’m loving these light evenings. I just went out for four miles and was able to run a pretty route through a country park instead of dark laps of a housing estate or along a main road.

Thanks for the well wishes.
Today was much better; I slept well and woke up feeling close to 'normal'.
I ventured out for a super easy 4 miles then walked the dogs and there was no exhaustion.

I'm planning a social parkrun on Saturday and then another easy run week before the trail half next weekend.

I've learnt a lot about recovery from this half so will do things very differently after the trail one.

You're spot on about the evenings @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - what a difference. I pottered out for a short easy run today down the canal. The sunshine was gorgeous.

How was your parkrun this morning @brooksghost?

How's everyone else getting on?

I've got a 65 easy run planned tomorrow down the river path. My husband and son are coming too, although the boy will hare off on his own. I've joined a new gym near home so I went to a bodybalance class yesterday and I can definitely feel my core today, I've booked Pilates for Monday so I'm hoping I can fit that in once a week, which I'm sure will help pretty much everything!

Hope everyone has had sunshine where they are and have managed to get out in it.
I keep saying ooh it's lovely this morning need to make the most of it in case it's not very nice the following day - so have been out Friday Saturday and today. This was following a speed session on Thursday.

Really enjoyed my sessions and today I felt good on a progression run with a solid 4:30 m/km for the last km of a 12k run. But tired now and will have a proper rest day tomorrow.

As the conditions for my half weren't ideal I am thinking of entering one at the beginning of May. Probably won't sign up until a couple of weeks before depending on how well the training has been going.

Happy Easter everyone!

It’s been lovely weather we we are this weekend (on hols) so I did some parkrun tourism yesterday and a nice coastal 7 miles this morning. Then walked most of my running route with DH this afternoon so tired legs now.

I think my next organised event will be in June. It’s a marathon in a weekend, spread over a 5 mile on Friday evening, 8.1x-country on Saturday and HM on Sunday. I’ve done it a few times before but not since about 2016. It’s usually a lot of fun.

I went to Parkrun on Saturday; my legs weren't up for speed so I had a nice steady run round. I also wrote the run report after which seems to have gone down well.

I went out on my bike yesterday to ride a (running) race that I may enter- it's a 50km run...
Anyway, route was really nice, easy to follow and fairly flat. However, 50km is a loooooong way! I was fine on the bike but the mental challenge of running it will be tough.

This week I'll do a 10km easy run on Tuesday, some easy intervals/leg stretchers on Thursday and then I have the trail half on the weekend. I live in a very flat area so don't get much elevation (if any) in with my runs; this weekend will be quite a shock to the system!

Hello all, don't think I've posted for a while. Felt a bit flat running wise. Did a 10 mile run on Saturday, the weather was lovely and I got dropped off in our nearest seaside town and was running home, so no out and back. Beautiful route, along the sea wall and then quiet lanes. All good, just I interned to run the last 3 at HM pace. I did one at not quite that pace and then had to walk for a bit before doing the last couple of miles slower. I did manage to pick up the pace for the last half mile but mentally it has me doubting myself now.
I desperately needed water and think I need a gel earlier than 6 miles. Next long run will take one sooner and carry water if hot (not sure I'll need any the remainder of this week looking at the forecast).

Well done everyone for getting out there. I'm planning runs to pick wild garlic this week and a run up a big old hill to see if the beautiful bluebell woods are in bloom yet, my favourite spring run!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree the marathon in a weekend sounds fun. Is it one of those running festival type events where you camp over as well? There is one in Cheddar which I always look at as it's just down the road. A LOT of hills though!

Hello @Jumbojem. A bluebell run sounds lovely, even if it does involve a hill!

And yes, there is a camping option for the marathon weekend. It's organised by a local running club, so not a massive event - the Friday night tends to be more of a family/fun event (I've seen people on the starting line with a beer in one hand), with numbers of runners decreasing for each event.

Hello everyone and good work on the running.

Less than 4 weeks to go for me, tick tock. I’m feeling nervous. Was away for Easter in and planned a long run - the last big one before the race (20k) but family plans got in the way. Did 3 runs, 6k - too hot, 10k - glorious, 5k sprints - tiring.

Will aim for the long run this week at some point as am away again at the weekend. Hopefully I’ll manage it, at a reasonable pace too, as I really think it’ll help with my confidence for the big day. Haven’t done nearly as much interval training that i intended but hopefully it’ll be ok.

My DH is running a 20k the week before my HM. It’s a really hilly one and he hasn’t done any real running training but I know he’ll breeze through it - as always! And here I am planning every week’s running since December and having nightmares about coming last or forgetting my runners for my HM!

That sounds a good plan @shamoola - have you got your eye on any for May? I'm with you on the erratic weather front. All the sun makes me want to get out but it always seems to coincide with meetings.

I love the sound of that event @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - these event organisers are so creative.

How's the weather looking for the half this weekend @brooksghost? I love someone offering to write the report at parkrun - it always sounds the same when I do it.

@Jumbojem - I had a few runs like that heading up to my half. Dispiriting but like you said you can pick up what might work better for fuelling. That was something I needed to iron out, I found it helped taking something much earlier on.

You sound very well prepped @Lamontaine. I feel the same, my husband and kids can both roll out a good run with no training. Infuriating!!

I did a tempo session yesterday which felt good. I should be doing an easy run today but I'm not feeling keen this morning. Ideally I'd like to do it after work but I think the weather is due to be appalling then.

I sacked off my speed session yesterday, I live in the SW and it was blowing a gale and heavy showers. Also extremely cold, felt like I could have done with gloves walking back from the shop!
Typically this is my week off work and next week is forecast to be lovely. They are saying it is likely to be warm for London mara and I guess anyone who's half is coming up soon.

Cold and windy here too @Jumbojem . Hope you can get out and get the wild garlic at some point. I’m sure it’ll be boiling by the time the half comes around. Did a 10k last May and it was about 25 degrees, awful!

Just went out for a hilly 13k, was fine although my knees were feeling achy by the end. Decided to push back my very long run until next weekend, 2 weeks before the race and will then taper.

Thanks for the encouragement @chutneypig, hope indeed I am prepped enough! And well done on your tempo run.

Wow 25 degrees @Lamontaine!!

I sacked off yesterdays run too - the draw of the treadmill wasn't enough after a long day at work. Shockingly I did Bodybalance this morning and was very much in need of a good stretch.

There's some lovely sunshine here today but no time to take advantage of it.

Hello all.

I too skived off yesterday, but ran on Tuesday evening in the drizzle and again this morning in the sunshine. I’m glad that my new plan only has two midweek runs instead of the three that I was doing on my half marathon training plan. I plan to use the day I have regained for cycling, swimming or yoga.

@Lamontaine I’m sure you’ll be grand after all the work you’ve put in.

I've got new trainer motivation to get for a run tomorrow - I'm hoping it stays dry as I don't want to get them dirty as they are so pretty 😍.
For anyone that says running is a cheap activity then they couldn't be more wrong! I hate spending money on normal clothes but will happy buy expensive trainers and leggings!

Can't beat a new shoe run @shamoola hope it stays dry for you. I've been looking at new ones too, although I had new ones not long ago...

Ooh, new shoes! I think I could do with some too.

Enjoy your run tomorrow @shamoola, hope the weather is kind to you.

Ooo, new shoes!
What did you get?

I found a pair of super sale Brooks on Amazon so spent my birthday voucher on them. I've not had the chance to wear them as I didn't want to try new trainers before a race. They are the Glycerin 20 model that I've not had before but are super cushioned for long runs.

I did my final run today- an easy 3 miles with a 20 mins chat in the middle to a random lady I bumped into (she had the same dog breed as me)!

I started my carbo/eating today which has gone well!

Before my road-half two weeks ago, my Garmin was telling me my stress levels and 'body battery' levels; I started the race in 35%. Today I'm at 95% so in a much better place for the trail-half.

Good to hear you sounding so much better @brooksghost. Hope your race goes well

While you were posting I bought another pair of Brooks Ghosts. I keep one pair on my locker at work and another at home to save carting them back and forth, and the work pair are getting old and a bit smelly. thank you @shamoola for the idea 😀

@brooksghost I got saucony endorphin speed 3 in a rather fetching blue and white colour way. Way more expensive then I'd normally spend but every thing is more money at the mo.

@shamoola ooh I think my DS has those! The Endorphins always have such lovely colours.
I'm trying to persuade OH to buy me some shoes in the sportshoes Easter sale.
@brooksghost good luck, 95% body battery is a good start!
I might do park run tomorrow, don't get the chance often as DS2 has football usually on Saturday, but no game tomorrow. Right now though I'm enjoying some wine though so not sure I'll want to get up early...

Hi all, hope the training and running has been going well. I’m going to get new trainers this week to up my low motivation levels. I’ve not run in almost 3 weeks due to my recurrent back injury. I’ve done 2 tentative 5km this weekend and fingers crossed my back is stiff but better and I’ll be able to run (and walk) my half next month. It’s been really disheartening not running since I’d managed so well with training since January but setbacks are to be expected with injury. If anyone has any tips for getting back to it please do share. My last long run was 10.8 miles with split time of 10minute mile. It seems like it’ll be a long haul to get back there but it was only 4 weeks ago.

@Cantdoitallperfectly three/four weeks isn't long and you'll soon be back to where you were as long as you listen to your body and not make anything worse. Much better to fully recover then do any long term damage.

I'm not currently following a plan and am making it up as I go along! That takes quite a bit of discipline to force myself to do the long hard intervals. On Saturday I managed 5x800m with recoveries and easy warm up miles before and after and then got my very tired legs out for a long run today. I travelled to the end of the train line and ran back. It was a very stop start sort of run but it was nice running a totally new route.

Anyone racing today?