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?

Well done @Jumbojem fantastic time considering blisters, hills etc. And agree with @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - a PB is a PB in my book! Still the fastest you've ever run 13 miles in.

I'll third the PB is a PB! Well done!

Well done @Jumbojem ! Sounds like it was a tough race, great work on the PB!

Thanks all

@chutneypig did you decide to follow the Garmin training suggestions, and if so how are you finding it?
I have a 10k in just under a month. Was going to do the Garmin Coach Greg 10k plan but the minimum number of weeks is (understandably) longer than the 4 I have. So since I have the event already in my Garmin calendar was thinking about following the "daily suggestions". I may take/need more than the 2 ready days it's currently proposing!

@Jumbojem I'm not following them entirely but I'm finding it a better mix than Greg. Sometimes they're quite long eg 45 minutes for 5 x 1 minute intervals. Then I sub a shorter warm up with the same intervals. But I'm enjoying the guidance and also that it does account if I've had a rubbish nights sleep. It's only giving me one rest day a week but I am in base phase.

My new garmin has arrived, but I’m not going to be home until Thursday to have a play with it.

I’ve been working quite hard this week. A very hilly parkrun on Saturday with a mile warm up and cool down to/from the car park. 12 miles on Sunday in the sunshine which was a bit too hot really. Fortunately I had taken water, and was able to refill half way round. A last minute swim last night as it was such a nice evening and at just shy of 1km the furthest since last summer - it helps that I can put my face in now the water is warmer. And this evening, inspired by @brooksghost talking about chunking ultras down into sections, I ran the first 5 miles of the Thames Path run I will be doing later in the year. I aim to have done all of it in sections by the time of the run, although the public transport options get more challenging the further along I go. All part of the fun!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree which day/section are you doing for the Ultra in September? I'm tempted by the weekend but won't sign up until the July Ultra is done (and enjoyed/survived)! I used the same company for their a Ride Round London a few years ago; I did the 160 miles over two days and the camping bit was fun. The whole weekend was so well organised.
You could enter the Windsor Trail Half this weekend as that takes in a section of the Thames (if that's the section you are doing). I'm going to do it as a training run providing the calf/hip allow.

I was meant to see the Physio on Monday but she was ill so I'm off tomorrow. The leg still isn't feeling right despite icing it twice a day and doing twice daily stretching.

I’m doing the first day/50k, Putney to Runneymede. That’s enough for me!

And sorry to hear the leg isn’t right. Hope you get on well with the physio.

I went to the Physio today. I have a huge discrepancy in strength in my gluteus median muscles. This is then causing over compensation on one side, hence sore hamstrings and calf.
So, exercises to do to strengthen it.
I was quite shocked at how different both sides are. It was all possibly caused by slipping on mud/ice back in March and throwing everything out.

I can run until my calf starts to hurt and then I should stop. Wearing my carbon plated shoes will help the calf so that's good.

I can also ride without any problems so I'll head off to another bike race tomorrow for an intense race...and see if I can win again!

Glad you hang some answers and a way ahead @brooksghost Hope the bike race goes well.

I clocked up another 5 miles, picking up where I left off last night on the Thames Path.

@brooksghost that sounds similar to my running buddies injury, she had what the physio described as a "lazy glute" on one side which with upping the mileage led to knee/hamstring issues. Hope it eases off for you to train for your next event.
My quads finally stopped aching today but the blister on the ball of my foot and blood blister on my other foot mean I won't be even walking anywhere much for now, let alone run. I miss it and the weather is glorious this week so I am feeling envious of those who are out running!

Hopefully that will set you back on track @brooksghost. I've got a physio/gait assessment in a couple of weeks - I've definitely got an imbalance and have had for years but I can't work out what.

I haven't run since Sunday - travelling for work and then car issues. I'm itching to get out today. I've started doing a whole body dumbbell weights session, just 10 minutes but I figure I can fit that in most days.

What's everyone up to this weekend?

Have you set your Garmin up @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - I got DS a new one for his birthday, he was really pleased although he hasn't got much time to use it with his exams.

Good morning @chutneypig sorry to hear you haven’t been able to run this week.

parkrun volunteering for me this morning. And a long run tomorrow, I think I’m going to try out my town’s half marathon route. I’ve never run it as a race as the weekend it falls on used to clash with a regular family commitment.

Hope your all having a good weekend! Had way too much wine last night but OH and I got up and did parkrun. We don't often get to go as OH/DS2 have football. DS2 wanted to come but he's racing tomorrow. I ran with a friend who's a swimmer but getting back into running,she was going to run/walk but her watch died on the start line so we ran and chatted together and she ended up running the whole way. It's so much easier when you can run with someone! This was my first run post last week's half, still got the blister but after the first few hundred metres it actually stopped hurting and I felt pretty fresh until I attempted a sprint finish and my quads reminded me about last Sunday!

@chutneypig hope you get a solution with the physio.

I've done lots of yoga this week which has been amazing, discovered how tight my shoulders are and my whole left side is tighter (ankle to shoulder) than my left. This is the side my shin issue is on so I'm starting to think the whole thing is connected.

Well done @Jumbojem and Mr J. Hope mini-J's race goes well tomorrow. Love the sound of lots of yoga, I started the year doing the daily YWA but fell off the wagon and haven't managed to climb back on. One of my colleagues is a P/T yoga teacher and runs a couple or early morning classes at work but the days never seem to work for me.

I ran 5 miles around my parkrun park after volunteering today. It was quite hot but enough of a breeze to make it bearable.

Hope everyone is enjoying their training at the moment.

I'm doing a trial of the Runna Training App to see what it's like. It syncs with my Garmin and looks pretty good. But the he sessions look really tough. First week X1 intervals X1 tempo X1 easy and X1 long progression. I'm used to doing just one speed or tempo and my long run is easy paced.

Well I suppose if you want to go faster I've got to try harder!!

I made the daft decision to go to my half marathon this morning. I haven't run in two weeks (and barely any for the previous 2). My Physio said don't run but I took the chance.
I decided to treat it as a training run and use it as fuelling practice for the Ultra. I loved the course and overall really enjoyed the event.
Calf was sore (but runnable) but hip flexors weren't happy from 9 miles so felt like I was running through treacle.
Ended up with a 1:44 half (1:48 final time as the course was half a mile long) and 2nd V40. Really happy with that as I paced it well (negative split) and the fuelling worked really well without any issues.
Will add this race to my list to do again at some point...only negative- wooden medals*!

*yes, environmental reasons but plastics bottles and cups at 4 feed stations, nylon ribbon on the medals don't really make it that environmental.

Well done @brooksghost ! Glad you are happy with your run/not race.

I trundled round 13 miles here this morning. Slept very badly last night after too much food and wine. The route was quite nice, fortunately with plenty of shade and I remembered to put on sunscreen before I left. Stopped for an apple juice at about half way and keep myself topped up with water but didn't really have enough to eat (I had taken a cereal bar to replace the fruit flapjack I usually buy on the way round, but forgot to take the sweets I'd also planned to pop in my pocket). It also occurred to me that the last half I ran was after a plan and a taper, while today's run was just one of many long runs in a training schedule, so I was unlikely to be feeling as up for it.

Well done @brooksghost - amazing time and glad you enjoyed it.
@OhOneOhTwoOhThree 13 miles after too much food and wine is v impressive, good for you.

I’ve signed up for two more races, a 17k one at the beginning of October with 388m uphill - going to be a challenge. Then a half marathon in my town at the end of October. Which means I can’t do the Robin Hood @chutneypig - next year!

I have been running every few days since my half and did a couple of 10k runs but my shin on my left leg is really sore. I did 5k yesterday but it was painful and slow. So think I need to have a week off and heal :(

You got a lot out of that half @brooksghost - very good use of time, that I'm sure will pay off in future.

That's a shame @Lamontaine but your plans sound fantastic!

That does sound hardcore @shamoola I'll be very intrigued to see how you get on. After my rubbish week, my watch has scaled back runs this week to account for it. That's just what I need now, too many hard sessions and I'll never do it at all.

Well done on remembering the sunscreen @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - I should have put some on yesterday. Luckily it was only half an hour, but still.

@brooksghost I love how your not at peak fitness/training half would be a dream time for me! Amazing, well done.
I will hit 50 this year but I'm still hopeful I can improve, at least perhaps relative to others my age rather than my younger self!

Those of you training for ultras, wish you all the best, let's hope the weather doesn't get as hot as last year (unless you love the heat, it's something I struggle with).

I have a 10k in a couple of weeks, never actually raced that distance before but looking forward to it as it is small, local and I feel no real pressure.

I'm following the Garmin daily suggestions for the 10k rather than than one of the Garmin Coach plans. Surprised at how different the training is, actually think it's better than the coach plans. Lots of time on feet easy runs (which I love in the warm weather, probably less fun in the winter rain to be fair!). Mixed up with really fast but very short sprint intervals. I think the Garmin Coach Amy plan had me running far too many miles in the grey zone, and not enough difference between the faster paced runs and the easier ones.

@Jumbojem I also have a 10k coming up next. Though I think it may be my least favourite distance - hard effort for too long!
The Runna App had me doing x7 800m at 5k pace with 90 secs in between. I found that really tough as I had tired legs and did it in the evening which is not my favourite time to run . But it's done and banked.

I saw the Physio again this week; I'm making good progress and am now allowed to run...but slowly and keeping the pain below a 4/10 level. I didn't mention my half marathon!
I'm off to Parkrun tomorrow but taking one of the dogs as he'll slow me down and stop me running too fast. He (the dog) loves parkrun but doesn't get to do it often.

Hi everyone, hope you all had a good week.

I did another chunk of the Thames Path earlier in the week, and despite best plans didn't get my second weekday run in until this morning. I stayed local, tried out the bot of country path that was a bit overgrown last time, only to find that it is now waist high nettles and thistles. Luckily I was in long leggings so didn't get too badly scratched or stung trying to escape.

I'm volunteering at parkrun tomorrow and will do some laps of the park afterwards, and have a long run on Sunday. I really want to go swimming now the water is warming up so might do that on Monday as it's a BH.

@Lamontaine that October 17k sounds amazing!

@brooksghost glad you are making progress. Enjoy your parkrun with your four legged friend.