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?

Hello fellow Garmin Coachers!! I did coach Amy 5k last year as my couch to 5k. Then looked around for the next goal, a lot of people recommended moving on to 10k but .. training for 10k I absolutely lost all motivation and stopped running completely. I've picked it up again and this time owning that I actually don't want to do a longer distance and the 5k is perfect for me! So feeling much more positive and my goal is to get a PB 5k. Chosen coach Amy again and the difference this time is I have a time goal rather than just "get me off the couch" 😅

Congrats to everyone training for a marathon (or anything over 5k), you are my idols!

It was a "back to school shock to the system" run this morning! Dropped DC at school and then started run at 8:10am. Did manage a Belvita Soft Bake before hand and a very strong coffee!
I have never willed a run to end so much!
Oh well; 3 slow miles is ok especially after a hectic morning.
Next run will be parkrun on Saturday.

My pleasure! I don't think I've used one in years, my recollection is they are quite brutal - please report back afterwards @chutneypig

30 minutes walk-jog for me today. 3.10km, too slow, but when I’m trying to speed up, I’m out of my breath within 10 seconds! It’ll come , it will.

Well done @Turefu! Keep at it and soon you will be going further and faster.

You're absolutely right @Turefu it will come - it's important to not push it at this stage.

I got out yesterday morning and really enjoyed it. It was a fast finish session, 5 minutes Z1, 15 Z2 and 5 in Z3. I found the heart rate plan a bit tricky last time I did it but think this time round I'm better at judging my pace. 142 ish seems comfortable for a sustained period.

My only struggle yesterday was overheating. Because it was dark I'd worn my very reflective jacket - definitely didn't need the additional base layer!

Hope everyone who's off to parkrun today has a great time, I'm tailwalking.

I hope you enjoyed your tail walking @chutneypig

DS1 has been using heart rate training for his sport and got really good results. I keep meaning to give it a go but haven’t yet. I resolved today at parkrun to change the intervals io my watch - I’ve been stuck on 5+1 for months and need to run more and walk less 😄

My parkrun today was faster than my midweek runs, thanks to a sprint finish 😄😄😄

Hope you all have good weekends/long runs.

Just done my first "big" (for me) walk/jog/run this morning. Did a small one on Wednesday.
I have the Coach to 5k app on my phone which I got on quite well with a few years ago. I loaded the Garmin 5k on my phone this morning and was going to use that this time but it looked like it was going to start me off with 5 minutes of running 😱 (even though I said I was a beginning currently doing zero runs a week) so I panicked and reverted to the app on my phone. I was literally ready to go out the door and didn't want delay myself faffing with my watch workouts.
Does anyone know if they're roughly the same programme? Shall I stick with the app? My watch recorded my run so that's fine. I'm such a technophobe but also want to make sure I use my new watch to it's full potential. Either way I did 4.3k in total which I'm rather surprised about!

Jogged to Parkrun (1mile), got blown round parkrun, jogged home- 5 miles total in yucky conditions.
Parkrun was slow (as expected due to the high winds) but it was still a run!

That sounds like a great parkrun @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - I can usually find a sprint finish in me!

I'm not sure with the Garmin 5k app @TheMindfulMum - was it a run in a 5 minute block or total 5 minutes? I like the eight 1 minute run structure from my old C25k app, I'd definitely want to start there.

I'm impressed with 5 miles @24petlegs - it was very windy out today, I hadn't quite counted on that.

It didn't rain as much as I expected today so was nice to stretch our legs.

Hi can I join?

I have a half marathon on March 5th and started training in September, am currently up to 9 miles. I find though that I hurt so much after a long run so looking forward to reading other peoples tips on nutrition as I wonder if I'm not recovering properly!

Hope everyone is getting on well with the training

Welcome!

How long have you been hurting for and where are you hurting?

Are you following a plan and running at the recommended paces?

It can depend on many factors

@theworldhasgoneinsane
Are you doing your long runs at too fast a pace?
Are you taking on enough liquid during the run?
Protein and carbs within 20 mins of finishing with additional liquid?
Stretching?
9 miles is fab! I'd quite like to get to 10 and then I know I'll be able to finish...well hopefully!

@xsquared mainly hurting in my knees during and after the run but sometimes get a deep feeling pain in my leg/legs for the rest of the day after doing it. I have young children and very busy life (don't we all!) so have to do what I can, usually 1 or 2 5k runs and 1 long run plus a gym session a week. The shorter runs I do quicker so like 8-9 min/mile pace, and the long run is slower at about 10-11 min/miles.

@24petlegs I don't drink during the run, I know I probably should but it seems an inconvenience and I would need the toilet (weak bladder after kids!) I am now learning more about nutrition as don't think I eat enough generally, so going to start eating more carbs and protein before and after runs. I think I've been silly to think I can do this without changing my diet.

I hope all that makes sense and thanks for your help! I will also feel good when I get to 10 and I am aiming to do it in 2 hours, not sure if that's realistic!

@24petlegs and also realised I'm not eating or drinking quickly enough after the run, probably because when I walk in the door i immediately have a toddler at my ankles! But I need to prioritise that. Can that make you ache? I realise I probably sounds quite silly but I've always just gone and ran and not really thought about the other stuff

Hello again!
I'm doing the Garmin plan with coach Amy, I think someone else said they were following her plan? Not really sure about it though as I'm only in week 4 of 17 and she wanted me to do an 8 mile easy run today. Felt too early to be running such a long distance? Especially in today's wind and rain. I only managed 4.5, it was getting dark and the rain was coming in horizontal with the wind so I decided enough was enough!
@theworldhasgoneinsane how old are your running shoes? It's a sure sign mine need replacing when my knees start to ache. I never drink enough or stretch, in fact my post run go to is a coffee and a packet of crisps! I am a fan of Rego (I think high5 make it) which is a post workout shake, but to be honest chocolate milk (esp the protein ones) is a fab post run recovery drink.

@theworldhasgoneinsane I can't speak for joint pain but my family swear by a protein shake when they get in to help muscle soreness. Im with Jumbojem and usually have coffee and crisps. It's a good point about old shoes.

@Jumbojem I found that with Greg's plan too last time I followed it, and it kind of comes out of the blue because you can't see too far ahead. I've scaled back the early long runs in my plan too to start at 4 miles instead of 6.

6 for me today and that's back to the plan as this week is an easy week.

I usually am hit and miss with running. I can go weeks without anything then do 5k several times. Is 10 weeks from today long enough to train for a half marathon? I do train every day with a mixture of swimming, cycling or strength exercises if I don’t run so I think my physical fitness is ok.

This is the thread I need! Can I join you?

I've signed up for a half at the end of March, my last one was in Oct 2021. I was in a great habit of running approx 2 x 5k and 1 x 10k per week but lost the habit during the heatwave over the summer and have struggled to get my mojo back since then. Hopefully having something to train for will give me back some motivation.

@tommyspud I think 10 weeks is plenty of time to train, I know people who are now starting to train for the London marathon! And if you're already active and doing exercise then you're one step ahead anyway

@tommyspud I'd think 10 weeks would be fine from a good fitness base. The thing to watch is not to do too much too soon in terms of distance or numbers of runs. I've not done myself any favours on that front before!

Welcome @Hedonism - a lot of us are hoping our halfs will kick start us back into happy running habits, me included. I used to be able to run a half without much thought, not quickly but comfortably, completely lost that last year and missed some of my favourites. I find summer is always a killer for any training plans, between the heat and holidays.

Hey I'm so glad I found this thread! Am a regular half marathon-er but the icy spell / illness / Christmas has meant long runs have gone by the wayside recently.

My first race is 5th March so I don't have very long but I'm comfortable at 6 miles normally so just going to push slightly for 7 this morning. If I add a mile a week that just about gets me there!

Really going to focus on strength training legs too as knee injury is a big issue for me so going to get squatting / lunging regularly.

I HATE HATE HATE interval / speed / hill training but if I hang around you lot often enough I I might just find the motivation for a couple of sessions!

I did Amy on the Garmin once and although the training was fine and I genuinely completed nearly every session exactly as prescribed, the race was not.

I'd put in to aim for a sub 2 hrs time but the training pace was never even close. There were some speed sessions which were faster than race pace but they were very short. The longer runs were nearly all just 'easy' pace and I really didn't see the distance at race pace ever increasing. I just kept thinking, well Amy knows best so maybe this is just a different way of doing it. Nope. I set off at race pace and was destroyed by mile 4. Worst race ever!

I went for half an hour walk-jog today morning, before started my shift, as I work today. I seem to jog for longer now, but my breath is shorter afterwards 🙄I keep going.

Well done everyone who has gone out today. Much colder than I was expecting.
Was supposed to have a 10k race today but the bus broke down so I missed the start but I went out for a long run anyway - clocked up 16k. Legs very tired and had to walk up some hills, so not sure they would have coped with a race.
Feet up for the rest of the day (the best bit 😊)

I also really need to do the cross training and speed work too, it's so tempting to just get a few more miles under the belt and hope that covers it.

But.... I ran a 5k with Joe Wicks this morning in Banbury! (Along with a couple of hundred other people). If that doesn't kick start me then nothing will.