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?

Massive congratulations @Lamontaine ! Fantastic work with that ascent. So good to see all your training paying off.

I don't have anything booked at the moment but am thinking of a trail half in December. Had a nice 6 miles over some fields today. Pushed myself quite hard and enjoyed it.

A week to of @chutneypig ! How are you feeling?

Thank you @OhOneOhTwoOhThree! sounds like a nice run for you yesterday. Hope your blisters are much better now.
Have a good start to the week everyone. I will be enjoying a nice rest day!

That must have been ought @Lamontaine, although it sounds a real experience. The hills have got to pay off for the flat half though.

I'm really interested to see how you find the XC @Jumbojem. I'm definitely not in half shape at all, but I found Robin Hood gave me a kick up the backside to say I do enjoy running. The hills got me on Robin Hood a bit, I knew they would. RPHM is flat isn't it @OhOneOhTwoOhThree - please say yes! Well done on the trail run!

Not being sore after is a great sign @ditavonteesed. I always feel it at the end of a run no matter how long it is, once my head knows that's it, it takes over.

I made it to parkrun Saturday and took my dog. He was very good after an enthusiastic start. I took him for my benchmark run for the Garmin plan yesterday too. I was pretty pleased with my pace until the app helpfully told me there was 'room for growth' . I didn't put in a time target, I just want to get out of this rut and be nearer 30 minutes for parkrun than 35. The autumn weather is helping, although it's looking quite warm for Sunday.

Hello @chutneypig from memory RPHM is pretty flat. You'll be grand!

If you re planning on getting the tube, try to be early-ish as it gets very crowded. Have a lovely run, it will be a warm one for you as well.

I set up a Garmin 5k plan and it told me that my goal - to be back to 30 mins -was unachievable. Pah!

We're going to need a new thread soon.

Thanks @OhOneOhTwoOhThree. I've got a hotel in Paddington tonight so I was planning to walk over Hyde Park and avoid any crushes.

The heat is worrying me a bit but I'm happy to walk a fair bit, this is another one where getting out and doing it is the main thing.

I'm finding the Amy plan a bit odd as it starts with five minute running blocks. It's fine for me but seems an odd starting point as I opted for a completion plan not a goal time.

It's really good to see you're all still busy running those half marathons.
I've been doing quite a bit of running but not training for anything specific but perhaps a focus on speed.

I've entered a 5k in November and the Hackney Half next May. May is ages away but it's my local race and I didn't want to miss my window of enthusiasm!

I have also joined a gym to try and actually do some strength and conditioning! First visit this morning.

Good luck to all those running this weekend!

Waves at @chutneypig , I’m also staying at a hotel in Paddington ready for the Royal Parks tomorrow! I’ve been off running for the past few weeks due to being unwell, and am still not 100%, so am feeling a bit tentative about the whole thing. Reassured by the 4 hour cut-off as can walk it in that if needs be! Want to do it as I enter the ballot year after year and this is the first time I’ve got a place.

Good luck for tomorrow!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree is this the HM thread you mentioned? I have Bath Half next weekend then that's the last of my HM's for this year! That will make 7 HM events for 2023, 3 road and 4 trail

Yes @Iamanunsafebuilding! What else have you done this year?

Hope all goes well tomorrow @Sammysquiz.

Good luck tomorrow @Sammysquiz - sounds like we're in exactly the same boat on the training side.

How was the gym @shamoola?

Thanks for asking @OhOneOhTwoOhThree! My year started on a high when we did Paris in Feb and I took 5 mins off my pb, then I got a ballot place for London Landmarks in Apr and took another 20 seconds off 🥳. Westonbirt Arboretum and Wye Valley were in July, Wye Valley was gorgeous but really hilly. Henley River trail and Swindon Trail were Sept and the Swindon one was on that roasting hot Saturday at the end of the month and I totally overcooked. Then Bath next Sunday 😊.

I'm not a fast runner but I am really proud of how far my legs will take me. I did C25K in 2016 and never thought I would ever be able to run further than 5k, but I've stopped saying never now! I always said I would never run a marathon but I seem to have entered day 2 of Race to the Stones next year 😳

That's a great track record of achievement @Iamanunsafebuilding - well done. This year I have done Rutland Water and Sandringham halfs, and then a lot of miles of training for day one of the Thames Path Ultra - which was also that really hot weekend. I might do one more half before the end of the year.

Hope Bath goes well for you.

That's very impressive @Iamanunsafebuilding! I did London Landmarks this year, one of my favourites.

Thanks @chutneypig and @OhOneOhTwoOhThree! I loved London Landmarks and the crowd support was amazing, I totally recommend entering the ballot

@chutneypig oh my goodness the DOMS!

I've done squats and lunges etc before at home but I think in the gym I tried a bit harder and may be the weight was a bit too heavy!

Managed to get out for a lumbering long run today in an attempt to flush out the system. Rolling does bring some relief though - once you get past the initial pain.

Just got to keep thinking long term benefits and keep it up.

Hope it went well today @chutneypig and @Sammysquiz ! Looks like a great race.
I hope it wasn’t too hot for you.

I struggled a bit, it was so hot! My time was quite a bit slower than I hoped for, but the atmosphere was brilliant.

@Sammysquiz it was hard out there! I was a lot slower than I thought, the heat didn't help. I walked most of it really but enjoyed the whole spectacle, It was very well organised and the support was brilliant. Bit fed up of Hyde Park by the end though! How are you feeling today? I'm not too bad but I can definitely feel it.

@shamoola even at home the DOMS was bad the first few sessions, I can imagine worse with actually being in the gym. My kids are going more often now, usually while I have a class, but I ought to give it a go too. It will help I've no doubt.

Having had a lot of time to think yesterday I will focus on getting my 5k back to something sensible. I did a very slow parkrun yesterday and even that was a struggle. I had a browse online at basic C2K type approaches, Coach Amy isn't going to help I don't think. I can manage the bigger blocks in her plan but they're all at the same slow pace. I think I'll still be stuck in this rut.

Well done @chutneypig and @Sammysquiz !

I’ve lost my running mojo and have my next half in 2.5 weeks 🙃

Also interested in doing more strength training, have been reading about how important it is. Running has taken over recently but need to mix it up a bit. I am sure it’ll help with running too.

@chutneypig I’m like a Dalek - fine on flat surfaces, but struggle with stairs. Think I could’ve done with some post-run stretching!! Hope your recovery is going well.

Oh crikey, hello and congratulations everyone! Sounds like you've all done some amazing runs in my absence. Life got a bit busy and some not so great things happened.
However, I have kept on running and did my first XC today. First mile was 8.18 and then the rest 9.40/min miles. When will I learn not to go blazing off the blocks and spend the rest of the race trying to recover? Honestly my game plan was supposed to be first lap steady, speed up for the second! Despite that really enjoyed it and the next one is in a month, right before my 50th birthday. Yet to find out official time and position but my aim for next time is to place higher and maybe overtake someone rather than be solidly overtaken by others the whole race...
@Iamanunsafebuilding good luck for tomorrow! Bath isn't too far from me but was a bit surprised to hear the half is tomorrow, I thought it was usually in May.

@Jumbojem well done on your run, it's so easy to go bombing off! Bath half used to be May but they moved it to October last year. I loved it today, other than a nasty hill up to the finish - how mean is that?! I ran to feel and managed to take a minute off my HM PB so I am well chuffed. It was glorious running weather for me today, I love it cooler

Bath Half always used to be March, then one year they postponed it (fairly last minute) to May, and then that one was postponed to Oct. It was carnage, and caused lots of upset runners/charities. I think it’s back to March for 2024 though?

I could still feel my legs at parkrun on Saturday @Sammysquiz - hope yours have eased up.

Great work on the cross country @Jumbojem - pacing is always tricky. I watched DS hare off at a 10k yesterday and thought he'd wish he hadn't. I was right!

Fantastic on the PB @Iamanunsafebuilding. That hill finish sounds mean!

Aaaagh I wrote a big long post and lost it. Anyway, it was just to say well done to @Sammysquiz , @chutneypig and @Iamanunsafebuilding for some great HM running, and to make some excuses for my lack of running. I have been doing a bit, but not much. I have discovered that I can go relatively quickly if I try hard - but need to work on maintaining speed for more than a mile or two.

I also caught this programme on R4 in the car last night - great encouragement to keep going into our later years. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001rh04

In cross training news I went to a seated Tai Ch class with my Mum yesterday. I was planning to just sit at the back, but ended up joining in. Although it felt very gentle my arms and waist are complaining today.