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?

@brooksghost sounds like you are doing really well despite the tooth.

Long run this morning - bitterly cold. Pretty pleased with the effort - about 20k but slow. Rest of the day will be on the sofa.

Impressive , @shamoola . I’m dreaming about the day I’ll be able to run 20km. I struggle so much now. But posts like yours are giving me a hope

@shamoola wow- that's a great distance! When is your half?

@brooksghost My half is in March. I have been running for a while but was keeping it relatively short.
I am now following a Garmin coach HM training plan which had me doing 1.5hrs but felt good so kept going. There was some walking and eventually my legs gave up and I hopped on a bus the final bit home!
I now have this hunger where nothing I have is hitting the spot!

@Turefu thank you! You'll definitely get there. Time on your feet, walk/run and you'll build up that aerobic fitness and find the perfect pace where you can keep plodding. 🏃

I struggled today, managed just shy of the planned 9 miles but it wasn't a great run. I got slower and slower during the second half and my muscles got colder and colder. I ended up walking much more than I usually do. It took me ages to warm up at home, felt shivery for a couple of hours. Still I'm glad I went out, it was beautiful.

Ya boo...I'm sorry you had a bad run - the sort of one that makes you wonder why the hell you do it, eh?
It'll make the next good one seem all the more sweet.

It sounds like you were tired (not enough sleep, hadn't eaten or drunk well?) and cold. Without wishing to sound patronising I think it takes a lot of mental strength to walk and then carry on, for 9 miles. A continuous 9 miles steady run might be better for your physical training but mentally, the stop start, WTF run will come in handy when it gets tough on race day. You know you can do it.

It is indeed beautiful. I am going to try and get out in the daylight this week - to make the most of the sun AND to avoid the sodding ice.

Hi everyone - I've had a rubbish couple of weeks so seriously reconsidering my half planned for 4th March. Only managed 7 miles last weekend as gut and pelvic floor issues conspired against me due to time of the month.

Then last week has been so icy I've only risked a 6 miler then a couple of short gym strength session.

Was going to try 9 on Sunday but woke up with a trapped nerve somewhere in my back / neck / shoulder!!!

Am working away this week so unlikely to run which only leaves 3 weekends really.

If I want to adopt a run / walk I'm thinking of aiming for 9 miles run, walk 10, run 11, walk 12, run 13.2 does that sound realistic or will
I get too cold on the walk bits??

@FusionChefGeoff sorry to hear training isn’t going well. Ii think I’d run/walk the whole thing - depending on your mile times you could run a mile, walk a minute or two, run another mile etc etc. I ran a very tough trail marathon last year in 10 and 2 intervals and didn’t do too badly. I also did a trail HM on 5 and 1 and my time was comparable to other HMs where I’ve run the whole distance. But I am old and slow…

Thanks @TheOrigRights that is an excellent way to reframe it! I think mostly the cold, but I'm looking at fuelling and hydration too. Better now than nearer the time.

@FusionChefGeoff my sympathies, I've been there in the past, trapped nerve included. Hideous pain. I'd probably avoid walking a whole mile as I think I'd stiffen up. The first time I did the half I'm doing in April, I'd been in hospital the week before, had run a total of 8 km in the previous month since my last half and had a trapped nerve from the hospital bed. I took it very very very carefully, slow run the first half, then walked for a couple of minutes at every mile marker after that. It probably wasn't my wisest move and I was fully prepared to drop out if needed, but finished in good shape. What OhOneOhTwoOhThree suggested Jeffing from the start is a better strategy, might depend on how busy it is, I've never been sure how to handle the walking sections early on.

I ran/walked a half last year, I didn't intend to but didn't feel good on the day (it was very humid which killed my energy). I ran the first 5km at a steady pace and then ran/walked at intervals, roughly 2km run half km walk. Running the first 5km meant the crowds had thinned so I wasn't getting in anyone's way by stopping to walk. The finish time ended up only 12 mins more than my previous half 6 weeks earlier where I ran the whole thing but struggled massively from mile 9 (although also added on 5 mins by needing to use a portaloo mid run😑).
I'm hoping to get some 10 mile runs in as mile 9 seems like the wall in a half, the end is in sight but also still a fair way to go! Only built up to 10km so far though so need to build the distance each week.

5.07km for me today. 48 minutes. I’m pleased , as I hit 5km target 🙂 My next target is 10km, I don’t know, should I concentrate myself on building up the speed or length? I’m glad it’s getting better.

@Turefu well done on your run. I find that building the distance gives me the strength to build speed at the same time. Once there is a bit of a plateau, then add in shorter/faster runs.
My parkrun times have got faster as my stamina has built- not added any speed work or intervals yet.

I had a surprisingly good run this morning. I'm still on mostly easy to eat foods (due to the tooth extraction last week) but did have a mashed banana before running. I also took a gel with me just in case I started flagging. Ran a good 8 miles, had the gel at 6 miles and finished strongly. It was so icy out so ran cautiously but still ended up with a decent average mile pace.

Ran 6 miles to work this morning along the Thames to St James Park, carrying a change of clothes in a ruck sack. Only major flaw if that a didn't have a coat so my commute home was mighty chilly! Brrh!

Good to see you all doing so well. Glad you are bouncing back @brooksghost and well done on your distance @Turefu @shamoola that sounds a lovely run.

Three early morning miles for me this morning. It felt good. Fitting in a run tomorrow will be challenging thanks to work commitments and an earlier start and later finish than usual, but have blocked off time across lunchtime in the hope nothing urgent crops up.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree I'm very impressed with anyone that has the discipline to run over lunch! I have tried but just can't do it. I faff like a pro and then I have to get back to work.

Hi everyone, is it too late to join? I’ve my first half in May, started training mid December with 2 runs a week and now up to 3. Goal is 21k per week with different kinds of runs; easy, hills, interval. Ran 10k this morning in 58 mins; fastest 10k yet but haven’t yet done more than that - hopefully this weekend.
Well done everyone on getting out and training in this cold and icy weather!

4 wonderful miles for me. I couldn't go to club as we had GCSE options evening, which I went to in my running kit (plus layers) and DS2 in his football kit.
I ran in town while DS was at football and did a loop along the old railway line ie flat and no traffic. A few dodgy icy patches but no where near as bad as my village and surrounding roads.

Welcome @Lamontaine !

@shamoola thats very kind. On my office days I usually travel to work in running gear, run from work and shower and change there (we are fortunate to have the facilities). It takes quite a bit of organisation to have the right things in the right place but I have just about cracked it, and it means I can run in daylight. So running at lunchtime is only a small extra bit of faffage compared to my mornings 😄

That's how I do it too, I often go into work in my running stuff. I lack willpower, so being changed already is half the battle. I'm always in awe of people who have the willpower to run in the evening.

I'm planning on intervals tomorrow lunch, I did a fast finish session today. Enjoyed it but very nippy. I might try and get in an extra run this week.

Welcome @Lamontaine!

The Garmin 3x a week plan is great, easy to fit in as 2 of them are short ones. Couldn't do it without Contiform though - only so far I can get with just the pelvic floor exercises. Given me all my exercise back!

Fist bunp @chutneypig I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow lunchtime!

I'm always in awe of people who have the willpower to run in the evening.

I do most of my running in the evening or night. I love it. It's not an issue of motivation for me i.e. it's not a case of getting it out of the way.
I'm a night owl. For a while it was the only time I could get out.

One thing I truly miss about not working in the office any more (I've been wfh for years) is not running with mates at lunch time.

What I can't do is intervals on my own. I just don't push myself.

Four murky miles done. Am seeing an improvement in my pace and stamina which is really motivating. Back to my desk!