Half Marathon Training Spring 2024

[xsquared]

The other thread got full, so I'm starting a new one to keep us motivated.

How is everyone doing?

Went out earlier today for a 8 mile run, when it was a little drizzly, but then got completely soaked as Storm Babette did their stuff! I'm still glad to have got out though.

Since completing GNR 2023, I've been training for a 10 mile race next month with Hal Higdon, as well as running 2 of the XC fixtures for my club.

I found out earlier this week that I got a place at a HM race in January 2024 through the new ballot system, so I will start training for that soon.

What trainers did you get @bakewellbride?

Asics jolt 4. I love them.

My old pair were absolutely falling to pieces and I'd had them for many years so I'm never letting it get that bad again!

Oh lovely. I have a pair of Asics Evorides which I got for an absolute bargain on their outlet site. I've tiny feet which helps a lot and I've normal gait/pronation so I took a gamble on them.

They're incredibly light, less than 200g per shoe, but my left toes have been cramping after about 10km so I wonder if they're right for me...I manage to get rid of the cramps when I concentrate on keeping my foot loose so I suspect it's a me problem, rather than a trainer problem.

I'm very glad to hear that @Lamontaine! How infuriating about the extra 500m, that's a lot for that overall distance. I bet it was heavy going!

That sounds tough @Spirini but sounds like it did the job to get your head in the right place for the half.

They're nice shoes @bakewellbride That's a plus to have company at the start. I haven't got anything booked apart from a trail run for next year - which I definitely do not do for a time, mud and hills! I'm trying to get my distance back up at the moment as I lost a lot of fitness over the summer. My local half is in April so I'll probably aim for that, it's a small local event. Actually just remembered I have signed up for our local big half in September! I got a great early bird discount for that. My kids will be old enough for a half in the autumn so I'm hoping one of both will do that too. I think the whole family will enter the GNR ballot.

I’m wavering about entering a local trail half marathon which is in Feb. It’s hilly, very rural so across fields and streams rather than on tracks, and is notorious for being a total mud-fest. But I looked up the results from last year on their website and the slowest person did it in 3.5 hours then. My usual time in a road HM is around 2.5 hours, so given the terrain I think it’d take me longer than 3.5 hours to do this one. I know it shouldn’t matter about potentially being last but, well, it does matter a bit to me!

@Sammysquiz that sounds like my kind of run! I have been last at one of our local HM's (its a two lap route, and the winner was finishing as I was completing my first lap). You've gone just as far as the fast runners, and been working hard for a lot longer than them, so I'd say go for it!

Sorry not to have been contributing to the thread - I've hardly done any running for the last month. Work really took off, with lots of really starts and the dark evenings have made it hard to get out. Sundays have bene spent lolling on the sofa trying to build up some energy for the week ahead. Hoping it will ease off again soon, as I'm tempted by an event next summer which will require a lot of training (despite my saying I'd never do a big run again, I do kind of miss the structure it brought to my training).

Hope you are all doing well and have/have had good weekend runs

Happy Monday everyone! How was the weekend? The weather is certainly not encouraging us to get out right now is it?
I had the second event in the XC league on Saturday. Thankfully it was sunnyish and dry but the ground was sooo boggy. Ran in my son's old spikes which are a size too big and thought I was going to loose them on lap 1. It was a big event this time as combined with a national event. I ran with Olympians and some Kenyan runners. Well, I say ran with, they were about to start lap 2 as I was finishing lap 1🤣 Watching the elite men in OHs race was incredible, it was like the boggy ground was nothing to them as they sprang round the course.
I wanted to get better with each event but as they are different terrains, distance and elevation it's not easy to judge. Overall my pace was the same this time as last. However this time I didn't go out at an unsustainable pace and actually did mile 2 faster than mile 1 so I am taking that as progress! The remainder of the events (there are 3 more) are the hilly ones so really need to get some hill work in, and I guess some squats at home to toughen up my quads.
It was my 50th birthday yesterday and I said yes to the XC as I thought "now or never". Yes, I'm the slowest in the club team but no one cares (and I can make them feel better by not being the slowest!). So I'm here to say do the uncomfortable things! I know what you mean about being last and how it feels. The last runner of the day was coming in as we were leaving and the commentator asked everyone to cheer them in and bang the railings. They got a bigger cheer than the winner and it was brilliant.

@Sammysquiz I'm no expert but if your usual HM time is 2.5 I don't think you'd add an extra hour, even with the hills, you'll probably catch up on the downhill bits?

That's lovely about the cheers for the last runner @Jumbojem, they were probably equally chuffed and embarrassed at the same time. And well done on doing it yourself, it sounds like a really hard course.

I checked the times for my HM and the slowest person in the last race was 3.5 hours. I'm hoping to do it in 2 hours 45 which would put me in the last 300 people but because it's my first I really am stepping into the unknown so fingers crossed. I feel like my legs have recovered from my 10 miler last Thursday, so one more short jaunt on Wednesday night will be my last one before the HM on Saturday, eeek.

I'd still go for it @Sammysquiz. I find trail really hard especially if muddy as I have weak ankles, but I love the change of scene and the experience side. I agree with the others, support for runners coming in later is very good. I did a half last year, my local quite one, and was third from last but still had a great time. I also think race numbers are picking up now, so you often see more around my time than I did immediately post Covid.

That sounds amazing @Jumbojem and a great way to celebrate your birthday. I guess there is a lot more strategy with the different course elements for XC.

I thought you might sign up for something big again @OhOneOhTwoOhThree. I'm sorry to hear that works been busy, it's a pain when it impacts like that because that's just the time you need the headspace. But equally you've got to be realistic about what's possible.

I'm taking advantage of early waking jet lag and going out for a run before work this morning. I'm in the US and the weather is lovely and crisp. There's a great gym in my hotel as well so I can get my weights in. Plus loads of healthy eating options around, it's feeling a lot easier to eat properly travelling now.

@Spirini good luck for the HM, is it this Saturday? Hope the weather plays ball for you!
@chutneypig great idea to make good use of the jetlag/gym and healthy eating too, wow! Envious of the crisp clear weather. A rarity in the UK right now.

Today was lovely and sunny but I had an all day meeting, did manage to get out at twilight though for a "base" run. Really trying to get on board with the "slow runs really slow, fast runs properly fast" it seems so obvious as a key to improve, but it's really hard not to run at my ploddy old in between pace for every run.

@Jumbojem I know what you mean, I think if I did Zone 2 training I'd be practically standing still 😂

Didn't manage to get out since last Thursday, so I did a short 4km this morning. It was hard! I have a cold and a uti is niggling that I'm trying to stay on top of with d mannose and lots of water. Typical! And yes @Jumbojem HM on Saturday, going to do it if it kills me! Forecast is dry, fingers crossed it stays that way 😊

This is the route map if anyone's interested. 38km elevation gain which should be fine, I'm used to much hillier.

Can I join in? I have signed up to a mid-April HM and could use some motivation!

Currently partway through the BUPA 10k beginners training plan (although I have been running for years, it's a while since I've been consistent) before a Christmas 10k mid-December (which I will be running in a reindeer onesie, so veeerrrryyy slowly cause, well, chafing ...).

Then to decide what plan to follow next - I only have time to run three times a week really (plus I get injured very easily, thanks EDS), whereas the BUPA beginners HM plan is four times a week. So not sure whether to try to adapt that or try the Hal Higdon plan. But it looks a bit complicated, I usually only do simple plans!

90% of my running is at zone 2!
The other 10% is normally a parkrun or some speed work.
I quite like zone 2 but do enjoy the speed sessions or parkrun.
My zone 2 speed is still improving and I'm still chipping bits off my parkrun time.
DH, on the other hand, hates zone 2 and is barely past a walk speed when he does it. He just needs to keep plodding and build his system up.

Good luck@Spirini with the half this weekend. I hope the weather is favourable for the race.

I'm doing a 10 mile road race this Sunday, so I've only been doing 5/6k runs this week amd will do my last one tomorrow.

Welcome to the thread @Trickedbyadoughnut . I hope the training for the 10k is going well.

Do you have a Garmin watch? It's what I used to train for my first half marathon race. I think it has a plan for running 3 times a week with Coach Amy.

I find that I can only run my whole run in zone 2 if I am running and chatting with someone else, who isn't my long run partner.

Most of my runs, when I attempt to run more relaxed and slow still end up being at the lower end of zone 3.

@xsquared thanks, but no, I have a Suunto now! Although I do have an old Garmin with a broken strap, that I carry as a lucky charm as it was my Dad's last Christmas present to me - maybe I could try to get it on that? Or on my phone maybe. I'll have a look.

That's a spectacular looking route @Spirini - also keeping my fingers crossed for good weather. Bet there'll be some stunning views to keep you distracted.

Welcome @Trickedbyadoughnut! I am very much with you on the 3 runs a week side. I find it much easier to plan in and not overdo things. It's not easy to find an intermediate HM plan though on that balance. And I wish there were ones that factored parkrun in!

My return plan is increasing the time running now and I'm finding those sections more comfortable but my pace doesn't seem to be picking up at all. Although the buildings are throwing my GPS off here so hard to say. I'm going to head out soon, I really need to clear my head. Hoping for a nice sunrise, I love to take a few photos out and about.

Hope all goes well at the weekend @xsquared

parkrun is great for pushing yourself @brooksghost. I'm even struggling to do that now, had some very very slow runs recently and I'd like to get the point where parkrun is pushing me - I'm currently plodding at the same old pace.

Thank you for the well wishes everyone.

I did it! My first half marathon 🎉

My time was pretty crap- I did it in 2 hours 36 minutes. Winds were fairly high and I was running into that for the last 11km.

With better training I think I could've done better.

My training has been something like this

-c25k started in February
-Did my first 5km in March
-Another in May and from that point I was doing a couple of 5km a week
-In June I upped my distance to 8km
-But with holidays for most of July I didn't do anything
-Back into it in august, back into 5kms a few times a week
-Then my work ramps up in September so I've only been getting out a couple of times a week if I'm lucky.
-Did my first ever 10km on 17th September
-Another 10km on 1st October
-Again on 29th October
Then in the last couple of weeks:
1 x 14km
1 x 16km

1 x 13 miles!! 😀

So basically not much distance at all!
I'm 42yo 😊 as a point of reference

Hey, can I jump back in. My half marathon was an absolute disaster, ended up with the Marshall sending me the wrong way and I only ran 10.5 miles. It was definitely not suitable for beginners as stated and I don't think they reasoned anyone still had another lap left. Anyway I got over it once I realised nobody but me cared.
I have a 10k beginning of dec and then I have signed up for a race in Jan that is 20k running but in small sections with a walk break I between each section. 24k in total with the walks.
And a half in April which I'm really scared about as it is very very uphill (5 miles up).
I treated myself to a garmin and I'm doing exactly what it tells me to for each run which has really changed my training, not sure if it's working or not but I do like not having to plan myself.

When was your half @ditavonteesed ? I can see how that would be demoralising. But you're doing the right thing getting back at it! By the time the next one comes around you'll have loads of training done and it'll be easier to handle

That sounds a good time to me@Spirini especially with a headwind. I find I'm more consistent with training for a spring half, summer is always a rim8ng challenge. Have you got the next one in mind?

That definitely sounds rough @ditavonteesed but it also sounds like you're dealing with it very well. The Garmin plans are always interesting to follow. You've got some great runs coming up next year!

Well done @Spirini on your first half marathon, and don't beat yourself up about times. It was your first one and you can definitely improve with consistent training.

Be deliberate about your training. Ask yourself what your goal is first, and set aside a number of days when you will do some running. Have a look at training plans for the distance you want to improve in, and try to stick to it.

Sorry to hear that your half marathon didn't go too well @ditavonteesed .
Was it a trail or one with few runners? It's not good that a marshal messed up their job!
Anyway, it sounds like you have a few good races lined up to keep you motivated, so all the best with that.

Well, I did my 10 miler today. I hadn't done this particular course before, but it was road, with a few inclines here and there. I was a bit apprehensive about roads not being closed so didn't expect a pb at all, but I managed it, so I am pleased.

Next week is a local XC fixture, that I am looking forward to, but I'm in two minds about whether to wear Innov8 Mudclaws or my spikes. I did a recce in spikes a year ago, and my calves were so sore the following couple of days!

@Spirini congratulations! 🎉

My training has slipped recently. Dh is my only childcare and is working a lot so it's hard logically. Then when he is off it's either horrible weather or I'm exhausted from a bad night with my youngest. Not easy.

Thanks everyone :)

@chutneypig I think after Christmas will suit me better as well, life is much less hectic Jan-Summer. There's a half in May that i might aim for. Can't believe I'm even thinking of doing another one, I was in bits at the end of the run and swore I'd never do it again. It's a bit like having a baby 😂

@bakewellbride Trying to get runs in when your kids are little isn't easy and yeah, the dark nights aren't motivating at all.

Anyone ever suffer from knee pain? I don't normally but my right knee was extremely sore on Saturday night and I iced it and took ibuprofen for two days. It's settled down a lot now, but it's a bit concerning that I couldn't even touch it. It was pain behind the kneecap. I'm going to completely rest for the next week, maybe longer, and then gradually get back into it again, slowly building up my distances again.

@Spirini well done on the half!
Knee pain- lots of stretching, ice and also check your shoes as they may be worn out or not the best type for your running style.

I had a 90min zone 2 run yesterday; it was a good run.
I'm now contemplating a half for the spring- I have a choice of two biggish local ones. I'll probably ended up doing both!
I have a 10mile XC race at the end of Dec; I did the 10k version last year and loved it.