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.

It was an hour easy, 10 mins goal pace and a faster 5 mins to finish. Plus 5 mins either side to warm up/ cool down.

@BogRollBOGOF sounds like a great run.

@chutneypig good news on the park run and getting out there.

@Trickedbyadoughnut, great race and effort, welll done! I did not manage the 12k. I went for a cocktail and a swim in the lake instead! Oops!

been for for 6k hill intervals at 6am today. So feeling very pleased with myself and ready for a substantial lunch!

This is the plan I’m following: https://www.rundisney.com/running-training-programs/ It’s probably too basic for many of you seasoned runners but I think it’s a solid choice for a new runner like me! I don’t Jeff with my running club but I do occasionally Jeff by myself (mostly because I find it breaks up the monotony but also because it helps to keep my HR down - 178bpm average is not unusual for me in my club sessions 😵‍💫). I have signed up for a PAYG fitness class on Friday to see what I make of it. Taking my first tentative steps into cross-training! Hoping it’s going to unlock some aerobic fitness and make running a bit more comfortable…

I’ve said before I’m a slower runner but the fact my HR is so high at modest speeds is really hampering me going faster! In the long term I’d love to be able to hold a 7min/km pace and get my 5K time down to 35 mins. (37 mins is about the best I can do now.) I can’t say I’ve got much interest in going faster than that but when I get there it’ll really unlock my participation in my running club (as I can only do beginner sessions right now).

Present focus is - of course - distance though!

First run since being ill and my legs feel like chewed string! Hope they will feel a bit stronger tomorrow. It was a gentle 3 miles up an old railway line track and back down.

gm2023 - I'm sure if you keep plugging away you will get there. I know that's not much help but I have confidence in you!

@CatherineMaitland sure you’ll be back on it soon. Glad you’re feeling better.

@gm2023, looks like a great plan. I am sure you’ll get there with your pace; don’t worry about that now though, as you’ve said before, it’s all about getting out there, getting time on your feet, building that endurance slowly. You need to slow down to speed us! I am sure cross training will help too. I know it did for me, I used to go and then stopped everything for running. Decided to go back last October after a tough half race and I really saw difference in my running this year.

That's dedication on the hills @Lamontaine!

I hope it all eases up soon @CatherineMaitland - love a good railway run 

That plan is really interesting @gm2023. I'd be very tempted to switch to that but I'm a bit too close to my half now. I'm in the exact same pace spot as you, although I'm think it's my blood,pressure that's my main issue. Not enough oxygen getting to where it needs, I'm doing a final set of readings to get them back to my GP so I'll see what they say.

My preference would be to opt for a class rather than an hour on the elliptical- I do like the elliptical but my attention span isn't that long!

Thank you all for the encouragement! I’m running tomorrow and doing a functional fitness class on Friday for the first time. I’m hoping I like it and can make it a key part of my training. My plan then has me doing 3 miles at the weekend so I’m tempted to try to see if I can pull off a faster 5K. We will see…

3 runs later and the legs are getting better - today was 4 miles with lots of uphill, first 2.5 miles easy, next mile harder, next mile hard. No chewed string feeling, but I still feel so underpowered and much more tired afterwards. Gah. That said, things are improving. Slowly.

Happy to see Jasmin Paris get an MBE! Sometimes when a run is tough I think "what would Jasmin Paris do?" to keep me going.

I’ve got such bad DOMS in my quads that I can barely walk down the stairs and bending is excruciating. All from the new exercise class I tried! It’s rather ruined my running plans this weekend. I did a slow 5K to see if it would help. It didn’t but it hasn’t made anything worse either. But I ran my fastest ever mile on Thursday at running club so I was all set to push myself this weekend to see if I could sustain that pace over 2 or 3 miles. No such luck!

I’m back to running club tomorrow but I’ve signed up for the same class again on Tuesday - although at a different gym and with a different instructor. I need a bit more instruction than I got on Friday at the cheaper class. I’m hoping I’ll be able to make it a regular part of my routine and doing it midweek will mean my legs aren’t wrecked for my upcoming long runs.

All in all, I’m feeling quite fed up tonight! But I’ve had a nice, active day (23k steps - mostly in the garden!) and I’ve got my highest VO2 max score on my Apple Watch (still low - 29.8 - but better than it’s ever been for me).

Trying to keep my spirits up but feeling a bit rubbish about the DOMS and I feel I’m stagnating a little with my running.

My calves were at me last week and I ended up skipping Saturday's run. I thought my body would appreciate the rest more than a progression session. Did my long run yesterday and it was a lot more comfortable. At least I've known I'm at peak milage and ready to taper.

My legs don't like the slower pace- it makes me more flat footed and more time on the ground so more shock through the shins and more effort to lift back off. My trainers are not the newest either. I've felt more comfortable where the pace has picked up through a session and I can get more spring into it.

At least DOMS passes and is a sign of muscles being used and building up.

@gm2023 yes, I see it like @BogRollBOGOF DOMs, even if not from running is a sign of muscles growing and I'm sure the stronger quads will help with the running.
I'm still to find the time to strength train...
I am loving having ditched any formal training plan though, I've done a few speed workouts and a threshold run yesterday. Felt fab last night, tired legs but I enjoyed that "pushed myself" feeling. Garmin has stayed at "productive" which it never did when I was actually following a Garmin plan?!
I'm going to run for fun for the remainder of the summer before looking for some autumn events, and cross country season again. I would like to go into that fitter than last year, thinking long slow runs and lots of hills?

I'm getting to the point of looking forwards to being off plan... I'll probably last two weeks 😂

My plan's beginning to wind down now. My calves are so ready for this!

I'm wondering if it's New Shoe time. Garmin says it is although Garmin doesn't know when I've alternated with trail shoes. Saying that, they've not been used that much over the life of these road runners because the autumn/ winter/ spring were too swampy to get on to the trails and actually run. I did more milage in their predecessors, but for a run-all road race, fresh shoes might help... I could keep the current ones in action for bimbling...
It never works like that though does it 😂

My plan has suggested only short runs this week although will be a 6 mile negative split run on Sunday. I've been trying to take it easy still, and the runs feel like a struggle but somehow I am getting faster - 1km in 5 mins 18 seconds now. Wish I could do it for more than 1k of course....

My Garmin went mad yesterday and suggested I had run a mile in 3 minutes and 51 seconds. I may be slowly getting faster but...no. Haha

It is most definitely too hot!

Anyone have any luck in the London ballot? Not me (feeling slightly relieved 😅)

I've never tried the London ballot.
I'd rather just book a place, although they've released the places sooner this year than previously? I sure it was in the autumn before.

I didn't try for the London marathon either.

Hope everyone is doing well. I have been keeping up with the thread but not posting.

I have a HM coming up on Sunday! It's part of a three day event which cumulatively make a marathon.

It will feel quite short compared to my ultra training - I have got up to marathon distance twice in the last three weeks, and my shortest weekday runs at the moment are 10lk. I'm going to take the summer off and just do parkrun and concentrate on my swimming for a bit. There's a trail HM I quite fancy in the autumn. so we'll see what happens.

I had a 4 minute mile a week or two ago when I lost signal for a bit!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree wow, I'm super impressed with that mileage, and having done mara distance twice!
Hope the weekend event is good fun.
Various events meant I only ran a total of 8 miles last week (2 or 3 runs) and so far been about the same this week. Hoping to get a longer trail run in this weekend as less happening and cooler weather.

I’ve got a niggly hip so I’m not running at the moment, although I ran my longest ever distance on Saturday (7 miles). I’m feeling quite anxious about the impact missing some time will have on my training but I don’t want my uncomfortable hip to turn into something painful. I’m hoping to try a couple of miles on Sunday to see where I am with everything.

Also - no London Marathon place for me (a relief, if I am honest) but I am hoping for a London Landmarks HM place.

First event of the weekend done. I idid it in about the same time as last year which I'm pleased with.

Tomorrow is x-country. It's a new route because the old one is too muddy after all the rain.

Hope yoiur hip improves @gm2023

@Jumbojem are you still doing yoga?

Well done @OhOneOhTwoOhThree ! Enjoy the XC tomorrow.
I'm planning a longer (7-8 mile) trail run this weekend.
Yes, still doing the yoga. I think it definitely helps keep my running niggles in check. I started getting planar fascitis last month but managing to keep it at bay with lots of foot and calf stretches, ankle rotation and so on. Still working on my stiff hips and lower back. Dread to think how stiff I'd be without it.

Well done on the yoga @Jumbojem, I've stuck with the YWA daily recommendations. I'm slightly behind but have done most days even if only 10 minutes.

Well done, everyone! Still no running here and even walking is uncomfortable at the moment. Booked in with a physio later this week so hoping to get some answers. I’m rather panicking my HM plan is over before it even got properly underway.

So I can’t run for at least two weeks which makes things pretty tight for my October half marathon as by the time I’m back to running I’ll have had the best part of a month off. I’m hopeful that I’ll still have ten or eleven weeks to train, although I think it’s highly like I’ll be switching to a more conservative run-walk strategy and pace than I had in mind.