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.

I've signed up for my half marathon in 4 weeks! I have been training for it over the summer, I just needed to actually enter.
£50 was pretty eyewatering but being trail with a simultaneous ultra, they do really good snack stations. Not bargainous, but it does perk the event up.

Having just raced a lumpy 10mi, I'm on good form.

I did a recovery run today. A bit dead-legged which was to be expected. I'm still musing over my long-run strategy for this week. I want to get a couple of hours of exercise done, but I'm not hung up on what method as recovery is more important at this point. Even a long walk would be of benefit.

Thank you! Haven’t run since my half-marathon on Sunday but I’ve been to Bodypump today and hoping to do 5-6km tomorrow. Next long run at the weekend - hopefully around 10km. Then just one really long run to go until race day! Going to practise running a little faster on my next few runs to see if I can get more used to it for my half.

Congrats to all on the race results and long runs to half marathon size. :-)

It sounds stupid but today for the first time I felt like I was running rather than jogging, even when I was going slowly. Maybe all those glute strength exercises are beginning to make a difference.

Long run done for the week. 9 flat miles. Legs finally feeling more alive after last weekend's exertions.

I ran 10 miles yesterday. I never thought I could run 1 mile, let alone 10! A little bit tired today of course.

I chose a flat loop route to get the distance in, but it was kind of dull from a running point of view. I think I prefer a bit of up and down.

I also got heckled for the first time - a man - but of course it was a man - yelled "You should get a boyfriend to keep you fit" at me half a mile in. Twit.

Grrr why do these men (because IME it always is men) think it’s OK to behave like this (rhetorical question). Idiots.

Hello @Fit4FunPTLondon I’m not usually this bad tempered. Welcome to the best thread on MN!

I went out and did 10.5 miles today. I found it HARD. Whereas I did 9.7 last week and could have kept going. I think I maybe I started off too fast, my first mile was 9.44 which is a bit quicker for me. Also I’d had yogurt, granola and fruit at 7.30 and an apple about 11 and went out at 12.40 so possibly wasn’t fuelled up enough. It took me 1hr 56 and I did a good bit of walking towards the end. Now worrying whether I’ll be prepared for the HM!

Well done!

I mainly run off-road which is good for nob avoidence.

I had one a few years ago yelling out of his van while I was having a walk break. Something about not being very fast. I was on the 3 mile run home from a fitness class having done the class and run the 3 miles down to it.
I was running better than him sitting on his arse powered by an internal combustion engine!

So I’ve accidentally ended up with a place to do the Great North Run next year! Does anyone have any experience of this race? Where’s best to stay? I wasn’t expecting my ballot application to work out!

Congratulations on getting a place on GNR.

As I already live in the North East amd go by club bus, I can't offer you any helpful advice on travel amd accommodation. The start line is usually somewhere on Claremont Road and near Town Moore, but it's reasonable walking distance from the centre.

Atmosphere is great with entertainment and along the route - drums, Elvis tribute act, people cheering you own and handing out jelly babies, ice pops, wet sponges and this year they had doughnuts at mile 2. Not something you'll want if you're aiming for a pb though!

It's not the easiest course as it's undulating and I seem to flag by mile 10 both times I did it. Last year was particularly tough as it was very hot!

You will have a blast though, so all the best with the training.

So I’ve accidentally ended up with a place to do the Great North Run next year! Does anyone have any experience of this race? Where’s best to stay?

Stay in South Shields so you can walk back to your accommodation after the finish. Getting metros to the start line in Newcastle from Shields in the morning is a million times easier than trying to get back to the Toon after the race ends. There's various hotels near the seafront but they'll book up early, so I'd get in now if you can.

The race itself is incredible. Not a PB course in my experience (too busy, and also not flat) but still the most fun half marathon I've ever done. And I've done a lot!

Thank you!

So the new plan is to stay in the Gosforth/Jesmond area as a kind friend has offered to put me up. Looks to be a couple of miles from the start line so while I can’t say I’m hugely keen on adding to my daily mileage - it will be OK if transport is tricky on the morning.

Accept that it’ll be quite horrible trying to get back afterwards but price I am willing to pay to spend some time with my lovely friend. Really looking forward to spending some time with her.

I am, as previous posts indicate, a slow run-walker so no worries about not smashing a PB. I want to have a nice day and finish feeling strong with a smile on my face. My first half marathon race is in about 2.5 weeks and I am aiming to finish it in 3 hours - fingers crossed!

My original target was 2:45 before a break in my training due to injury put a spanner in the works. I’d be delighted to end up around there next year but I am happy to be at the back of the pack! I am so glad I’ve realised running and fitness is not just for fast, athletic-looking people.

I think elevation gain is around 134m for the GNR and the only half marathon I’ve done (just a training run) had 184m so I’m not feeling too worried yet… Pleased to note my race next month is flatter though!

Gosforth and Jesmond are very easy to get to the start line from, so you'll have no issues there.

And don't get me wrong, the GNR isn't hilly at all (mildly undulating and then a sight climb up the John Reid Road) - it just isn't pancake-flat, which is why it's not necessarily a PB course in the way that, say, Manchester is. But as a steadier runner anyway and if you're not counting by the seconds, this won't be a big issue I'm sure. You'll love it - the atmosphere on the day is amazing!

Thank you for all the GNR advice!

Did my final long run this weekend before my first half marathon in two weeks! 1.5km warm-up and then 15km at a pace that surprised me! Now not sure what to do for race day.

I averaged 7:47/km, which is about the pace I was managing pre-injury. Found a run-walk interval that really seems to suit me. My best 10K time is 7:41/km average so I’m thrilled to have maintained a similar pace over an extra 5K.

I’d been quite set to run with 3 hour pacer (8:31/km pace) and enjoy the experience but now I’m wondering if I should try to stick with the 2:45 pacer (7:49/km pace) instead. I am not sure whether I’ll fade in the final 6km though! But I suppose even if I do I’ll have “banked” a bit of time to get the sub-3 finish I’d really like.

Also - does anyone have any advice with gels too? I’ve just started taking them but my 6km and 11km times - when I had the gels - were quite a bit slower than my other times as I had to walk for a couple of minutes to not choke. I run/walk anyway but not sure I can actually run and drink the gel! Any tips gratefully received, as I think this is an area I could gain a few mins!

@gm2023 well done! I did my last really long run yesterday. My half is 2 weeks today too. I managed 12.1 miles in 2hour 14mins. Quite pleased with that and it’s told me that I’ll manage on the day. I’m not sure whether to do another long run next weekend, like 10/11 miles or whether to do around 8… then keep it steady until the 6th!

I got the High 5 Aqua Gels in orange. They’re not as thick - almost like a thick orange juice which I tolerated more. I took one at around 30mins and the other at 8miles. It does say on the box to take every 20mins but I think that would be too much for me. I managed to run the whole 12 miles but I stopped just twice for the gels.

With gels you need to practice with different brands, during runs, to see what suits you.

SIS gels work best for me (they're quite thick and gloopy and difficult to swallow, but I can keep them down). Hi-5 gels are much easier to drink on the go, but my body doesn't tolerate them and thus they make me explode. This is something you need to find out in training runs and not on race day!

You also need to practice taking them, as walking for two minutes for each gel is far from ideal in a race. They are designed to be taken on the go and you shouldn't have to slow down at all.
Eg - if I'm doing a 10k (the shortest race in which I would take on fuel) then I'm running 6:30-min miles and can't afford to be dropping pace, so I need to be able to take the gel while moving quickly. For me, the trick is to open it and then suck it a tiny bit at a time. It might take me the full mile to take on the whole thing.

I'm trying to psych up to do a long run...
I might do loops so that I don't feel stuck on one huge lap in the middle of nowhere.
I did 11mi last week.

How's everyone getting on? I've not posted in ages, currently on the injury bench with a calf injury. It has stopped hurting when I walk now but a mile in it starts to hurt and then the following day I can barely walk again. So I'm sitting it for as long as I can bear now before I try again, and I must remember to wear my calf guards when I do.
Bit gutted as was due to start cross country again in a couple of weeks, and the first course is my favourite.

I've been awol as well but wanted to pop back and wish everyone running soon good luck - if I've added up properly it looks like some races this weekend for people?

Sorry to hear you're injured @Jumbojem, how frustrating when I know how much you enjoyed the cross country last year.

That's very exciting about GNR @gm2023. I know you might not fancy a walk after but the traffic was horrendous this year. It took us 3 and a half hours to get back to the hotel on a dedicated bus and it was only 11 miles from the finish. We all still entered the ballot but none so us got in.

I'm spending the autumn watching the rest of the family doing halfs. I deferred Robin Hood this weekend but my son smashed it, his first proper road half. He loved it. I'm slowly clawing some fitness back, taking the couch25k approach. It's very slow progress and I'm aiming this year to find parkrun manageable. My BP meds have definitely made a difference but a long run down in fitness won't fix itself in a few weeks so I'm trying to be patient,

Thanks - it’s good to know what to expect and it sounds like I should be expecting a slow journey back to my friend’s house!

My half marathon is this weekend! I am very nervous but since I was able to start running again after my piriformis injury my training has gone really well. I ran 77 miles in August and 74 miles in September. I’ve found a run/walk ratio that suits me and I’m running at my pre-injury pace again (and sometimes quicker than that). I generally feel good when running at my plodding pace so I’ve decided to target 2:45 on Sunday! I’ve only run about 10 miles at that pace (my other longer runs have been much slower) so I’m not sure if I’ll actually manage it but even if I have to slow down, it should set me up well!

I've also benched myself for a week - a long run and two vaccines in a week knocked the stuffing out of me. I think I'm probably off-course for a half in 3 weeks time - I certainly don't feel ready. I don't even think I will enjoy it, so I decided not to push things. I think I'll focus on 5k and 10k for a bit, and just enjoying running.

Good luck to everyone still going and best wishes for quick injury recoveries!

I'm happy to be tapering now!
I pulled off 10 miles last week. A little shorter than I'd have liked but between PMT, being well-used and counting down to a sports massage, I didn't have much left in the tank and ended up walking the last 3 miles as I had no spare omph left.
That was take 2 too. I started on the
Monday and downgraded to a 4 mile walk in the first mile 😂

Hoping for 8 miles tomorrow if the weather's half-decent. I'm feeling more up for it than last week. Aiming to do 5-6miles early next week as the last longish one before the weekend.

My run is on Sunday. I’m worrying I tapered off too soon… I did 12.1 miles on 21st and then just 5 miles on Sunday just passed. (With shorter runs/strength training in between). I think I’ll do a 5km on Thursday or Friday just to keep my legs going. I’m excited but also nervous. I’m having regular dreams about going the wrong way, getting lost, getting stuck in queues, having to climb up buildings as part of the course and forgetting my gels. Clearly overthinking this 😂