Just entered my first half marathon!

[Indianapolice]

I've just plucked up the courage to enter my first half marathon! Sharing here as no one at home is really interested in hearing about it 😅

I've been trying to get into running on and off for a few years now. Do a good few months then life gets in the way and I stop again.

Longest I've ever run was a completely one off 15k I did one day feeling spritely and then I stopped and did nothing for 6 months 😂

I'm not fast or fit in the slightest so hoping this sign up keeps me motivated!

That must be very exciting for you! If you can already run 15k, then you will easily find the extra 6k by the time your event comes.

Which half is it if you don't mind saying and when is it?

Oh I definitely can't run 15k at the moment, it was last summer but I've started again recently and doing 5k in around 31 minutes and will build my weekly mileage up slowly.

It's not a well known one, I've picked Lake Vyrnwy in September but also happy to think of another option if people think that's rubbish? 😅

Ooh congrats & hope your training goes well! I think Lake Vyrnwy is supposed to be a nice course but I remember reading that the parking situation was awful , there’s a website with reviews of races which I scanned to look for a nice half without too many hills 😊.

Thanks for the tip on parking! I picked it because it's a really flat race apparently and I've visited a few times with family/friends over the years so has a little sentimental value too.

Hopefully if this one goes well I'd like to do a city race in spring 2026 - any recommendations?

Fabulous! Well done.
enjoy it, I’m sure it will be the 1st of many.

Good for you! Only ever achieved one, only a walking marathon too. Moonwalk in 2016.

Entered with a great mate. She got norovirus 3 days before so had to go alone. Wasn’t at all sure I could make it, struggled with the 20 miles a week before.

But … the adrenaline absolutely carried me through. I smashed it. 6 hours, 2 mins, first through in my group and walked to the train station at the end.

You will too ❤️

That’s fab! Love a half marathon, it’s long enough to be a challenge but short enough to be manageable. Best of luck with the training and let us know how it’s going!

How exciting! I have my first half at the end of June. Slightly worried about how hot it’ll be but looking forward to it.

Oooh I’ve been googling half marathons for November to give me 6 months to train.

My current fitness and running level is zero. I’m overweight and miserable and a friend has just done a half marathon and I just think I need to do something totally outside my comfort zone.

It feels unrealistic tbh but this is also exactly why I want to do it! Sick of my own BS!

Good luck op!

@MrsSkylerWhite @spartanrunnergirl thank you!

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato how exciting, which race are you doing? I'm sure the weather won't be too hot in June it'll be a great day no doubt.

@reinventionn sounds like a good plan to me, which races have you got in mind? I think booking will be good to help hold yourself accountable and really go for it!

The hardest part is getting started. Once you can do 30 mins/ 5k ish it's much easier to build the stamina to run 10k. Then easier to build up to 10mi/ 16k+

Like a pp, it's a great balance between challenge and effort.
I've found over the years that I can manage 3HM cycles per year. I did a marathon, enjoyed the challenge, but ended up finding it disruptive because of the taper/ recovery and having to fit 3-4+ hour runs in. At HM, there's only a few runs around the 2hr zone which is more managable.

Well done! I'm in awe, I love to run but like yourself life gets in the way before I get any good. Do you mind if I ask your age? I've just turned 50 and want to hear about older runners to inspire me!

@ladygindiva I'm 37, but never tried doing any kind of running until a couple of years ago and I used couch to 5k and really enjoyed it. I've been on and off then for the last few years but the good thing is that when I've had a break and restart it's never as hard as starting that first time around!

I managed to get up to 11k when I was trying to up my mileage last week and ended up with such bad blisters on the soles of my feet I haven't been able to run since. Feel like I could absolutely do a half marathon if I could combat the blisters!

I did a marathon, enjoyed the challenge, but ended up finding it disruptive because of the taper/ recovery and having to fit 3-4+ hour runs in. At HM, there's only a few runs around the 2hr zone which is more managable.

I’ve never been bothered about a marathon. It’s always seemed like a massive time investment as you say, for a one-off thing (which is then not sustainable). I guess a HM is still a big commitment for something that you aren’t going to repeat much but not quite as much. I’d like to be able to get to the point where I can easily do 10km on a whim.

@ladygindiva i’m 45. I did a 5km in my 20s and a 15km in early 30s. And whilst I wasn’t for, I did exercise a few times a week. That was all pre-kids, now I’ve got a busier job, 2 children, and 3 addition stone in weight which seems to have settled around my arse. God know how I will fit this in but I’d really like to surprise myself!!

It’s just a smallish one that’s local to me. It’s called the heron half. It’s a pretty flat course so shouldn’t be too bad. I’ve done the 10k there earlier in the year. Might also do Bournemouth half in October and then maybe a marathon next year. I don’t think I’d become a regular marathon runner but I’d like to experience it once. I’m not worried about the half’s I pretty confident I could run it now, it’s more about trying to get the time I want, but a full marathon is a different thing entirely!

Good for you OP!

The best advice I ever had was to remember that the race itself is merely the final part of the journey; try and enjoy and be proud of yourself during training too and remember each and every single run is part of the half marathon journey. It really helped me go from finding it a bit of a slog to enjoying it.

Completely agree with all of this

It’s so exciting! I’m doing my 1st in a couple of weeks time. TBH I was terrified of the training and had lots of self doubt at the beginning but I followed my plan and now believe I can actually complete it!
Ive really enjoyed the training, way more than I thought I would.
Good luck, trust the process and most importantly have fun.

@OldSchoolCasualty ouch! That sounds painful, what kind of socks do you wear when running? Just wondering if your feet are slipping in your shoes if the blisters are on the sole of your foot.

@reinventionn you sound like me haha, 2 kids, super busy job and 1.5 stone of extra weight over here 😂 but as quite a few PP have said the half marathon training feels super achievable in comparison to a full which I know i wouldn't have the time/energy for the 3/4 hour runs in the training plan.

I've started a training plan and even the longest runs much later in the plan don't fill me with dread and feel achievable, I don't think anything is more than 2 hours.

@Girlintheframe how amazing, well done! Which race are you doing?

I’m doing the Edinburgh 1/2 @Indianapolice. I’m 52 and only started doing the c25k last May. If I can do it honestly anyone can! I’ve really caught the running bug now. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have 😊

Edinburgh looks stunning 😍 good luck, I hope it's an amazing day!

You got this! I did my first marathon last month and it was epic! My husband is a running coach and would be happy to help (free of charge) if you have any questions. He got me through the marathon!

@Indianapolice I wear running socks and runner lock my trainers and even that didn't work so I tried out some Leukotape this morning that was recommended by some ultra marathon runners and hallelujah! ran 10k with no blisters at all! 😅so happy!