Half Marathon in April

[Istherehopee]

Hello everyone, I've just signed up for a half marathon in April and am lready feeling nervous and second guessing myself.

I am by no means a runner - started running this year using couch to 5k in May but been quite hit and miss. Got into a good flow by August but have not run much since. Ran a 5k last week in 36 minutes.

Is this feasible?

I'd quite like to run it in 2 hours or less but I am not a fit person and I don't know, maybe this is all a bit ridiculous for me. Any advice/help would be much appreciated!

I love half marathons as i can easily step up from 5ks in a bit if a parkrun addict and I’d recommend that as a really good base, then add in a couple more varied sessions a week.

Hello I just wanted to come and update here as I did my half marathon today!!! Woohoo! I did it in 2 hours 41 minutes - so nowhere near what I optimistically hoped for 4 months ago 🤣 - but I feel pretty pleased and happy especially as I was worried I’d find it utterly gruelling and awful. I actually really enjoyed it and just walked and stopped when I needed to.

I really don’t want to lose what I’ve done so far and I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations about how to keep running and what I should do? Would you think I should run this week?

i was thinking I could try and run every Weds 12k for a month and build up each month by 1k and then in addition run a 10km on a Sunday and maybe a shorter run during the week as well?

Well done, and thanks for updating. Glad you enjoyed it 😊I would take this week easy and then maybe start a new plan, or enter another race, next week to keep momentum.
There generally aren't many half marathons over summer, but could aim for another in the Autumn?

If you keep a base level of running and increase gradually like you're proposing to, it won't be too much to build up to that distance again

Well done! Glad you had a good experience with your first half!

I would second taking it easy this week, maybe a gentle run later in the week to keep your legs ticking over, but nothing strenuous. Do you go to parkrun? That’s a free and fun way to stay motivated and you can keep challenging yourself to get faster, or try different course that are different levels of difficulty. Or see if there’s a local 10k in a month or so that you could sign up for. It would give you something else to aim for and now you’ve done a half a 10k will be a walk in the park.

there’s usually loads of events about so just see what takes your fancy.

@Istherehopee well done!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I would echo what the others say - a few days off - maybe even up until the weekend then try a gentle run. Not sure what to advise regarding future goals - HM is a bit of a neglected distance for me - I mainly do them as a stepping stone to running further! A ten 10k could be really fun. There are loads of free training plans out there - you could try following one for 8wks or so and then see how much you have improved. For now just enjoy wearing your medal!!

That’s amazing well done! I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it & thank you for sharing your journey. Along with everyone else I would take it easy this week, gentle stretch of the legs but nothing too hardcore. As for what to do next, I would just keep the base fitness up; a long run once a week (8-12k) an easy run once a week & some sort of training run (hills/sprints/ intervals etc) if you do that you’re only going to keep getting fitter and when the next event comes up that excites you sign yourself up! Would totally recommend parkrun too, I’m not one of those that goes all out every week & hits PBs because I’m lazy & hate running uncomfortably fast but I love the community aspect of it.