Be honest - is a half marathon enjoyable? 😅

[mummabubs]

I've been very slowly building up my running over the years, can still remember the days when couch to 5k was hard. I've run a couple of 10k events now (between 1hr 10 and 1hr 15) and the most recent one I did was genuinely enjoyable - lovely weather, great atmosphere etc. I've found myself on the slippery slope of contemplating a half marathon for the first time - specifically the Newport APB half as apparently it's renowned as being 'easy and flat'.

I am tempted to sign up as it's in April next year so that feels like enough time to train, including the inevitable post Christmas slump, but I'm debating whether I'd actually find that distance enjoyable. Just wondering if there's any views as to which is the more satisfying distance to run - a half marathon or a 10k?

My favourite distance is definitely a half marathon. Your first one might feel like it lasts for hours, but you will get used to the distance!
Steady pace for your first one, the crowds encouraging you will help you get it done. Don’t put any pressure on yourself regarding a time, just enjoy the atmosphere.

I’ve been running for yonks. I think it depends on a few factors, however I think being fit enough makes a massive difference. There is a lot more training for a half rather than a 10k, do you have time for it. Would you enjoy running 3 or four two hour long runs in February and March when it’s crap and cold?
Because doing the training is the deciding factor in the race day being enjoyable

I love that both of your replies highlight the two sides of my brain on this one! On the one hand, I do enjoy the atmosphere on the day and would genuinely be happy with just finishing, definitely wouldn't be chasing a PB!

My reservation is the level of training required. I've always trained when upping from 5-10k with one long run and one maintenance run, so I know I can do two runs a week. I've also got a treadmill in the garage that I can use for shorter interval training runs. I have a relative who has run a few marathons and advised that once you're past 10k distances you really need to add strength training on non-running days, which would be new to me so naturally feels a little uncertain.

Depends if you have done the training I guess. Well done for doing the couch to 5km and pushing beyond that. The fact that you can run for more then an hour is great work. Yes you can do a half marathon and they do tend to be slightly better supported then yoir typical 10km run. If you do that you can sign up to a marathon, the difference being about another 8-10 weeks training

We’re in a similar boat! I’ve done a few 10ks (same time as you) and in the heat of the moment, I signed up for a half marathon 😅 I started training, but now where each of my training weeks includes one longer (1h+) run, I struggle a bit to keep motivation up. I can do 1h+ runs in a race once in a while because of the atmosphere, but doing it every week on my own, I find hard. I’ll see whether or not I’ll get there I guess…

I lile HMs and don't find them too onerous to train for. If going up to 10mi that's roughly 2-2.5 hours for a leisurely runner.

It's long distance but not too intrusive into daily life.

The strength work is well worth doing anyway.

I've done lots over the years and had a cycle of 3 per year so got to a point of taking the distance for granted a bit. Once I was driving home from a race, got to a decent leg of dual carriageway with 13mi to home town and suddenly thought "I've just run that distance, it is a long way!" 😂

I much prefer a half to a 5k. 10 mile is probably my favourite distance, but there arent so many of those around.

I run regularly so try to run 10 mile training at least every other week, so scaling up to a half isn’t a big ask.

i joined a running club so rarely run on my own, so training becomes more social activity which helps keep me motivated.

Pre run warm up, strength training and regular stretchinghelps to prevent injuries. When I start to neglect them, I get a lot creakier.

Hi OP, I just ran my first half-marathon distance (i.e. 21 km) for the first time in a loooong time today. Based on that, I would say, yes!

I started like you - trying to do 10km in a reputable (sorta) time. Did that, thought, what next...... I didn't want to do a HM public event straight off, so instead I made it my NY resolution to build to a 21km run. Then, when I know I can do that distance, I can consider an event.

So I achieved my goal this morning! Possibly not the best day during a heatwave but there you are 😆

For me, I would say -

Strength training and circuits have been key. I do these anyhow, but I am convinced they have helped me build a high muscle volume that stabilises my knees and gives me strong glutes to get up hills.

Specifically, I do the standard lifts you would expect (squats etc) but I place a lot of emphasis on movements that build the glutes, unilateral like split squats and sandbag lunges, and bilateral like barbell hip thrusts. I also do a lotta press ups and I think this has built my deep core and made it easier for me to run "upright" with chest open, etc, when my body is fatiguing.

I have also started fitting in more runs in the week even "baby runs", as I think they sort of keep my legs ticking over for longer runs. That is 100% unscientific btw, but feels right to me!

Finally, and cannot emphasise this enough - yoga and foam rolling. I do yoga every single night unless I am going out for dinner or similar. Sometimes just 15 mins if that is all I have. I focus on deep stretch of the glutes and runner's lunges. Also foam roll whenever a tight spot is developing. I am convinced this helps "see off niggles" before they become actual injuries!

i have run 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon - and people have said to me I will find the distance that I like.

I was bored doing the short distances and bored for longer doing the longer distances.

I am now confident to say that my distance is 0k/miles and I am not a runner.

Therefore, I’d say go for it you may find you love it, or say nope 10k is my happy place.

I ran regularly for about 10 years. Mostly 5-10k, a few actual 10k races. I did one half marathon. To be blunt, I hated the longer training sessions over the winter months and have since given up running. However I LOVED the feeling of finishing the half marathon and it remains one of my proudest achievements. The medal hangs off my curtain pole and I look at it with satisfaction while I dry my hair. Never again though!

Train the distance as a minimum and dont go out too fast, or it will be a nightmare!

My first half I did 10k in a PB time - big mistake. By 8 miles I was walking and came over the line in 2 hrs 33. This was Bath - fully flat!

Then I signed up for the GNR. I trained up to 17 slow, but running, miles. I knew I could do the distance easily. I started at that pace and picked it up just over half way even though it was quite a hilly part. Came in at 2hrs 2mins and loved every minute of it.

I truly loved the half marathon distance. A real challenge but do-able. And can carry on with life the day after!

it's renowned as being 'easy and flat'.
I'd say that won't be an enjoyable one - it will be popular with club runners after a PB. I find the scenic ones much more enjoyable - not in your area but Windsor and Henley-on-Thames are in particularly beautiful locations.

Like pp, I reecommend setting off slowly, do plenty of training including strength training and on hills.
If you can run the course before the day, you'll be glad you did.
Make sure you can run the distance. Do plenty of long runs in your training.
Don't wear brand new kit on the day.

It depends on the race!
I love a trail half, my brain is always busy- one eye in the terrain and one in the views. I’ve done a few of them. I did two road half marathons and hated both 🤣

I think a HM is a great race - long enough to be challenging without requiring the level of training a marathon requires (I’ve done many HM and a few marathons).

I really recommend a structured training plan that will bring you close to the 2 hour mark or a bit over. I think running much longer than that, becomes a bit deflating, a lot of time for not a very long distance (tho completing a HM at all is of course an achievement).

Strength training & yoga / pilates as others mention are excellent at improving posture and form and avoiding injury.

I’d say definitely go for it!

It's a nice distance to run. About 2 hrs on your feet. Enough to be an achievement.

I can remember how proud of myself I felt after my first half.

It feels great when you finish.

I did my first half recently and it was brilliant. One of the best things I've ever done. But I found the training really hard, so I'm not doing another until I'm faster and the long runs won't take quite so long.

Both have their up and down points and times you want to give up, but also times you’re so happy and excited and motivated.

I'm absolutely rooting for you and suspect we're in a similar boat! X

I found the training boring af as the runs toward the end are quite long. It gets a bit uncomfortable towards the end but nothing too bad.

Definitely agree, my long run every week is a social run so it's kept me very motivated. However my friend (understandably!) has said 10k is as far she'll go, so I'd be training for the half solo in terms of longer runs.

Wow, assuming you're also UK based that's seriously impressive - I did 5k on the treadmill first thing this morning and feel I lost at least half a stone in sweat 🤣 Huge congratulations! Also thanks for the specific exercise tips x

Loving the honesty 🤣 Fair play. I can honestly say the recent 10k event I did is the closest I've ever come to 'enjoying' running.

Appreciate this insight. I'm relatively close geographically to the course but it involves a lot of major road closures on the day so not sure I could run it beforehand. I'm definitely not a fast runner and to be fair just finishing it once (whether all running or aiming for that but walking on the day would be a huge achievement). One of my friends who is the same age as me had a spontaneous cardiac arrest during a HM last year so it's definitely made me very conscious of not over-exerting myself. (Thankfully they survived but it was very sobering).

I'm doing my first half in about 6 weeks. I've been running about 2 years, did my first 10k last September and, now that I'm training further, I fell like 10k is "my" distance 🤣
I'm about the same speed as you for that.
I'm determined I'm going to do this half, and maybe I'll enjoy it in the day, but I'm finding the longer runs hard work and quite boring. Ideally, I'd do a few shorter runs in the week too but I don't have a lot of time. I'm aiming to get round in one piece, 2.30-2.45 would be ideal. And I definitely don't have a marathon in me!