Anyone else training for a half marathon?

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  • brandiuntz
    brandiuntz Posts: 2,717 Member
    Feel free to add me. I'll be running my 4th half on Feb 15th, plus have #5 & 6 set for March.

    I'm entering my third year of running. Agree with distance over speed. Speed comes as you continue running. At some point, you can add in speed work, but it's the "more miles" that really helps.

    Sounds like you're doing great and will have no issues with the half.
  • hermann341
    hermann341 Posts: 443 Member
    edited December 2014
    FrustratedYoYoer wrote: »
    hermann341 wrote: »
    Since you've been running 3 times a week for a couple years, and you've done long runs in the 8 to 9 mile range with 8 weeks to go, I'd have to say you are right about where you need to be. My recommendation on your long runs would be to back off on your next one to about 5 or 6 miles, then do 10, 6, 11, 6, 12, and 6. For a half marathon you need about 2 weeks of tapering before the event.

    Thanks for your post, that has cheered me up and helped my confidence reading that. I haven't ran for 3 days due to 16 hour working days and icy weather. I'd usually still go out anyway but when the gyms are closed before and after i finish work and there's black ice outside it's just not worth the risk of injury. So I went out today for my planned short run after days of pigging out and I just was not feeling it. I just did 3 miles and am planning on another 3 miles tomorrow. On Saturday I will maybe do 5 or 6. When you say do 10, 6, 11, 6, 12, and 6 do you mean each week on the day where I do my long runs? So next Sat do 10, the following Sat do 6, then a week after 11 etc?

    Thanks

    Yep, you've got it. Extend your long run one Saturday, then back off the next one. The last Saturday before your event should only be about 6 miles.
  • KGill67
    KGill67 Posts: 87 Member
    SKME2013 wrote: »
    KGill67 wrote: »
    SKME2013 wrote: »
    I run my first half on the 15th of February. I was supposed to run one in November, but due to overtraining I got tendonitis in my leg and I had to take it easy. The more mileage you log the easier it gets, but do not overtrain! I have learned the hard way that my body needs rest days! I have done a couple of 10k trail races and I am running regularly 15-18k.
    Best of luck
    Stef.

    Stef - are you running "The First Half" in Vancouver?

    It is the one on the 15th of February "26th Annual First Half Marathon 2015".
    Are you participating?
    Stef.

    Yep, that's the one!
  • SusanUW83
    SusanUW83 Posts: 152 Member
    I've been running over 40 years now, but just started doing HMs last year -- finished 7. I have always been a slow runner and am about in the 2:45 - 3:12 range depending on how many hills and if I have to stop (and how well I've trained). Agree with the people who say you shouldn't run a long run too close to the event -- 6 miles the week before with a few 3-4 mile runs should be good for keeping your fitness level up. You don't want to hurt yourself or get blisters near the end (I almost always get blisters on a long run). Feel free to friend me or message me with questions.
    One suggestion for the race is not to eat the gel that they have for you unless you've tried it beforehand -- you can usually find out what brand they are using because it will be one of the race sponsors. If you have any stomach problems at all, intolerance to a new gel will make it even worse. I started bringing my own, honey stinger blocks, because they are less messy and I tolerate them a lot better than GU brand or PowerGel.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    You don't really need gels for a half marathon. I do like a shot of caffeine during the run but that's totally optional. I do it for the caffeine kick. It changes your perceived effort. You're not going to run out of energy unless you're taking longer than 3 hours to run it. If so then it's not a bad idea to bring a little something along.

    This weekend's long run was 13.1 and I did it with nothing but my watch. Oh, and shoes, shorts, shirt. No water or gels. Felt pretty darn good.
  • Danimalrunsagain
    Danimalrunsagain Posts: 50 Member
    I'll be running my first official half marathon at the end of May. I ran the same event in 2013 when it was just a 20K but fell off the MFP wagon not long afterwards. I'm back with a new account and looking for new running friends.
  • neveragain84
    neveragain84 Posts: 534 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    As long as you've got up to about 10 miles you'll be fine doing the whole half. I was told to get the distance in before the speed.

    I really enjoyed doing intervals as part of my training, makes a nice change from just running! Good luck!

    This. Distance > speed at first. I'm going to run my first this summer, so I have a little while to train. My goal is to finish. That's it. I'll love every minute of it.

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