Registered: Now the training/countdown begins
MNLittleFinn
Posts: 4,271 Member
Well, over the weekend, I finally bit the bullet and did it. After running 7.01 miles in 1:14:24 and feeling good, I registered for my first Half Marathon, the Boundary Waters Bank Half Marathon in Ely, MN. I'm giving myself LOTS of time, 193 days to train. With my current run times, and plenty of time to train, I'm going to take it slowly, but hoping to be able ti finish with a total time under 2:30:00.
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Sweet! Sounds like a pretty cool race. Good luck with your training.
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Looking at training plans now. Looks like "real" training won't have to start until June. Going back and forth between doing the Hal Higdon Novice I or II or the Beginner half marathon to finish plan on Runkeeper. I'm already running the miles per week of the first 2 weeks of the Higdon Novice II plan0
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@MNLittleFinn Why not Blend the plans, drop the plans into an Excell Spread sheet with the Novice plan starting after Easter and the Beginner Plan having an end date the week before your planned Marathon. This way you get the benefit of a long slow training plan ( similar to C25K ) and extra time to adjust your training routine. The only reason I suggest this is that it is sort of what I did for my first HM. I blended 2 plans and added a few extra long runs equalling the HM Distance.
2 Months before my HM I ran the 13.1 miles ( 21.0 km) as part of a training peak week in 2:21. The following week was a cut back. I repeated this distance 2 more times before my first official HM.
My first Official Timed HM 2:12 so I was pretty happy
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@juliet3455 that's a good idea. I Think I'm going to do that. I have a lot of time and my running is already more miles than the beginning of either plan, so I might just blend them into a hybrid and stretch it out to the length I need to get me to race week.0
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With some input from @Stoshew71 I made up my very own training plan.....subject to changes and alterations as always happens. It's an aggressive plan, but I'm planning on re-evaluating as the mileage increases. Goal is to get up to 13 miles on my long runs, but that's subject to what my body is telling me as time goes on.
Run days are Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun, in that order
1. 4-4-6-4
2. 4-3-5-3
3. 5-5-7-4
4. 5-5-7-4
5. 5-5-7-4
6. 3-4-5-3
7. 6-6-8-5
8. 6-6-8-5
9.6-6-8-5
10. 4-3-5-3
11. 7-7-10-5 <--- considering doing short runs as daily doubles, 4-5 morning 2-3 afternoon from here on out
12. 7-7-10-5
13.7-7-10-5
14. 7-7-10-5
15. 4-5-7-5<---5 mile race this week
16. 8-8-11-6
17. 8-8-11-6
18. 8-8-11-6
19. 6-6-8-3
20. 9-9-13-6 <---thinking about going to 5 days a week here
21. 9-9-13-6
22. 9-9-13-6
23. 5-5-7-4
24. 4-3-5-3
25. 3-3-13.1-0 ← Race!
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Wow. That is alot of miles. Pay attention to your body and slow down if it starts to nag you. Trust me on this.
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Wow. That is alot of miles. Pay attention to your body and slow down if it starts to nag you. Trust me on this.
Oh, I know that! It's easier for me to set out to do a lot and then cut back, rather than decide to add more later. I have a really hard time upping my game 
, but backing down is easier, which is why I decided on the mileage I did.
This week is week 1 and I actually already have done this rotation for 2 weeks before today, so I know that at least the first 2 weeks aren't too bad!0 -
You redirected me to this thread, so here goes.
That's a lot of miles and looks (to me, I'm no expert, but I have done 12 HMs in my time!) too aggressive. Later in the plan, can you bump up to 5 days running per week instead of 4? It looks like you are wanting to peak around 40, which is a bit higher than you need for the HM distance honestly, and that is a lot of miles to try to cram into 4 days. Remember that your bones and tissues all need to catch up and that will be quite a load on them, even at 20+ weeks down the road. I've been running for 10 years, and training for marathons for two, and I only started running daily averages that high on a regular basis 6 months ago.
After the 5 mile race, I'd recommend stepping up to 5 days a week so that instead of:
15. 4-5-7-5<---5 mile race this week
16. 8-8-11-6
17. 8-8-11-6
18. 8-8-11-6
19. 6-6-8-3
20. 9-9-13-6 <---thinking about going to 5 days a week here
21. 9-9-13-6
22. 9-9-13-6
you have:
4-8-4-11-6
...
6-6-8-3 (cutback week I assume)
4-9-5-13-6
I have done most of my training plans in this midweek big run sandwich. But also you should not be running 13 mile long runs 3 weeks in a row. How I used to do my training schedules was this:
3-5-3-3-8 (TWThSS)
3-5-3-3-10
3-5-3-3-7
3-5-3-3-11
etc.
My midweek mileage was usually the same, and my long run was where the variety came in.
You can't run your longest distance week after week; look at some of the monthly mileage logs for the marathoners on the Running Challenge. None of us are running 18-20 miles every weekend. My runs are on a 3-4 week rotation from 14 to 15-16 to 18-22, rinse and repeat. My midweek mileage is usually the same, except for a cutback. If I went out and ran 20 miles every weekend, I'd get burned out and probably injured. That is why virtually every training plan out there has some kind of variety or rotation and isn't the exact same mileage for 3-4 weeks before bumping up to higher mileage and repeating that for a few weeks. When training for a long distance event, variety isn't just spice, it's necessity.
I'm not trying to be a naysayer, and I hope you know that. You just seem a bit overeager at this point as this is all fairly new to you. Making a plan for 25 weeks from now allows you to overestimate what your future abilities will be. Make a plan for the next couple months that allows you to figure out a schedule and rotation that works for you. This is your base building period. Don't work on speed and don't try to run through fatigue. That's what a training cycle is for. Then 12-14 weeks out from the race, make a race training schedule with variety that will guide you to race day and the finish line. 14 weeks will give you a 2 week taper, probably 2-3 cut back weeks throughout, and 9-10 weeks of solid training where you can do those midweek long runs (I'd top out at 8 miles for a HM, personally, especially if you're running in the 10-12 min range as that's a big time investment), have a dedicated speed workout day if you want it, and those coveted 10-13 mile long runs.
I hope this long post all makes sense and doesn't leave you feeling overwhelmed or shot down! Your enthusiasm is great, but I just want to make sure your eyes aren't getting too big for your legs this far out.
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@kristinegift Thanks for the advice. I wasn't initially planning to do the 3 weeks of 13, and just kind of put it in the schedule because it fit. In reality, I want to do just 1, so I can tell myself on race day, that I have run the distance before, and know how I react to it. I have my plan on an excel sheet, so it's pretty easy to change things.
I'm just the type of person who likes to have a roadmap to follow and then make changes and detours as I go. As long as the final destination is the same, and I'm ready to race, I don't really care how I get there. I have a harder time breaking things down, so I'll start looking at how to adjust the schedule...Oh, the 5 mile race is on a Thursday....yuck
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Well, signed up for another one, on July 4. Training starts next week for that one. 10 weeks of training and then I run my first HM.0
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Good for you in signing up for your first half. You will really enjoy the experience. My two cents: Don't get too hung up in the timing. 13.1 is a good distance and you can adjust the splits. Don't start off like a bat out of hell and also don't get so comfortable you end up at a walking pace. My first I had a goal of 2:30 and I came in at 2:14. Surprised the heck out of myself. My next one 7 months later I came in at 2:05. Difference was that yes I had more months experience But I also just ran at what felt comfortable. I wasn't focused on my garmin and pace the entire race. I enjoyed the experience and views. I made sure I started out at a good pace for me (9ish), slowed a bit mid race to catch some rest (10ish), if you will, then picked it up at mile 8 to settle into the finish pace averaging around 9:30. If you clock the miles that you listed you will easily finish in less than your goal and feel great.0
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Thanks for the input @djscavone My goal is 2:30, but I am training for something faster....Hopefully. With my timetable moved up, I'm doing a shorter 10 week training camp for the July 4 HM tomorrow, then taking about 10 days off (really just means fewer MPW and no speedwork or hills) and running a 5 mile race, then starting training for the September HM the following week.0
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IMO there is no one size fits all as everyone is different. If that works for you then go for it! I think the rest days are key for physical health just don't lose that drive as that is what I find keeps me going across the finish line. Sounds like you will have a great race. I am looking forward to you posting your times so we can congratulate you!0
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I should note, I've been base building and increasing mileage for 2 months now. The "training" really is just having a set schedule for the mileage, and switching one easy run per week into speed work. Other than that, it's pretty similar to my usual 4-5 runs a week schedule.0
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Did my first 10 mile run last Sat. Averaged 10:24 over the first 9 miles, then kicked into higher gear and did the last mile in 9:50 for a fast finish long run. Training plan is coming along nicely. In the middle of a cutback week now, and then a BIG jump for next week.0
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I've now done two 12.2 mile training runs, with Average paces of 10:08 and 10:06 respectively. the 10:08 was a fast finish long run where the average pace over most of the run was about 10:16. the 10:06....well, I pushed too hard, but it felt really nice seeing that I could cover that distance in that time and still have something left in the tank.2
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Just a week out now. Having run three long runs that were over 12 miles and 9 runs total that were over 8 miles in feeling pretty good. Now to see if the weather will cooperate0
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First HM was 2:15:26 due to over caffeinating and having to walk some. Now in week 1 of 10 week training cycle for my September HM. E pace runs are 30-45 seconds faster per mile than they were on my last training cycle, so I'm Hoping for a faster, more consistent second HM. Weather "should" be in the mid 40's F during the next HM. Perfect weather!0
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Ran 9.08 miles with a 9:08 avg. pace, and 2 of those were warm up miles! Middle 6 miles were 9:04 a good and last mile was 8:30!1
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Last long run of the cycle was 11 miles with an average pace of 9:14. Starting to think a 2:00 HM is actually doable0
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Been so busy with mine I completely forgot about yours. It's coming up soon also, right? Good luck, be smart, get 'er done. See ya/ hear from ya at the finish.1
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Tomorrow is the big day. Looking forward to getting my second done. Plan is to finish, I have a few other goals, but the main is to just finish and enjoy the scenery.0
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Good luck and have fun
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MNLittleFinn wrote: »Tomorrow is the big day. Looking forward to getting my second done. Plan is to finish, I have a few other goals, but the main is to just finish and enjoy the scenery.
How'd it go?0 -
Official time of 2:01:06, but the course might have been 0.3 miles short so I have to see. Good time nonetheless, but I did have to walk some0
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Nice. Walking and a 2:01?0
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Yup. Probably would be a 2:04 for a full half, if the course was short0
