Half Marathon :)
hneagle1
Posts: 16 Member
So I just started running more lately (running 5ks) which is amazing in itself! They are manageable but still sometimes a little rough (my pace is slooowww). For all my runners out there, how long did it take to run you to run a half marathon? I signed up for one in April, but I'm nervous I might struggle a lot. Is that enough training time? If so, any tips/tricks for endurance? Thanks!!!
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Replies
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Don't worry about speed I was running about 2 years before I did my first half-marathon but I also ran my first race at 52. At your age you recover more quickly.
The big thing for you right now is to build your aerobic base which means running consistently 3 or 4 times per week and gradually building up your distances (the general rule of thumb is to not increase your total running volume more than 10% week over week.
Having a training plan is also helpful it will give you a structured approach to race preparation.
Here's a link to a free novice plan by Hal Higdon (a very well respected running coach and racer in his day)
halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program
You'll notice that it's 12 weeks long, what you might consider given that you've got until next April is to work through this one time not worrying at all about pace and then start over again but with his Novice 2 plan
halhigdon.com/training/51312/Half-Marathon-Novice-2-Training-Program
If you can comfortably run 5K now you and you follow the plans you should be ready for race day. Both of these plans are designed for you to finish the race with a smile on your face. If you decide that you really enjoy racing he also has plans for runners who want to improve their finishing times.
Have fun!3 -
I followed the novice 1 plan that @briansharpe linked to for my first half, and it got me plenty ready in less time than you've got. I totally recommend it. Happy training!1
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So I just started running more lately (running 5ks) which is amazing in itself! They are manageable but still sometimes a little rough (my pace is slooowww). For all my runners out there, how long did it take to run you to run a half marathon? I signed up for one in April, but I'm nervous I might struggle a lot. Is that enough training time? If so, any tips/tricks for endurance? Thanks!!!
I am consistently inconsistent as a runner.... I started running regularly in August 14, ran a 10k in November 14, stopped running, started again in Jan 15, ran a 10k in May 15, got knee ligament damage in September 15, DNS a 10k in November 15, stopped running while injured, signed up for a HM in Jan 16 when I could run again, completed my first half in May 16.1 -
I ran my first half marathon during April several years ago and started training probably in early January. I would do my normal cardio during the week and a long road run on the weekend. Starting in the 3-5 mile range, I would add a mile a week until I got up to about 11-12 miles.2
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My first Half Marathon was September 25 of this year. I started formal training July 4. I had run for about two years, after a lay off of about 40 years, before I decided to do a 5 K. Did it, felt good, signed up for another, and then another and then a 4 miler and the Half.
I was contacted by a local running coach after the second 5K and for $150 took her up on her offer of coaching. Met her once, our schedules just did not jive. Weekly plans/runs were sent via e-mail as was my feed back on that weeks plan. Everything went well. I did the work, she assigned the work, I told her how the work was going and she tweaked the plan as necessary.
Did the Half. Went in with a goal of 2:30 and ran it in 2:17. Not a flat course by any stretch and Coach always said I did not do myself any favors by making that tough course my first Half. Now that that's done, I go into the winter, continuing to build my running base miles, getting into a lifting program (SL5x5) and contemplating next springs calendar. That first 5K I ran might turn into my first 10K which is held at the same time.
My plan included weekly mileage of 22-25 with a long run topping out at 13 miles. There was very little speed work. Most runs were aerobic, easy conversational pace.2 -
I started really training for my first in April of that year and ran it in September. I had been running 5 and 10k's for about 2 years prior to that. I followed a half marathon training plan strictly and was more than ready on race day. Good luck to you!1
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That's a good amount of time to train properly.
When I signed up for my first half I had only a month notice. However, my weekly mileage was 20+ miles a week.
What's your weekly mileage right now?
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I was already running .. then just added mileage on top of that. Do you a training plan plus do the taper at the end of training plan..1
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BrianSharpe wrote: »Don't worry about speed I was running about 2 years before I did my first half-marathon but I also ran my first race at 52. At your age you recover more quickly.
The big thing for you right now is to build your aerobic base which means running consistently 3 or 4 times per week and gradually building up your distances (the general rule of thumb is to not increase your total running volume more than 10% week over week.
Having a training plan is also helpful it will give you a structured approach to race preparation.
Here's a link to a free novice plan by Hal Higdon (a very well respected running coach and racer in his day)
halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program
You'll notice that it's 12 weeks long, what you might consider given that you've got until next April is to work through this one time not worrying at all about pace and then start over again but with his Novice 2 plan
halhigdon.com/training/51312/Half-Marathon-Novice-2-Training-Program
If you can comfortably run 5K now you and you follow the plans you should be ready for race day. Both of these plans are designed for you to finish the race with a smile on your face. If you decide that you really enjoy racing he also has plans for runners who want to improve their finishing times.
Have fun!
Hneagle1 - This is great advice. Do this and you'll cross the HM finish line feeling like a champion.1 -
hecourtney1
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As everyone else has said, don't worry about pace, concentrate on distance.
I'd been running 5ks for a couple of years and then decided I wanted to do more. I ran my first 10k in October 2009 (I was in my 40s) and immediately decided to start training for a half marathon. I didn't really follow any particular training plan, but just gradually increased my run length. I wasn't too bothered about time, all I wanted to do was finish.
I ran my first half in May 2010, so seven months after my first 10k.
You've got this!1 -
So I just started running more lately (running 5ks) which is amazing in itself! They are manageable but still sometimes a little rough (my pace is slooowww). For all my runners out there, how long did it take to run you to run a half marathon? I signed up for one in April, but I'm nervous I might struggle a lot. Is that enough training time? If so, any tips/tricks for endurance? Thanks!!!
I started running in January of this year, but I was just kind of running with no plan in place. I ran my 1st two 5Ks in early May, then I discovered there are training plans online. I already signed up for a 10K for June, so I just kind of started the training plan based on how much time I had left. (I'm sure this isn't the right way, but it's what I did.) I then used a training plan to get ready for a 15K in July, and just ran my 1st half marathon on October 1st.
So, I definitely think you have time to get prepared for a Half Marathon; however, you might want to run a 10K and or a 15K ahead of time. The longer distances are definitely different from a 5K. You don't have to run as fast, but you have to build your endurance to make sure you can run the race without pooping out. 13.1 miles sounded completely unrealistic to me at one time, but now that I've completed my 1st Half, I loved it. I have another in 2 months, and an now working towards my 1st marathon. 26.2 still sounds super crazy long to me, but I know I'll get there!!
By the way, there are a lot of training plans out there, but I've had great success with the Hal Higdon training plans. There are a variety of levels based on your experience and how much time you want to commit to running each week.2 -
Actually, I'll go against the general advice of not worrying about pace. You should worry about pace. Worry about not going too fast! As someone else mentioned you need to build your aerobic base for endurance racing. You do that by running slow. If you're not using a heart rate monitor (HRM) then the best way to determine if you're running as slowly as you should is by talking. You should be able to hold a conversation with someone without pausing to catch your breath. If you can do that while running then you're running slowly enough. If you can't run at all and do that then you need to start out with walking.
It's a little counter-intuitive, and if I didn't have an HRM I'd have difficulty holding myself back, but that's what it takes to build the necessary endurance.3 -
All these posts are awesome!! I'm so excited!! Thanks again for this help and information. Feel free to add me
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I ran a half marathon after running a total of 5 months. I liked the half it was fun but I did not have the base I needed to make it my best race.
Runkeeper has some easy half marathon training plans that work with a smartphone.0 -
I'm training for a half marathon in March too. I've done lots of 10k races, but this will be my first half!1
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following for advice. I run regularly during the lighter months 5k distances plus longer mileage build up at weekends. I’m concentrating on strength training now the mornings are dark but still aim to do 1-2 3-5 mile runs a week. I’ve never actually raced a 5k, but have done a 7.5k and a 10k, with a 12k planned for the beginning of November. I’m aiming for a rocky trail/coastal path HM in March, probably booking in a 10k similar terrain race in February to get used to the type of terrain. I mostly run off-road anyway so pace means very little to me.0
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There's a free app from Asics that you can use to build your own plan that suits you based on your current ability, your goal, the date of your race, how many times per week you can train and which day you want to be your long run. It's good and will tell you if your goal is achievable. Worth checking out in my opinion.0
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I also agree about not starting out too fast..I had a friend who would literally pull me back at the start of a race. Once you start running longer distances, you'll be reminded of this advice..race day may be different because of all the excitement. Lots of big races have pacers that hold signs - hang out with that crowd the first couple of miles.
One other piece of advice is to strength train and cross train and get a foam roller and stretch after your runs (something I often neglect). Most training plans will suggest this as well. Runners world has a good program and encourages cross training. Your knees will thank you.0 -
I'm thinking about a half marathon as well and have looked at some training plans. For me though, who's only really interested in finishing and not all that interested in time, I think I'm just going to increase my long runs rather than worry about any other kind of structured training (e.g. each week I might just do a fastish 5K, a moderate 10K and an easy longer run). I run 10K fairly regularly and do the occasional longer run - to 12 or 13K - however last night I did a 10 mile run which convinced me that as long as I manage my pace properly I should be ok for a half-marathon at maybe a little under 2hrs 15m.0
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I'm thinking about a half marathon as well and have looked at some training plans. For me though, who's only really interested in finishing and not all that interested in time, I think I'm just going to increase my long runs rather than worry about any other kind of structured training (e.g. each week I might just do a fastish 5K, a moderate 10K and an easy longer run). I run 10K fairly regularly and do the occasional longer run - to 12 or 13K - however last night I did a 10 mile run which convinced me that as long as I manage my pace properly I should be ok for a half-marathon at maybe a little under 2hrs 15m.
There are quite a few training plans that cap their long run around 10 miles (some people will go the full 13.1 or longer in training as a confident booster - I did before my first HM - but it's probably not necessary) Sounds like you shouldn't have any problems.0 -
BrianSharpe wrote: »There are quite a few training plans that cap their long run around 10 miles (some people will go the full 13.1 or longer in training as a confident booster - I did before my first HM - but it's probably not necessary) Sounds like you shouldn't have any problems.
Cheers. I felt fine at the end of the 10 miles last night so am fairly confident I could have continued on to the half marathon distance at the same pace. I don't have a half-marathon scheduled yet (I have a 10K in Feb - my first race) but will probably register for one next year. I will definitely do the full HM distance in a training run before that though - as a confidence booster as you mentioned.
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In fact I've just gone and entered my first half-marathon, the Edinburgh one in May next year!1
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That's even enough time to train for a full marathon so you should be fine especially as you have some running under your belt.
I don't have much to add as you've gotten plenty of brilliant advice above but really like the Hal Higdon plans.
Good Luck!!0 -
Thanks for the Hal Higdon plan. I too need to get a 1/2 under my belt and now I just need to pick one 12 weeks away and get started.0
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