Signed up for my first half - November 2017
RespectTheKitty
Posts: 1,667 Member
Hello all!
I'm a noob to this group, just found out it existed. I had been considering signing up for a half for a long time, but seriously doubted I could do it since I haven't been able to run longer than 10 miles yet. I've been running for a year and one month.
Well, I bit the bullet and signed up for a half that looked really good to me. It's on the trail system in a large forest preserve. The trails are asphalt so it's not a true trail race, which is good for me. The race takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which gives me an excuse to eat more pie on Thursday. Carb loading!
Anyway, I've got a training plan ready, which I will start in earnest around August/September. For now, I am coming back from IT band syndrome so I need to work on getting my long runs back around the 10-mile range over the summer. Once I get back to that point, I can work on extending to 11 and 12 miles.
Anyway, I'd love to hear some of your experiences with your first half marathons. How did you train? Did you feel you were adequately prepared? What about nutrition? That's a subject I don't know a lot about since I've never run a half before.
Nice to meet you all!
I'm a noob to this group, just found out it existed. I had been considering signing up for a half for a long time, but seriously doubted I could do it since I haven't been able to run longer than 10 miles yet. I've been running for a year and one month.
Well, I bit the bullet and signed up for a half that looked really good to me. It's on the trail system in a large forest preserve. The trails are asphalt so it's not a true trail race, which is good for me. The race takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which gives me an excuse to eat more pie on Thursday. Carb loading!
Anyway, I've got a training plan ready, which I will start in earnest around August/September. For now, I am coming back from IT band syndrome so I need to work on getting my long runs back around the 10-mile range over the summer. Once I get back to that point, I can work on extending to 11 and 12 miles.
Anyway, I'd love to hear some of your experiences with your first half marathons. How did you train? Did you feel you were adequately prepared? What about nutrition? That's a subject I don't know a lot about since I've never run a half before.
Nice to meet you all!
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I have just run my second half marathon.
I only got up to 10.8 miles before my first half, running 3 x a week.
I gained a couple of pounds while training, but that was because I wasn't really watching my intake well enough.
Fast forward to this year and I got my long run up to 12 miles, adding in cycling twice a week and was 7lb lighter. I did however struggle with any sort of weight loss once my long run got over 10 miles, so only ran a deficit of 100 cals. I made sure I ate plenty the day before long runs so I was well fueled.
Took 6 and a half minutes off my time...
Enjoy your half!1 -
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One of the reasons why I think I am having trouble getting past 10 miles is nutrition. Up until now, I was eating at a deficit. I failed to take into account that I might need more calories in me for long runs. I have now switched over to maintenance, which I think will help a lot. My long run day is Saturday, so if I make sure to up my carbs on Friday I should have better luck pushing past 10.0
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RespectTheKitty wrote: »One of the reasons why I think I am having trouble getting past 10 miles is nutrition. Up until now, I was eating at a deficit. I failed to take into account that I might need more calories in me for long runs. I have now switched over to maintenance, which I think will help a lot. My long run day is Saturday, so if I make sure to up my carbs on Friday I should have better luck pushing past 10.
I started using gels this year which helped, just one at mile 6/7 when I was running 10 miles or more. I found 10 miles a psychological barrier in my first half... it got better by running more than 10 miles.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »RespectTheKitty wrote: »One of the reasons why I think I am having trouble getting past 10 miles is nutrition. Up until now, I was eating at a deficit. I failed to take into account that I might need more calories in me for long runs. I have now switched over to maintenance, which I think will help a lot. My long run day is Saturday, so if I make sure to up my carbs on Friday I should have better luck pushing past 10.
I started using gels this year which helped, just one at mile 6/7 when I was running 10 miles or more. I found 10 miles a psychological barrier in my first half... it got better by running more than 10 miles.
Yeah, 10 miles is a barrier for me right now. I haven't been able to get past it yet. I've tried Sport Beans but found that the longer I run, the harder it gets to actually chew! Thinking of trying gels instead.0 -
I got my long runs up to 13 miles. I found that training times are a lot slower than racing mile times. During training I had a hard time maintain 11:30 miles for the 13. My half Marathon mile times were 10:30. During the Half I had two Gu gels, one at mile 6 and another at about 10 miles. Whether they worked or just didn't hinder, I really couldn't tell. Carried and drank plenty of water, but, then, I always do. Enjoy the run.0
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