Half marathon with no training plan

Philtex

I look forward to reading your race report.

bendyourkneekatie

DX2JX2 wrote: »

OK - so looking at the HH free novice training plans, it seems that I'm already running at or above the volume/distances recommended through week 8/9 of the program. This means that theoretically, I can keep doing what I'm doing until the back end of March and then just add a 9 miler to my schedule two weeks ahead of the race and a 10 miler one week before.

That might be doable as I'm hoping that we'd be adjusted to life with the baby by then and my work schedule will be tapering down a bit.

You don't want to peak so close to race day. You should be tapering for the last couple of weeks to give your legs a chance to rest so you're fresh for the race. Doing your longest run 1 week out will do nothing but tire you out for the race - everything in the last 2-3 weeks is about maintaining cardio fitness on as little running as possible, the leg training is over. I do my longest run 3 weeks out and then gradually reduce.

swebb1103

I have done 2 HMs and am training for my first full, and I agree that you should try to get in at least 1 10 mile run 3 - 4 weeks before. You can feel fine at mile 8 and hit a huge wall at mile 9, so better to get to know your limits.
Have fun!

spiriteagle99

Since you still have two months, I would do what I could to increase your long run mileage. Maybe get a babysitter on one weekend day so you can go out for a couple of hours. It would also help to increase your daily runs a bit as well. Overall mileage will help your endurance. You might also try including some faster race pace miles in your shorter runs.

Regardless, you will be able to finish the race, but you may have to walk some of it. That's not a big deal, but it may not be the way you want to finish. Just be sure to start out at a slow and easy pace. If you go at your 10k pace, you'll burn out quickly.

workmani

If your goal is to finish without walking... maybe. It depends on the terrain you are training on and the terrain on which the race is being held. Plus your general fitness, determination and ability to resist getting pulled into other people’s pacing. The only thing I would caution is don’t get so caught up in your goals that you injure yourself. Walk if you need to walk and do better next time.

rybo

bendyourkneekatie wrote: »

DX2JX2 wrote: »

OK - so looking at the HH free novice training plans, it seems that I'm already running at or above the volume/distances recommended through week 8/9 of the program. This means that theoretically, I can keep doing what I'm doing until the back end of March and then just add a 9 miler to my schedule two weeks ahead of the race and a 10 miler one week before.

That might be doable as I'm hoping that we'd be adjusted to life with the baby by then and my work schedule will be tapering down a bit.

You don't want to peak so close to race day. You should be tapering for the last couple of weeks to give your legs a chance to rest so you're fresh for the race. Doing your longest run 1 week out will do nothing but tire you out for the race - everything in the last 2-3 weeks is about maintaining cardio fitness on as little running as possible, the leg training is over. I do my longest run 3 weeks out and then gradually reduce.

It's only a half, an his mileage isn't that high of a volume to need extra recovery, a week taper should be fine. Especially if that last long run is kept real nice and easy.

bendyourkneekatie

rybo wrote: »

bendyourkneekatie wrote: »

DX2JX2 wrote: »

OK - so looking at the HH free novice training plans, it seems that I'm already running at or above the volume/distances recommended through week 8/9 of the program. This means that theoretically, I can keep doing what I'm doing until the back end of March and then just add a 9 miler to my schedule two weeks ahead of the race and a 10 miler one week before.

That might be doable as I'm hoping that we'd be adjusted to life with the baby by then and my work schedule will be tapering down a bit.

You don't want to peak so close to race day. You should be tapering for the last couple of weeks to give your legs a chance to rest so you're fresh for the race. Doing your longest run 1 week out will do nothing but tire you out for the race - everything in the last 2-3 weeks is about maintaining cardio fitness on as little running as possible, the leg training is over. I do my longest run 3 weeks out and then gradually reduce.

It's only a half, an his mileage isn't that high of a volume to need extra recovery, a week taper should be fine. Especially if that last long run is kept real nice and easy.

Look, I wouldn't bother tapering for a half myself but for someone's first I wouldn't recommend the longest run they've ever done one week before.
I'd say two weeks would be fine, with a middling-sized long run the following week.

kathedbr

I'm not sure of the conversion, but I only did 13km leading up to my half marathon (once!) and I managed to run the whole distance without any major problems...

DX2JX2

bendyourkneekatie wrote: »

rybo wrote: »

bendyourkneekatie wrote: »

DX2JX2 wrote: »

OK - so looking at the HH free novice training plans, it seems that I'm already running at or above the volume/distances recommended through week 8/9 of the program. This means that theoretically, I can keep doing what I'm doing until the back end of March and then just add a 9 miler to my schedule two weeks ahead of the race and a 10 miler one week before.

That might be doable as I'm hoping that we'd be adjusted to life with the baby by then and my work schedule will be tapering down a bit.

You don't want to peak so close to race day. You should be tapering for the last couple of weeks to give your legs a chance to rest so you're fresh for the race. Doing your longest run 1 week out will do nothing but tire you out for the race - everything in the last 2-3 weeks is about maintaining cardio fitness on as little running as possible, the leg training is over. I do my longest run 3 weeks out and then gradually reduce.

It's only a half, an his mileage isn't that high of a volume to need extra recovery, a week taper should be fine. Especially if that last long run is kept real nice and easy.

Look, I wouldn't bother tapering for a half myself but for someone's first I wouldn't recommend the longest run they've ever done one week before.
I'd say two weeks would be fine, with a middling-sized long run the following week.

The Higdon Novice 1 free plan has a 10 miler one week prior to the half. I have a feeling that it's possible because the weekly volume in general is pretty low for the entire duration of the plan (only about 20 mpw at it's max). It also has you build to the 10 miler with an 8 miler three weeks out, a 9 miler two weeks out, and a 10 miler one week out.

I'm not too concerned about the 10 miler beating me up too much since I'll do it at a really easy pace and I've run close to that before without any soreness afterwards. I'm more interested in it as a way to test my limit for the actual race. If I feel tired towards the end of an easy 10 miler and/or super fatigued in the days following, then I know that I have to take it really easy for the entire distance during the half. If I feel decent at the end of the 10 miler and in the days following, then I'll know that I might be able to push my pace a little above easy for the HM.

jjpptt2

Depending on how you feel about food/drink/fuel during a run... the longer runs are a good chance to test out some different options - both what you like/don't like and when you need something.

FWIW.