Half marathon - is it possible?!

emmab0902

Runners - do you think 3 months is long enough to train for a half marathon?? I would like to do one and know there was one locally last April so would be keen to give it a shot this year when it comes around again on 13 April.

Currently I am starting into running and want to build up carefully as I invariably get niggles which sideline and irritate the hel out of me! Ran today at gym - ran 5km deliberately slow (6 minute kms) as want to build up slowly and not bugger my tendons or joints as per normal. Have recently got shoes that suit my (assessed) running style so am hoping I can now get into running properly.

Has anyone trained up for a half or full marathon in a relatively short period without fubaring themselves in the process?

MinimalistShoeAddict

I think you can get there in 3 months based on your current fitness level. Here is a sample 12 week plan:

"The following schedule assumes you have the ability to run 3 miles, three to four times a week. If that seems difficult, consider a shorter distance for your first race--or take more time to develop an endurance base."

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

_Zardoz_

Nothing is impossible but I wouldn't. In reality you're asking to injure yourself if you want to go from nothing to running 13 miles in 3 months. Running puts a lot of strain on tendons and muscles that it takes your body time to get used to 3 months is not long enough. Set yourself more realistic goals there is no rush you have years of healthy running if you do it slowly and plenty of time to do a half marathon at a later more sensible date.

So no don't do it

Stoshew71

You can build enough fitness in 3 months for a HM. Now how fast you should run that HM is a different story. Main thing is to take it easy and build up your weekly runs. More miles per week is better than trying to run a whole bunch of miles in one day. I guess the easiest thing to do is get a running plan and follow it.

I started running consistently for 95 days now. My Saturday long run is now up to 13 miles (as of last week) which is about a HM.
I currently run 5 days on the treadmill (M-F @ 4 miles each day) then my long run outside on Sat for 13 miles. Now that was built up over time. It took me almost 2 months to get to the point where I dared to run 10 miles on my Sat long run and I did that by running 6 first, short break (to water up and rest) and then 4 more.

I have my first HM in April and my first 10K in March. I started in October.

I would say go ahead and sign up for that HM. It will be a goal to shoot for, and make your training more meaningful. The worse that will happen is you will end up walking parts of it come race day. By the way, any run longer than 60 minutes will require you to fuel up in water and maybe a gel of some sort.

curlsintherack

i have been running a little longer than you have (a whole couple months)and i am training for a half on may 4th. If you have an apple device there is a 13.one app that says its a raining program for a half marathon that says it could have you ready by April. Also runkeeper.com has several training plans. I have just started one of those myself.Good luck and as my 3 year old son told me the other day "run safe!"

Chagama

You should be able to do this. I've found that one can safely increase your long run by 1 mile per week. This won't injure you, so to go from 3 to 13 in 13 weeks shouldn't be impossible.

cms721

My first race was a 20k. I was always a treadmill for 20-30 minutes kind of guy, so I had some base fitness. I started "hitting the pavement" at the end of March and my race was June 1st. I used (and still use) marathonrookie.com 1/2 marathon training schedule for beginners. It worked great for me. My best piece of advise is - use proper warm up and cool down so your body does'nt HATE you (it will however dislike you from time to time). Good luck and enjoy your race day.

TAsunder

I trained for it for 4 months being barely able to do 3 miles at the start and would have been fine in 3 months if not for breaking my pinky toe during training. I still beat my target time by almost 10 minutes.

dbmata

I knew a guy who wasn't a runner, or in fact athletic at all.

He got really drunk one night, took off his pants, and ran 30 miles.

If he can do that, anyone can do a half with 3 months of prep. It may not be easy and feel good, but you can do it.

kristen2713

Absolutely! Last year when I decided to run my first, I was not a runner. Nor was I in shape. The first day I was only able to run 1/2 mile. That was Jan/Feb. I started training with the above mentioned Hal Higdon schedule for 12 weeks, and finished my first half marathon in 2:18:08. You can do it!!

Lisah8969

So you are already doing a 5k in your own words "slow" in 30 minutes? You can definitely be ready for a Half in 12 weeks. There are loads of plans out there for every level. It wouldn't be horrible if you did a walk/run to finish it if you don't think you will be able to run the whole thing. Find out if there is a limit on the time to finish it and plan accordingly. And since it is your first race, no matter what time you finish it in, it will be a PR! YEAH!

omma_to_3

And what exactly are "niggles"?

graceface67

Definitely possible if you don't care about speed. But it depends how competitive you are, for me the fun part is surprising myself by how fast I can run during the race. When i started running 2 years ago i tentatively had a half marathon in mind but ended up running a 10k and loving it!! I placed 2nd in my age group which i was NOT expecting. don't think I would have enjoyed a longer distance as much. I ran training runs that were 13 miles while training for the 10k but those were sloooooow runs. I'm glad I went with a shorter distance because I wouldn't have realized how much I love racing otherwise. Having that first race be so much fun was really important as a future source of motivation and I ended up running 2 more races that year. I'm just getting into training again after taking it easy the last few months and am super excited to run the same 10k in may!

graceface67

oops posted twice

UrbanRunner81

3 months is plenty of time to train for a half marathon.

pick a beginner training plan like from hal higdon.

Chieflrg

Yes, that is enough time.

I only started running last year with a self made training plan. After 10 weeks I ran 2 half marathons in 24 hours. Anything is possible.

Dnarules

I knew a guy who wasn't a runner, or in fact athletic at all.

He got really drunk one night, took off his pants, and ran 30 miles.

If he can do that, anyone can do a half with 3 months of prep. It may not be easy and feel good, but you can do it.

I can guarantee you that if I got drunk and took my pants off, I would not be able to run 1 mile, much less 30. I was just kind of confused by this.

learnerdriver

Have you run outside before? If not, I wouldn't push your body in that time frame and aim for a 10km instead- you need the kms in your legs.

emmab0902

Have you run outside before? If not, I wouldn't push your body in that time frame and aim for a 10km instead- you need the kms in your legs.

Yes sporadically. Am two weeks into the micoach half marathon training plan and on Thursday did an 80 minute outdoor run which was 13.2km.

sjp_511

If you can comfortably run a 5k a few times a week, then you can train for a half in 3 months. There are a lot of half-marathon training programs are 12 weeks and begin at a 3 mile/5k base.

A marathon would be stretching it. Get at least a few half marathons completed before you tackle that beast.

runner359

Calling BS on that 30 mile run from a non-athlete non-runner.

sazrina

I'm currently on the Hal Higdon novice 1 plan. It's a 12 week plan but I had 18 weeks so I'm doubling up some of the weeks. I think it's doable. Before this I had only been running on and off since September. I'm 4 weeks in now and have really come on from week one, I'm not fast but I ran a 10k without stopping a couple of weeks ago, I was someone who couldn't run half a mile not that long ago.

msthang444

Yes ma'am! Let me tell you fail/success story. I started out training for a marathon in October. I had never run more than 4 miles before and I hadn't run more than 3 miles in.... I can't tell you how long. My school has a program called Marathon High where they train the students to run marathons. I was inspired. We started training based on a book called "Non-Runners marathon training".

http://www.amazon.com/Non-Runners-Marathon-Trainer-David-Whitsett/dp/1570281823

You run 4 times a week. We did it Mon/Wed/Thurs/Sat. Saturday being the long run.

We made it to week 10 which was 16 mile long run and I got the flu. Then i got bronchitis. So after two missed weeks I started running again - but felt like I just couldn't pick up where I left off. So, I am now training for a half marathon. This is the schedule I'm now using

http://www.marathonrookie.com/half-marathon-training-schedules.html

And for the record, I'm 27 and 160lbs at 5'2. So... .I am not in typical runner shape. So, if I can run 18 miles - I know you can do it

learnerdriver

Yes sporadically. Am two weeks into the micoach half marathon training plan and on Thursday did an 80 minute outdoor run which was 13.2km.

Your legs sound ok with handling it. Not aware of your plan ^^ but it sounds like you have the time to bring up your weekly kms - don't forget about incorporating fartleks, hill and core work, and rest. Good luck!

crazie4lulu

i trained for a full in march one year and ran it in just over 4 hours with never running before. so i would say yes it is possible! And that marathon was at the end of May.

Raasy

Most programs out there are 12-16 weeks. So if you keep focused and train to follow a 12 week plan then yes it is possible!!

Plan on running 2-3 times a week and a long run one day of the weekend.

TriShamelessly

12 weeks is plenty if you can already run a 5km. There are plenty of training plans out there to help you along. I followed one this past fall and ran my first half in November. Best of luck and enjoy the run!

Amitysk

tagging for training links!

AnnACnd

It depends where your base mileage is at. I like to have 3 months to train because my shins are very finicky.