Need some advice

Hello everyone,

I am planning on running a half marathon next year, but I am not really sure about how often I should train everyday, what I should eat and if I can still add other sports (e.g. strength training and courses)/ what kind of exercise routine. I am a good runner and have only participated in 5k's.

Thanks in advance :)

Replies

  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Hello everyone,

    I am planning on running a half marathon next year, but I am not really sure about how often I should train everyday, what I should eat and if I can still add other sports (e.g. strength training and courses)/ what kind of exercise routine. I am a good runner and have only participated in 5k's.

    Thanks in advance :)

    Yes, you can do other things. How much you train depends upon two things.

    1. How much you are currently running.
    2. What your goal is for the race (to finish or to perform your best).

    You can eat what you are currently eating (assuming you aren't on one of the diets that cuts out carbs). There is no special diet for distance running.
  • SelinaOlivia11
    SelinaOlivia11 Posts: 12 Member
    thanks for the reply :) it gave mea better insight
  • frostysmama
    frostysmama Posts: 10 Member
    I love the training plans found in the book, "Train like a mother". They have plans for all levels. They even note which workouts "must be done" or can be "ditched" for when life is busy and gets in the way.
  • SkateboardFi
    SkateboardFi Posts: 1,322 Member
    www.halhigdon.com

    that's what i used to start training, and i could only pump out 2 miles at the beginning. i just made sure that i gave myself ample time to better tailor it to me, and now i'm at 11.5 miles! best of luck to you with your race, my race is in october! keep us posted on how you're doing!
  • rtbrown82
    rtbrown82 Posts: 27 Member
    Finding a running club can make it more enjoyable. There is also a running club for women (Mom's run the town) with branches all over (main chapter is based around here). Hal Higdon's plans are great, I hate plans, lol (Sucks the fun out of running for me). I just try and amp up my miles slowly so my long run climbs on the weekend and my weekly miles slowly increase some. I toss in some hill work or track work every now and then. I'm still trying to figure out Tempo runs, etc.

    Have fun with it, find someone to run with especially on your long run. If you can find a partner who is slightly 'better' than you, it will make you better! But not someone so much better that you're out breath chasing them the whole time.

    I've done the best since joining a local running club. The first time I went out for the Sunday long run, I lasted two miles with the group before I was running by myself, this past Sunday I stuck with the group for the first five and then left them and ran faster for the last five (training for a half).

    The general rules are your long runs should equal your weekly milage and you shouldn't increase more than 10% a week. These are just guidelines, I break them all the time. Make sure it's fun, try new routes and run safe! You'll love it.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    The general rules are your long runs should equal your weekly milage and you shouldn't increase more than 10% a week. These are just guidelines, I break them all the time. Make sure it's fun, try new routes and run safe! You'll love it.

    Great suggestions, thanks. What do you mean by your long runs should equal your weekly mileage? Do you mean if you run 5 miles on Monday and Wednesday your long run should be 10 miles?
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    The general rules are your long runs should equal your weekly milage and you shouldn't increase more than 10% a week. These are just guidelines, I break them all the time. Make sure it's fun, try new routes and run safe! You'll love it.

    Great suggestions, thanks. What do you mean by your long runs should equal your weekly mileage? Do you mean if you run 5 miles on Monday and Wednesday your long run should be 10 miles?

    Yes, that is what it means, but I think that's too much. The long run should be no more than 1/3 of your total weekly mileage. Closer to 1/4 of your weekly mileage is ideal.
  • rtbrown82
    rtbrown82 Posts: 27 Member
    The general rules are your long runs should equal your weekly milage and you shouldn't increase more than 10% a week. These are just guidelines, I break them all the time. Make sure it's fun, try new routes and run safe! You'll love it.

    Great suggestions, thanks. What do you mean by your long runs should equal your weekly mileage? Do you mean if you run 5 miles on Monday and Wednesday your long run should be 10 miles?

    Yes, that is what it means, but I think that's too much. The long run should be no more than 1/3 of your total weekly mileage. Closer to 1/4 of your weekly mileage is ideal.

    Yeah, that's usually how it works out for me too, I've been running ~ 40 miles a week with a 13-15 mile long run at the moment. Amping up to some +20 mile long runs once the temperature drops a bit more. I run 6-10 miles during my normal weekly runs.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    The general rules are your long runs should equal your weekly milage and you shouldn't increase more than 10% a week. These are just guidelines, I break them all the time. Make sure it's fun, try new routes and run safe! You'll love it.

    Great suggestions, thanks. What do you mean by your long runs should equal your weekly mileage? Do you mean if you run 5 miles on Monday and Wednesday your long run should be 10 miles?

    Yes, that is what it means, but I think that's too much. The long run should be no more than 1/3 of your total weekly mileage. Closer to 1/4 of your weekly mileage is ideal.

    Yeah, that's usually how it works out for me too, I've been running ~ 40 miles a week with a 13-15 mile long run at the moment. Amping up to some +20 mile long runs once the temperature drops a bit more. I run 6-10 miles during my normal weekly runs.

    Are you going to be training for a marathon or longer distance race? If not, then there really is no need to go to 20. A long run between 12 and 16 each week should be more than enough for normal base building. Adding more mileage during the week with doubles or just extending other runs would be a better way to build mileage than driving that long run up that high.
  • Dizzle_65
    Dizzle_65 Posts: 249 Member
    I train off three days a week (sometimes four) so my Long Run is currently at least half of my weekly mileage. My program is roughly:

    Monday: Weights - Squat & Deadlift
    Tuesday: 4-5 mile run easy pace
    Wednesday: Weights - Military Press Dips & Pull ups
    Tuesday: Run Hill Intervals approx 4 miles total.
    Friday: Weights Bench Press, Kroc Rows, Incline press
    Saturday: Long Run

    When possible I will run after work on a Wednesday but this isn't always possible. I don't worry too much about it as I have arthritis and both my legs are pinned so I am keen to avoid injury. I run trails and the hill training that provides is really beneficial. My Marathon is in October.

    The FIRST Training program recommends three days a week running but it's horses for courses. Find out what works for you.
  • rtbrown82
    rtbrown82 Posts: 27 Member
    Yeah, I'm personally building up to marathon distance.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Yeah, I'm personally building up to marathon distance.

    Okay. Yeah, you don't need to do 20s until you are into your actual marathon training block. They usually start to occur around 8 weeks out from the race. The reason being, they are just really hard on the body and need good recovery time.