Half Marathon - how soon?

LooptLou25

Hi all,
Anyone done a half marathon after completing C25k, B210K & if so, how soon? I'm probably getting way to far ahead of myself as only start wk 5 day 1 today on C25K, but my neighbour (a very keen & experienced runner) kindly - or madly - suggested I would be ok for the Hastings Half Marathon in March next year! I was pleased he thinks I'm capable but knowing the hills that are included, just a little scared, plus with not yet having completed the programmes, is that too ambitious!?
Link to the marathon site - check out the feet climbed!
http://www.hastings-half.co.uk/
Thanks, Lorraine

wolfgate

Sure, if you keep running and follow good plans (and are fortunate with injuries) you could do the half marathon. And if you personal goal is to see if you can run the distance, it's OK and you should do so. But there seems to be this idea, kind of a peer pressure especially among newer athletes, in running that the natural progression is to go quickly from 5k to 10k to half. It also leads to a lot of people trying to do so sooner than is wise, and getting hurt, frustrated, or not having a good time. For many, the better option is to take their time progressing in distance and actually learning how to race, rather than just survive, a certain event. That is also less likely to produce injury or overtraining or burnout.

Edited to add - if anyone's goal is to run a half, that is great and they should do so. I'm not criticizing anyone's personal dream or goal. I am just saying there isn't some badge of honor by succumbing to the peer pressure of continually increasing race distance.

mccabe_cj

Honestly, if this is a goal you really want to set for yourself, then there is plenty of time to be fully trained by March if you are just starting to run now. Having finished a few half marathons I must say it is quite a personal accomplishment to know that you can run for that long.
If you want to dedicate yourself I say more power to you! You can definitely do it by March. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do.
Cheers.

LooptLou25

It is one of my goals, but was thinking I would more likely be doing one in 2014 lol! I've got the B210K schedule ready & also have a half marathon & marathon training schedule printed & ready for when I'm able to progress to the next level. I just didn't think I would be able to make it that quick, but as the programmes are B210K 6 weeks & half marathon 9 weeks, they will fit in before March - just hadn't dreamt I would be capable. I'm definitely hooked on the running!

mccabe_cj

Yea really if you can run a 10k its not that big of a stretch to run a 1/2 marathon. Only takes a bit more training to get your endurance up.
The biggest problem I always ended up having was hitting the "runners wall" I found Jelly Belly sport beans and would pop a few every couple of miles and it really helped me overcome and get that extra energy I needed.

BrianSharpe

With 6 months to train to complete the race you should be ok but I would seriously suggest getting a couple of 5K and 10K races under your belt first. Running longer races requires a fair bit of physical training as well as (and some might suggest this is even more important) mental preparation.

Yea really if you can run a 10k its not that big of a stretch to run a 1/2 marathon. ....

I can think of a few people who may disagree with that opinion.......

Starbuck2020

I worked out for a few months *no running* and then one day (6 weeks ago) my trainer talked me into signing up for a half. So I did and now I feel obligated. haha It is in 4 weeks and I know I am not ready. I know I will finish, but there will be plenty of walk/jog cycles.
If your goal is to finish, pick a date and sign up. Once you have the money on the table it becomes something you are actually training for and not just thinking about someday. Good luck!

muddyventures

I have spent all of this year training and building mileage for a 1/2 marathon to be run in December, I've also done a handful of shorter races. I really am trying to build my base and am beginning to be comfortable (9 months into this) with the idea of a long run being 10 miles.. it is beginning to feel like just one of my runs... I personally think taking longer is better, but I have friends who train like crazy to get that one certain race on their belts and then back to the couch they go.

I really want this to last so I'm trying to take it slowly and have fun too.

iluvprettyshoes

Yes you have time to train providing you stay injury free!
Make sure you get fitted for good running shoes!

Starbuck2020

I have spent all of this year training and building mileage for a 1/2 marathon to be run in December, I've also done a handful of shorter races. I really am trying to build my base and am beginning to be comfortable (9 months into this) with the idea of a long run being 10 miles.. it is beginning to feel like just one of my runs... I personally think taking longer is better, but I have friends who train like crazy to get that one certain race on their belts and then back to the couch they go.

I really want this to last so I'm trying to take it slowly and have fun too.

That is great! After my "forced" half I am looking forward to building my miles at my pace for several months.

wombat94

It is entirely doable.

I just ran my first HM last weekend. It was exactly 32 weeks to the day after I started C25K.

I went through a similar progression to what you are talking about. C25K - B210K - HM Training Plan

You say you are in week 5 of C25K, so if my math is correct, you have either 32 weeks or 33 weeks from the start of C25K to the Hastings Half marathon.

I had such a blast with running that I fell in love with it and was signing up for races almost immediately. I signed up for my first 5K by the time I was done week 3. I ran that race as part of week 7. Then before I finished up week 9 of C25K, I had signed up for two half marathons, another 5K and a 10K spread out through the rest of 2012.

My original goal race was the Walt Disney World half in January of 2013 - leaving me 50 weeks from start of running to half marathon. But running was going so well, I felt I wanted to move the challenge up. First by about 8 weeks to the Philadelphia Half in November 2012, and then a month or two later to the Bird I n Hand Half 10 weeks before that. Along the way, I also threw in another 5K, a 7 mile and a 10 mile race as part of my training. Also, I did have about 6 to 8 weeks of "just running" between the finish of B210K and the start of the HM training plan. I think this is a good idea because C25K and B210K progress SOOO quickly that it's good to just stay at that level for a while.

If you are enjoying running, feel that you are progressing well, and don't have any injuries, it is a totally achievable goal.

My recommendations would be...

1. Definitely sign up for some shorter races along the way. Don't make the HM your first race. Racing is a skill set of its own and it is important to have a feel for racing shorter distances before you go out and run something as long as a half marathon.

2. Listen to your body along the way. If you find yourself always feeling fatigued, you may be overtraining. Take a break and let your body recover.

3. Distance event training plans normally have the race as the last day of the plan (or a week or so BEFORE the end of the plan, if the plan has a prescribed recovery period in it)... so work backward from the race date and find the starting date of the HM training plan. There will likely be a gap between the end of B210K and the HM plan... use that time for a little more rest and recovery and to build your base of mileage. Just keep running at the level you achieved by the end of B210K or slightly more. If you do that, the HM plan should be all primed and will get you to the finish line on race day.

Good luck.

Having just gone through this sequence of events, I'm excited for your. It's great to have goals out there to motivate your training, and you can definitely achieve this one if you go about it smartly.

Ted

natalie412

I finished C25K in end of Feb or beginning of March this year, and just ran my first half marathon last weekend. I didn't think I would be ready that soon, but I kept upping the mileage on my weekend long runs, and was ready! I had run 2 5Ks, a 5 mile trail race, and a 5 mile road race before that. I finished the HM in 2:36 - I should have been easily able to do it in under 2:30, but had a rough run that day (side stitches, etc). You can't always control how you feel on the day of the race! Doing another HM in 2 weeks!

vlmcmullin

I have been wondering the same thing. Not so much with a half marathon, but on how much time to put between my first 5k - which was this past Sunday, the 9th, and trying to train for a 10k. I started my training with the C25k plan and the end of my week 9 was when the 5k race was. Now I am trying to think of what to do next and how to do it.

I have never been a distance runner so I know I need more 2-3 mile runs a few times a week in order to really get my body used to running 30+ minutes at a time.

Should I keep running 5k distances and races for a while and then sometime in the early 2013 year, choose a 10k race and start the 5k to 10k training so many weeks before?

Also, if there are any runners - whether beginner or advanced - that could help support me through this new journey of wanting/liking to run, I could use the motivation and support.

LooptLou25

I have booked in for a 5k race this Saturday which they hold every Saturday & is free & am looking at other races/distances too. I'm also increasing my Sunday route as of this weekend too - subject to how i feel after Saturday!

Thank you for all your comments & support

drgndancer

It's not completely outrageous. 3 weeks left in c25K takes you to October, 8 weeks for Bridge to 10 and you're in Early December, maintain for a month and start a 12 week half marathon plan. It's doable. That said.... Upping your distance that fast can leave you injury prone, you have the whole "winter" thing there in the middle of your schedule, and you don't have much wiggle room or recovery time available. I think the 2013 goal for a half is completely reasonable, but I'd personally feel a little better about a late summer or fall time frame half.

I'm not saying you can't do it (I just laid out a schedule that technically works), but you'd be tempting injury a bit and hitting the most intense part of your training in some of the worst weather of the year.