Running 1/2 Marathon

i started running about 2 years ago, and it took a long time to really get my body used to it---not getting shin splints, knees not going weird after a few miles. SOme of it was technique, some finding the right shoes, and some of it really was just getting into shape. Half marathon is an awesome goal---but if you just started running you have to think about your long term goals. Do you want to be running in 5 or 10 years? If you go out hard for a one time goal, you risk damaging yourself for the future. So if I were you, I would sign up for a 5K in the next month or two and get a baseline time. Then sign up for another 5k and see your improvement. Don't knock short races; they really really can be a great deal of fun and go a long way to building up confidence, whilst keeping your body from complaining too much. It gives you goal and still allows for you body to adjust to running. The perhaps come August or Sept go out and run a 10K. Once you have got to being able to run 10K race, then start thinking half marathon for sometime in calendar year 2014. Running is wonderful, but injuries can really really be disappointing and derail you.
NOW, if you just have 1/2 marathon on your 'bucket list' as it were, and you really are not that keen on continuing to run into the future, I am sure you have plenty of time to train enough to survive a half marathon. Just my 2 cents. Good luck and congrats are getting into a running regimen!

Yeah, I've ran several HMs. During the years I was training for them I considered myself a competitive runner (not an elite level runner, mind you, but I entered lots of races and have the medals to prove it, ha!)

It's a heavy time commitment. I ran three or four days per week and cross-trained on two or three. Generally my runs consisted of a speed or hill workout, a tempo run and a long distance run. Every week I'd add a kilometre on my distance run. Two weeks before the race I'd do a 21k trial run. My tempo runs were 8 miles in an hour, and my speed runs were usually something like the 200s or hill repeats.

Motivation was always a struggle towards the end of the season- knowing that I'd have an 18km training run when I was supposed to be relaxing on the weekend- but I'm glad I've done it. It's a very doable distance, provided you've done the training. For the first season I raced, I took myself from out of shape to running my first HM in 10 months, so I think 7-8 is a reasonable time frame, especially if you're already running 5ks. There are plenty of guides online to help plan a training schedule.

Yeah you can totally go from a 5k to a half marathon in 7-8 months. Here's a few tips though:

1) Don't expect to lose a ton of weight while training. To train properly and not risk injury by upping your mileage that much, you will only be able to afford a small deficit. It's kind of a crushing blow to most new runners- everyone thinks it's a great way to lose weight and it isn't really.

2) Pick a novice training schedule like the Runners World or Hal Higdon's ones, and stick to it like GLUE. DO what they tell you to do. Don't try to add much more- though you probably can add strength training if you're smart about it. There's no advantage to trying t o double up and do the training AND some other program at the same time though.

3) No matter what happens, prioritize your long run every week. It's way more important than all the other training. If you get busy and have to adjust your schedule, always find a way to do the long run.

You can do it! 1/2's are fun, if you're properly trained, it will be a BLAST! You can do it! :bigsmile:

This is a great goal! I would strongly suggest working your way up to it slowly and with a plan to avoid injury and so you have a good time doing the half. Joining a running group (team in training or USA fit - both have wesites) really helped me to achieve my running goals. You get a proven program and have the fun of running with a diverse group of folks, many of whom have a lot of experience. I would certantly get a few 10K's under your belt before the half. When I'm training for a half I work to feel comfortable running fifteen miles. Good luck!

Totally a doable goal. I started running using C25K last January - couldn't even run a half mile straight at that point, and ran my first HM in September. I did walk some (mostly because I had a terrible day - cramps, etc), but ran 13.1 again a week later with ease. For that half, I didn't follow a training plan, I just ran generally 3 days a week - 2 5 mile runs, and then a progressively longer run on Saturdays, up to 12 miles. I am training for another half right now, and am using the Runner's World Smart Coach, which is nice because you can customize it to your paces (based on a previous race time) and your current weekly mileage.

Being a newer runner, though, you probably shouldn't bother with speed workouts, and just keep working on your endurance with one long run per week. Don't overdo it. Your first half is an automatic PR!

Being a newer runner, though, you probably shouldn't bother with speed workouts, and just keep working on your endurance with one long run per week. Don't overdo it. Your first half is an automatic PR!

That's what I'm talking about. PR baby!

I'm signed up for one in the first week of June. I really need to polish off those last 3 miles. I can do a 10 mile run at about a 9:20 pace right now but I honestly haven't tried doing longer. I'm doing a Sub 2:15 Half Marathon training plan by Jeff Gaudette. My actual goal is 2:00:00 for this.

It's going to be fun working on a structured training plan. Right now I just go out and run as I feel like and do a longer run on the weekend. I'll let you know how this works out. 2 hours. I'm pretty confident that I can do this in that time. Just need to keep working at it.

I have run 3 half marathons and I would definitely echo what MoreBean said

-Hal Higdon is da BOMB.
-My weight loss slowed to a crawl once my long run got over 6 miles. I found it really hard to balance the needs of my body + my desire to lose + desire to eat a pound of bacon after running 10 miles

Last year I did pretty much what you're talking about doing. I started working out in January but could not run. By mid to late March I had my legs strong enough that my knees would not buckle from the impact of running. I read up on the Hal Higdon and Couch to 5k training programs, but then did my own thing. I ran my first 5k at the end of June and the first of two half marathons at the end of October.

Keep training regularly. Don't try to suddenly increase your mileage or speed, work at it slowly. Be ok that some days that 4-5 mile run will feel harder than the 6 mile run you did the run before. Long Slow Distance days (slow your pace a bit but push the distance) will help build endurance. Once you have the mental and physical endurance to do a long run, then you can work on speed. Mental endurance - you might be running for 2 hours to do a half marathon and need to stay focused enough but also relaxed enough to do the run.

Shoes, be prepared to replace them every 3-4 months if you're running regularly (3-4x per week). The padding will wear out before the tread is worn down and you'll feel the harder shoe in your knees and ankles.

Strength train. Don't just run. The stronger your feet, legs, hips and core (abs & back) are the smoother and more relaxed your stride will be. The smoother and more natural your stride, the better your endurance the lower the chance of injury.

To my previous list, I want to add to start stretching your IT (iliotibial) bands now, preventatively. If you don't know how, look it up on google, it's easy and will save you a TON of trouble down the road. (pun intended)

A foam roller would be a great investment at this point too. I wish I had done these things before starting training for my first one.

thanks for all the replies, i have just found a local 10km run in a few months so i will enter that and see how it goes. Thanks all !

Brilliant! Well done! and Good Luck