Half marathon training and other exercise

Sweettart
Sweettart Posts: 1,331 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
In spring I will be starting to train for a half marathon. When you train for halfs do you do any other exercise besides running?

Replies

  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    I try to do core work on a regular basis. I'm usually not successful. :)

    Cross training is encouraged with most training plans, and different type of cross training will have different impacts.

    Yoga will help keep your muscles flexible and increase core strength.
    Cycling will help your aerobic fitness, muscle recover and you power.
    Swimming is good for aerobic and all over muscle tone (for lack of a better word) and recovery.
  • Sweettart
    Sweettart Posts: 1,331 Member
    Thank you
  • Sweettart
    Sweettart Posts: 1,331 Member
    Anyone else?
  • timeasterday
    timeasterday Posts: 1,368 Member
    I didn't do a lot of core work in the past but coming back from an injury my therapist had me doing some core exercises. I think these have helped a great deal and I will continue to do them religiously as I prepare for my first half marathon. Besides that I go mountain biking occasionally and go to a gym 3 days a week to do weights/machines. I've tried yoga but don't really enjoy it. Pilates was a great workout that I need to try more often (only went to one class).
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
    I do some pilates and yoga to add some strength to my routine which protects my knees which are prone to injury. Yoga also feels amazing on sore muscles. Your hamstrings get ridiculously tight when you run a lot.
  • skadoosh33
    skadoosh33 Posts: 353 Member
    I started running September 2nd and ran my first Half Marathon October 20th in Denver 2:19:30. It's not the best time but only had 6 weeks. I did some strength training but not much. Just ran about 140 miles to prepare. I will be incorporating more weights now and try to get under 2hrs for my next Half.
  • AisforAmazing19
    AisforAmazing19 Posts: 68
    I love cycling and swimming as cross-training. Cycling helps my legs recover from long efforts and swimming helps recover from hard efforts. I like to do shorter distance triathlons, but when I go run-focus my cycling drops to twice a week and swimming to once or twice.
  • daver38
    daver38 Posts: 29 Member
    I do three gym sessions (core, leg and upper body) with cardio (usually 10k cycle, 5k treadmill) and two outdoor runs a week. Did first half on 6th October and came in at 2:13 which was OK but have loads of room to improve :smile:
  • daver38
    daver38 Posts: 29 Member
    I love cycling and swimming as cross-training. Cycling helps my legs recover from long efforts and swimming helps recover from hard efforts. I like to do shorter distance triathlons, but when I go run-focus my cycling drops to twice a week and swimming to once or twice.

    I sometimes do a "gym triathlon" (did one today) as 1k swim, 10k indoor cycle and 5k treadmill run. Feels good afterwards!
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    I also do a lot of core work (I start each day with sets of planks). I do squats, deadlifts, and lunges (weighted during maintenance, unweighted during high mileage training) to keep my glutes and hamstrings strong. I also stretch my hip flexors daily.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    I lift weights. I've just cut my weight days down to two per week as my mileage is increasing. I do squats, straight leg deadlifts, pullups and calf raises on Tuesdays and bench press, overhead press, and bent over barbell rows on Fridays. I also do abs about twice a week. I'm trying to get back into doing yoga but I keep finding other things to do instead.
  • reggie2run
    reggie2run Posts: 477 Member
    To date, I've done 5 Halfs and other numerous LD races.
    My workout routine besides running includes biking and resistance training.
    I also do a heck of an amount of walking as I have a 3 year old black Lab.
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    I think core work definitely helps with endurance so I would do some of that. Make sure you don't overtrain!

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