New Runner's Advice Anyone?

Are you doing run/walk intervals?

I'd stick with those. As your fitness improves you can make your run intervals longer and your walk intervals shorter.

You don't need to fail. And unless you are pushing too hard - you should not despise running.

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half-marathon-training/

Personally, I think this goal is a bit too lofty. Why not start with a 5 or 10k? From 0-13.1 miles in less than 8 months is a lot.

If you mean April 19, 2015, you should be able to find a basic plan that you can use to work to your goal reasonably.

If you mean April 19, 2014, this sounds like a Very Bad Idea™.


(I spent three months last fall working my way to 10k (6ish miles). I ran into several setbacks along the way that nearly derailed me.)

You are a new runner and you are doing a half?
Thats ballsy!

in your training dont "just" run.

make sure you strengthen all the leg muscles so they can properly support you and save you from knee pain.
Might sound funny, but glutes are especially important here.

Stretch well, foam roll the heck out of your legs on a regular basis, and run/walk in intervals...10 and 1's are usually good.

Personally, I think this goal is a bit too lofty. Why not start with a 5 or 10k? From 0-13.1 miles in less than 8 months is a lot.

^THIS.

You don't even have to register for anything just yet. Start with run/walk intervals of running 5 minutes/walking 2 minutes, then build to 5/1. THEN register for a 5K. If you like it, do another. And another. And then think about a half-marathon.

Arrange success, not frustration.

I started running about a year ago. It's hard...it never gets "easy". I run every other day and I still have sore shins or sore calves. It's just that it doesn't really bother me anymore. I absolutley love running and can't imagine not being able to do it.

Now, commiting to a half with only a few months to train is quite ambicious for a new runner. I'm doing my first 10k in May....after a year of running. Not saying it's not possible, but they type of training you will have to do in such a short amount of time will most likely just end in injury. Why not make a plan to do the whole race in intervals? Now, that is doable. Run for as long as you can then take walk breaks. If nothing else, it will help condition you for future running.

Best of luck to you! I hope you learn to love it because it's awesome!

True.

The deciding factor between whether or not this is a "Very Bad Idea™" or a fine way to spend an afternoon is, IMO, the time limit for the race.

If it's 2 hours - you'd need to go at 6.55 mph - this is possibly a "Very Bad Idea™" to shoot for this time or less.
If it's 2.5 hours - you'd need to go at 5.24 mph - this will require jogging.
If it's 3 hours - you'd need to go at 4.37 mph - this will require a bit of jogging.
If it's 3.5 hours - you'd need to go at 3.75 mph - many people walk this fast.
If it's 4 hours - you'd need to go at 3.28 mph - most people walk this fast.

I agree that a goal of simply finishing the distance should be your goal.

But 3 hour and 4 hour time limit half-marathons are common.

Exactly!

If it is possible to walk a marathon in under 7 hours then as long as the limit is 3.5hours you will be fine.

My suggestion would be find yourself a simple running loop around a mile long. Run/walk to a ratio of about 2:1 and I would bet that 2 miles you struggled through the other day will easily now be 3+. It will take longer but probably not as much as you would think. Stick to the 2:1 ratio while upping the distance gradually and see how it goes. if you get near the 10 mile point a couple of weeks out then go for it.

At the end of the day every year thousands of people sign up for marathons to raise money for charities and barely get to 10k before doing a 5-6hour marathon on the day. they get through it fine. okay they may never run again but they don't get to 10k and drop dead!

I have run as much as 5 miles in one day, and I am still just thinking about a 10K. In March or maybe April.

You can barely make 2 miles in an exercise that you don't like, and you are thinking about a 13 mile race?

I don't get it.

Everybody hates running initially! Imo it's why there is such a high failure rate of c25k programs. Takes too long to get the stage where you can throw on your running shoes and go out for a proper 3/4 miles run and get that runners high.

I hated running in the beginning but now I love it in a masochistic kind of way.

I can't recommend the couch to 5k program enough. Good support group here on MFP for it, and several apps for various smartphones. I couldn't run at all when I first started the program last year. I'm working my way up to a 10k now. You have to crawl before you can walk. I'd work the C25K program and go from there.

worn**

I have run as much as 5 miles in one day, and I am still just thinking about a 10K. In March or maybe April.

You can barely make 2 miles in an exercise that you don't like, and you are thinking about a 13 mile race?

I don't get it.

Everybody hates running initially! Imo it's why there is such a high failure rate of c25k programs. Takes too long to get the stage where you can throw on your running shoes and go out for a proper 3/4 miles run and get that runners high.

I hated running in the beginning but now I love it in a masochistic kind of way.

I would expect that one of the leading causes of not sticking with running would be trying to do too much too fast. I know it derailed me a couple of times at the beginning of my running. I used a program of my own design called "Too far, Too fast, Too often" and it resulted in plantar fasciitis. Using C210k, I still had a few setbacks, but was able to work around them. (That said, I haven't ran any in the last month because of a foot problem I had before and after running my first 5k race, but that's more because of the abysmal weather as I'm not completely healed.)

So this still sounds like a VBI™ to me, because it increases the likelihood of a potential runner becoming an injured non-runner.

Racing can be fun. Racing to get ready for a race is the problem.

From a one new runner to another, I give you props for braving yourself to do a half marathon. I am working up to that slowly. I am focusing on small runs such as a 5k then moving up from there. What I do to help me run longer is that focus on running different distances each week. I am able to run up to 2 miles now so I need to be able to get to 3. So I started with focusing on running 1/2 mile first 2 weeks, then run up to 1 the following to week and so forth. Slowly adding on that distance and just focusing.

I think it is great that you are pushing yourself but at the same time dont let it const you with an injury.

I also don't really like running, but I know it's good for me, so I do it anyway. And I run a half marathon every year. Ok, maybe not run, I run/walk a half marathon every year. My goal in the half marathon is usually 1) to finish, and 2) not be last. And so far, I've finished all of them and I've never been last. I think if it's a goal you can really stick with do it. But listen to your body and take it slow. If you just started running, I definitely suggest run/walking the half. Good luck!

I am new to running however I have committed to a half marathon on April 19th. Last October, I began running some and was up to 3 miles. I struggled with severe shin splints and inflammation in my right foot. I got fitted for new running shoes and took some time off for my foot to heal. I'm 14 1/2 weeks out from the race and sucessfully suffered through 2 miles last night. I know that things will get easier since I have 40 pounds to lose. I currently despise running but have heard that as my body adjusts to it, I will grow to love and appreciate it. Has anyone found this to be true? Does anyone have any advice? I downloaded the 13.1 Run Coach which seems to be a good app. I'm just worried I'm going to fail but I'm tired of being chunky and really want to find something I can love and appreciate.

Feel free to add me! I need a good support group!

It can be done BUT you have to be careful.

I started running on January 6th 2013 at 200lbs. On my first 'run' it took me nearly an hour to do 5km. I could only run 20-30 seconds at a time and then needed 5-10 minutes to recover before I could try again. I went out every OTHER day and run/walked 5km each time and within 4 weeks I could run the full distance (I did not follow C25K). March 1st was the first time I ran 10km and April 6th I ran 18km for the 1st time. So I can say for me, with no previous running experience, a half marathon would have been doable by your deadline. I'll also add that I ran a full marathon in August (7 1/2 months after starting) and am now training for my first ultramarathon later this year (I've fallen in love with distance running).

The first month of being new to running is awful. It DOES get easier physically. Once you get beyond being able to run 5-10km you'll realize it's all mental after that. The most important thing is that you have to learn the difference between burning muscles, breathing heavy, exhaustion etc (all normal) and actual pain (not normal). Push through the normal stuff but if something HURTS (causing you to limp or move differently) then STOP and take a rest day or two. Know that there's a chance you might not make it to the race in April because if you injure yourself, even if it's minor, you don't have a lot of time to recover and resume training. Listen to your body and don't be stupid and think you can continue training through an injury.

I say go for it. I didn't like running at first but somewhere between my first run and crossing the finish line of my first marathon I completely fell in love with it.