The February 2016 Running Challenge

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Replies

  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    2/1: 6 miles with Joe to Go crew
    2/2: 5 miles
    2/3: 7.5 miles
    2/4: 8.2 miles (am), 6 miles (pm) with the Thursday crew
    2/5: Rest day (hallelujah!)
    2/6: 9.5 miles with the Saturday crew
    2/7: 18 miles LR
    2/8: 6.1 miles with Joe to Go crew
    2/9: Rest day
    2/10: 7 miles speedwork (am), 10 miles (pm)
    2/11: 6 miles (am), 6 miles (pm) with the Thursday crew
    2/12: Rest day!
    2/13: 14 miles with Saturday crew
    2/14: 7 miles
    2/15: Rest/lazy day
    2/16: 5 miles
    2/17: 5 miles (am), 12 miles (pm)
    2/18: 8 miles (am), 6 miles (pm) with the Thursday crew
    2/19: Rest day!
    2/20: 8.5 miles
    2/21: 16 miles
    2/22: 6 miles with Joe to Go crew
    2/23: XT: 12 miles stationary bike
    2/24: 10 miles
    2/25: No AM run, 6 miles PM with Thursday crew
    2/26: Rest day!

    I am loving this cutback week business! It was so refreshing to run with my group last night and not be complaining about how sore/tired/achy I am. I'm excited to get back to crazy mileage next week, but having ZERO two-a-days this week was a nice break. Glad I took it now rather than waiting a week; it worked out well with the storms we've been getting in Jersey and I feel so ready to tackle another block of tough weeks.

    And I've hit 400 miles for the year as of last night! And with 30 miles on the schedule for this weekend, I'll be well over 200 for the month very soon! I think my highest mileage in a month so far is about 207, so this will be a huge monthly PR for me (whether I beat @Stoshew71 or not)!

    exercise.png

    Upcoming races:
    3/12: Run o' the Mill 5K
    4/3: Caesar Rodney Half Marathon
    5/1: New Jersey Marathon
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    edited February 2016
    michable wrote: »
    ... My issue is that if I only get to a total distance of 23-24 km for my long run because that represents 3 hrs of running, then that is nowhere near the time or distance I will require to run the marathon, and how on Earth will I be able to run for another 2 hours on race day! ...
    That right there is the area which I think has not been researched at all as @MobyCarp suggested.

    First off, if someone is newer to distance running and has run a couple halfs perhaps, even if they are a 3 hour half runner and trains for a season with 3 hour 12 to 14 mile long runs, they may not have the strength in their running chain to go 26.2 miles in 6 hours and I would be concerned for them about injury pushing themselves to such a large, new and unfamiliar distance. Do any training plans suggest a runner who has a 10k as their longest run do a half marathon as their first long run? Then why take someone who has only run 12-14 miles as their longest distance and suggest it is safe to run 26.2 miles???

    I also suspect their refueling plan based solely on those 3 hour runs could come up inadequate. I learned I needed a little more, an extra GU packet every hour to have the ability to run 4+ hours, and more water too for that matter (I'm 6 feet 2 inches tall and 250 pounds which takes extra fuel). Truth be told, I can do a two hour run with zero fuel, and a 3 hour run with a single GU. But a 4 hour run I do best taking 4 GU packets.

    I was not dehydrating after 3 hours and could rehydrate quickly after the run, but a similar rate of water consumption on longer runs left me slower and achy from dehydration. Some added water would put extra spring in my shuffle on those later miles. Even if it's just mental, that is the biggest battle of all, the mental aspect.

    I would not pretend to have more running physiological knowledge or experience than Jack Daniels. He has more in the tip of his pinky finger than I will probably gain in my lifetime. But I know when I feel something is very wrong from my own knowledge and experience that I do better when I listen to that voice in my head trying to make sense as opposed to following a generic plan. Which, in a sense, is exactly what the whole 25-33% and 2.5 hour long run things are...cookie cutter plans for all, from elite to novice, from fittest to out of shape, from just over 2 hour marathon finishers to 7 hour marathon finishers. That makes no sense.

    @Stoshew71 has mentioned at a few points that even he deviates from such recommendations where he thinks it makes sense. It's all about having enough knowledge from reliable sources to arm yourself, and the intuition to know what you can do, and the wisdom to put it all together to reach your goal unhurt.

    That's not easy, either.

    @MobyCarp mentioned (if memory is correct) that a first time half or full marathoner is probably best served by training and running the race at easy pace. That just seems to make sense. Obviously you do not have to do it that way, many trained for their first with speedwork, many ran the first race at race pace. Many made it, many failed for various reasons including injury. If it's about least injury risk, I really do have to wonder what the odds of injury are for someone to suddenly one day run 26.2 miles when their previous longest ever run was 13.1 miles.
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    edited February 2016
    Oh, something I really wanted to say when I started that last post, but drifted and forgot...

    I do believe that once your running chain has built up enough strength to support you running for several hours that you can just keep going to new, unexpected distances. This is not the same as saying that because someone has run 2 miles they can run a 10k, and extrapolate that to if a person has run a half then they can run a full. That is only true if their running chain has been trained long enough to have the endurance to do so.

    Last fall towards the end of my first full, I had zero doubt in my mind or body that I could have dropped all 3 fulls and done at least one 50k, maybe two. I had zero confidence about a 50 miler ultra. So, even though my longest run was 20 miles, I do think that could have been stretched to 31 miles as those last miles in the full were on empty tanks, sore muscles and purely just the will to finish. When I saw the 26 mile marker I knew I could run another 5 miles that day if the race was that long.

    But how does one know when they have built up enough strength? For the example of the 3 hour half marathoner training for a season on 12-14 mile 3 hour long runs only...when do they have the strength earned to go 26.2 miles? What test can they do to prove they are ready? Is their only option to take a chance and see if they can do it and hope to not fail or get injured?
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member

    1-personal training episode. so sore
    2-nothing, not feeling well
    3-slept in. still not feeling great
    4-see above, and then transmission cracked
    5-car hunting
    6-car hunting
    7-4.75 miles. I added hills to my treadmill work out. oh the suck
    8-nothing
    9-i was on the way to the gym. because it was icy i didn't want to run outside. so icy, i hit a parked jeep with my 2 day all new to me car. :frowning: no gym for me
    10-yoga tonight. a little sore from the accident, but i'm really concerned about the race this weekend. I've not been able to train like I'd like to due to flares and accidents. I'm not sure how I'll do
    11-no run. fell asleep by 7pm
    12-slept like a rock thru my alarms
    13-8k race day. freezing 1F. but i did get a PB and after not finding any particularly friendly people, i did find a few to chat and run with.
    15-went to the gym and did a 10k virtual run. it was hard physically but I was proud I did it
    16-rest
    17-yoga tonight
    18-wayward ice chunk took out rental's bumper, went back to insurance and got another car and filed a claim. sigh, no time for run today.
    19-planned rest day.
    20-7.04mi felt good. i missed the distance. the first few miles are always a struggle. it was my fastest 6-8 miles
    21-video game day (borderlands pre-sequel)
    22-nothing
    23-lazy did not run. cannot get motivated
    24-yoga tonight
    25-overslept
    26-yoga tonight

    apparently I'm taking a rest month


    exercise.png


    RACES:
    Jan 16-Frosty 5k-33:43:123 (gun time-don't have chip time)
    Feb 13-Steve Cullen Run 8k chip time: 53:37
    Feb 15 Puppy Love Virtual Run 10k runkeeper time: 1:13:20
    ?Mar 14-Great Pi Run?
    ?Jun 11-Rock n Sole 5 or 8k? honeymoon might interfere
    June 19th through Sunday, July 10th SHE Power Virtual Half

  • cbro70
    cbro70 Posts: 224 Member
    Good morning friends. This morning was AWESOME !!!!! I ran 3.6 miles today, I know it does not sound like much since so many of you run much more, but I have not ran more than 2 miles in almost 14 years. The last time was when I was in Iraq. It feels so great to see that I can reach my goal soon. I hope everyone has an awesome day.
    exercise.png
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    @cbro70 - Awesome! Congrats! There is no such thing as "Not much". There is running or not running. About the only time runners should consider a run to be "not much" is during a taper and wondering why they are bothering with what feels like ridiculously simple and too short of runs. But they never consider other peoples mileage as "not much" because everyone started somewhere. And after an off season or injury everyone is again starting back over.
  • ddmom0811
    ddmom0811 Posts: 1,881 Member
    cbro70 wrote: »
    Good morning friends. This morning was AWESOME !!!!! I ran 3.6 miles today, I know it does not sound like much since so many of you run much more, but I have not ran more than 2 miles in almost 14 years. The last time was when I was in Iraq. It feels so great to see that I can reach my goal soon. I hope everyone has an awesome day.
    exercise.png

    That's great!!! Agree with @WhatMeRunning -- no such thing as "not much".
  • 9voice9
    9voice9 Posts: 693 Member
    I may have a running disorder.
    "May"? Piker. Admit it. It's the first step.

  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Date Miles today. Miles for February

    2/1 7.55 miles - 7.55
    2/2 7.4 miles - 14.95
    2/3 4.5 miles - 19.45
    2/4 7 miles - 26.45
    2/5 REST DAY
    2/6 16 miles - 42.45
    2/7 REST DAY
    2/8 10.5 miles - 52.95
    2/9 7.5 miles - 60.45
    2/9 3.2 miles - 63.65
    2/10 6.4 miles - 70.05
    2/11 7.5 miles - 77.55
    2/12 6.3 miles - 83.85
    2/12 3.3 miles - 87.15 <<< Daily double
    2/13 16 miles - 103.15
    2/14 REST DAY Happy Valentines Day
    2/15 8.1 miles - 111.25 << First run of 2 today
    2/15 4 miles - 115.25 << Second run of the day. I hate cold rain.
    2/16 10 miles - 125.25
    2/17 5 miles - 130.25
    2/18 11 miles - 141.25
    2/19 6.2 miles - 147.45
    2/20 16 miles - 163.45
    2/21 REST DAY
    2/22 8.5 miles - 171.95
    2/22 4 miles - 175.95 << Another daily double
    2/23 8 miles - 183.95
    2/23 4 miles - 187.95 << Another daily double
    2/24 6.2 miles - 194.15
    2/25 8 miles - 202.15
    2/25 4 miles - 206.15 << Another daily double
    2/26 6.2 miles - 212.35

    exercise.png

    Upcoming races:
    UAH Spring Road Race 8K - 3/6
    Oak Barrel HM - 4/2
    Bridge Street HM - 4/10
    Cotton Row Run 10K - 5/30
    Firecracker Chase 10.2 miler - 6/25


  • instantmartian
    instantmartian Posts: 335 Member
    cbro70 wrote: »
    Good morning friends. This morning was AWESOME !!!!! I ran 3.6 miles today, I know it does not sound like much since so many of you run much more, but I have not ran more than 2 miles in almost 14 years. The last time was when I was in Iraq. It feels so great to see that I can reach my goal soon. I hope everyone has an awesome day.
    exercise.png

    That is so awesome! Congratulations!
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    9voice9 wrote: »
    I may have a running disorder.
    "May"? Piker. Admit it. It's the first step.
    Hello. My name is Chris and I have a running problem. It's been 2 days since my last run, and believe me, that is a big problem!!
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    cbro70 wrote: »
    Good morning friends. This morning was AWESOME !!!!! I ran 3.6 miles today, I know it does not sound like much since so many of you run much more, but I have not ran more than 2 miles in almost 14 years. The last time was when I was in Iraq. It feels so great to see that I can reach my goal soon. I hope everyone has an awesome day.
    exercise.png

    One of the signs of a dedicated runner is that, no matter how far he runs, he sometimes feels like it's "not much." You ran 3.6 miles farther than I will today.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Hey, I started by running on a treadmill for 3 miles maybe 3 or 4x a week. Every litte bit helps in the overall journey. If "it's only" 3.6 miles, then does those 3.6 miles consistently. It goes a long way.
  • Mari33a
    Mari33a Posts: 1,262 Member
    edited February 2016
    02/09 3.25 miles - found it hard after the break
    02/10 3.25 miles - same route, much better 30 sec faster
    02/15 3 miles
    02/23 3.5 miles
    02/24 3.5 miles
    02/25 3.75 miles
    02/26 3 miles

    23.25 done of 30miles
    exercise.png

  • HonuNui
    HonuNui Posts: 1,464 Member
    February goal 80 miles

    2/1 3.8
    2/2 4.17
    2/3 bad life day
    2/4 4.00
    2/5 3.82
    2/6 preparing a Superbowl Luau
    2/7 hosting a Superbowl Luau
    2/8 sick
    2/9 4.02
    2/10 10.00
    2/11 rest
    2/12 snorkel 3 hours
    2/13 3.25
    2/14 3.52
    2/15 3.34
    2/16 rest
    2/17 6.48
    2/18 3.12
    2/19 3.54
    2/20 rest
    2/21 6.32
    2/22 2.12
    2/23 8.07
    2/24 travel
    2/25 4.72
    2/26 2.7

    Total 76.99


    Upcoming races:
    3/20 Big Island International 1/2 marathon
    6/26 SHEPower Virtual 1/2 marathon
    11/13 Las Vegas Rock n Roll 1/2 marathon

    Ticker is my goal for 2016 and accumulation to date:

    exercise.png





  • 5BeautifulDays
    5BeautifulDays Posts: 683 Member
    My half marathon story isn't anything exciting much, but I am really proud of what I accomplished. My goal going in was to finish with as little walking as possible, and be fit to spend the next couple days vacationing with my daughter (the trip was a belated birthday gift). My official time was 2:56:44, which isn't where I wanted it to be, but my gps said that I completed 13.5 in 2:49 (I stopped it for bathroom breaks--the lines were long). I was a little sore right after, but a nice hot shower and some stretching sorted me out and I probably walked an additional 8+ miles over the next two days without any stiffness or soreness.

    I did not push my speed at all--just ran at a comfortable pace. I'd never run more than 12 miles before the event and I was quite concerned about running out of steam before the end. My goal going forward will be to slowly increase the speed of my long runs, I think, but I'll be dialing back the length of those runs for some time. I'd really like to get my 5 and 10 k speeds up before I contemplate running another half (I might go back and do the Disney one in November, but I'm fairly convinced that these races *can't* really be about speed for the non-elite runner--there are just too many people in the way, almost the entire way)

    Things I'd do differently: Not carry water--there were plenty of water stops (I didn't use my fuel--might have wanted them if I was running faster, though)
    Not stop to pee, even if I think I really, really need to. I didn't. I was just nervous. And the potties are disgusting.
    Push myself to run faster in the wider spots, because the narrow spots jammed up so much that I couldn't really run at the pace I'd prefer.

    Since the race, I've of course been at the hospital. My son is not capable of managing his diabetes independently due to his autism, so in my newly-acquired job as his pancreas, I expect I'll have far less training freedom for the near future, at least. I won't lie and say that it isn't bothering me--both the fear for his health and the loss of my own freedom. But I expect we will eventually fall into some sort of new normal. Today we started that, as he got home last night. I managed a short run at the gym and it felt delicious. So here we go...


    1/31 Rest
    2/1 6.25 @ 12.00 on the treadmill
    2/2 3.5 (3 @ 11:50 and .5 walking) and strength training
    2/3 Rest day
    2/4 10.25 @ 11:46 on the treadmill.
    2/5 Planned rest day--taking my daughter on her first college visit!
    2/6 5 @ 10:35 on the treadmill
    (25/25 for the week)

    2/7 Rest
    2/8 5 @ 11:23 on the treadmill. Knees were giving me a little trouble at the beginning but warmed up ok.
    2/9 3.25 @ 10:46 on the treadmill and strength training
    2/10 11 @ 12:00 on the treadmill. Dear goodness golly that was awful.
    2/11 Rest
    2/12 6.25 @ 11:23 on the treadmill.
    2/13 Rest
    (25.5/25 for the week)

    2/14 No race day-- -7windchill too cold for wimpy me
    2/15 5 @ 12 ish on the treadmill-saurus in my basement since we're having another stinking snow day
    2/16 5 @ 12 ish on the treadmill at home. My legs/ankles/whatever are not feeling great today
    2/17 5 @ 11 on the treadmill at the gym and strength training.
    2/18 5 @ 10:45 on the treadmill at the gym
    2/19 Walked around the Magic Kingdom
    2/20 Walked around Epcot
    (20/20 for the week)

    2/21 13.5 @ 12:32 Disney Princess Half Marathon. See notes above.
    2/22-25 Sitting in a hospital with a very ill boy
    2/26 3.25 @ 10:38 on the treadmill
    2/27
    (16.75/20 for the week)


    exercise.png
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    @5BeautifulDays - Congrats on the HM and for being able to enjoy vacation afterwards! I hope you find a great routine with your son and that there are not any future scares.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    I plunged. I needed a reason to run
    signed up for a half marathon in door county. march and april i will not be slagging like i have been
  • skippygirlsmom
    skippygirlsmom Posts: 4,433 Member
    I'll never be able to keep up with posts while I'm gone.

    Ran 2.5 quick miles before a bus tour picked us up. Love my new shirt. It was 5:00 am so it was still dark.

    xw7hqasj0a2d.jpg
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    @skippygirlsmom Looking good in that shirt! Way to rep!! :)
  • whatang
    whatang Posts: 102 Member
    Not got round to checking in for a few days. Properly over the cold that wiped out 10 days earlier this month, it's great to be back in the swing of things. Did a very slow 5 miles on Wednesday, and a quicker 7 miles tonight. Won't get anywhere near my goal for the month, I'm at 46 out of a target of 76, will probably end up about 55ish. But, pretty happy with that considering the 2 dead weeks in the middle of the month.

    It's been really interesting reading all the debate about training and long runs, and it's started me thinking in unfamiliar directions... I'm considering signing up for a half marathon in May. I haven't done any organised races at all before, other than 5k parkruns, but I'm running about 18-20 miles a week, usually with a long run of about 7 miles. My longest run has been 10 miles, which was challenging but not horrific. Thoughts? Could I be ready for a half in about 12 weeks?
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    @whatang - Yeah, that is plenty of time to build from where you are to a full. You're pretty close already.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    1---6.10
    2---rest
    3---6.25
    4---6.26
    5---not enough rest day
    6---15K
    7-9--busted knee.
    10-- 6.30
    11---rest
    12---7.05
    13---rest dumb knee
    14---7.39 (4.41) behind
    15---rest dumb knee
    16--- 4.60
    17---5.73 run/walk
    18---7.73 Sulphur park
    19---Nada
    20---6.72 group run
    21---7.61 walk
    22---rest
    23---feelin' lazy/storm
    24---3.11 +5.0
    25---tendonitis
    26---3.74 half walk- dumb foot

    93.03/Goal 110+ miles

    Upcoming races:
    03/19/16 Rock N Roll 5K Dallas
    03/20/16 Rock N Roll Half Dallas
    04/24/16 OKC Memorial undecided distance
    10/16/16 THAT dam half, Lewisville TX
    11/05/16 Jenks Half Jenks OK
    Run the year 2016  193.07/2016
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    @skippygirlsmom lovin' it! I got my husband 3 of the shirts. He loves 'em too.
  • 5BeautifulDays
    5BeautifulDays Posts: 683 Member
    whatang wrote: »
    Not got round to checking in for a few days. Properly over the cold that wiped out 10 days earlier this month, it's great to be back in the swing of things. Did a very slow 5 miles on Wednesday, and a quicker 7 miles tonight. Won't get anywhere near my goal for the month, I'm at 46 out of a target of 76, will probably end up about 55ish. But, pretty happy with that considering the 2 dead weeks in the middle of the month.

    It's been really interesting reading all the debate about training and long runs, and it's started me thinking in unfamiliar directions... I'm considering signing up for a half marathon in May. I haven't done any organised races at all before, other than 5k parkruns, but I'm running about 18-20 miles a week, usually with a long run of about 7 miles. My longest run has been 10 miles, which was challenging but not horrific. Thoughts? Could I be ready for a half in about 12 weeks?

    If you can do 10, you'll be fine with 13. You're in a similar place to where I was 12 weeks before my half (I was running about 20-25 miles a week, mostly slow, with a long run around 7-8 miles). I didn't win it or anything, but I finished in the top half for the race and my age group and wasn't wiped out. I think I could have run it faster and still been ok at the end, but I was very conservative.
  • Becky_44
    Becky_44 Posts: 227 Member
    Thanks for the reminders that running is running no matter the distance, sometimes it's hard to come in here with all the long run lingo and high miles but you all are always so kind and encouraging to those of us who are not where you are! The wealth of knowledge here is sometimes overwhelming but always amazing, So much appreciated! I love seeing the excitement of people reaching goals no matter no matter what those goals are, it's an incredible feeling and I always celebrate with you though I don't reply to them all always.

  • username301
    username301 Posts: 247 Member

    date....distance.... Mtd......ytd
    1/2........ 5k.............5k.........50k
    3/2.........5k.............10k......55k
    7/2.........5k.............15k.......60k
    10/2.......5k.............20k.......65k
    12/2.......5k.............25k.......70k
    14/2.......5k.............30k.......75k
    16/2.......5k.............35k........80k
    19/2.......5k.............40k........85k
    21/2.......5.5k..........45.5k.....90.5k
    23/2.......5k.............50.5k......95.5k
    26/2........5k............55.5k.....100.5k
  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    edited February 2016
    @WhatMeRunning I think Dr Google absolutely loves scaring people >:) . I'm always trying to resist the impulse of entiring whatever ails me into the search bar - and whenever I fail, I end up completely terrified of the horrible things that will follow if you feel a little scratch in your throat or strained a thumb. I guess "it hurt a bit, but after a good night's sleep it was gone" doesn't make for ten-page-long forum posts as easily as the really messy horror stories! In any case, I hope your rest will leat to a speedy recovery!

    @kristinegift Wow, 400 miles already? Great job, that's impressive.

    @ereck44 congrats on hitting your February goal, and even with days to spare!

    @5BeautifulDays - Thank you for the HM race report, it sounds like you had a realy nice time! I wish you and your son all the best for figuring out how to best deal with the diabetes.

    @Virkati Lol, glad you managed to escape your PT alive! If you hold up against his torture, and continue being sensible about allowing yourself to heal properly rather then risking a setback, I'm sure you'll have a great HM in May.

    @skippygirlsmom Love the photo! Great that the shirt went on the trip with you :-)

    @4leighbeeP I'm a firm believer in "there is no TOO weird" when it comes to running!

    Otherwise, I would have probably felt like an idiot today: I had planned to try a new running route on the drive home tonight, so I changed into my running clothes at work, drove to the start point - and as soon as I got out of the car, my instantly frozen ears informed me I'd forgotten to pack a hat. I still wanted to run, so I managed to improvise a head-wrap-thingy with my work shirt and some hair ties to hold it in place. Apart from that moment mid-run when a sleeve came loose and slapped me in the face, it worked well enough. And while I'm willing to admit it might have looked slightly weird (okay, in all honesty, more like completely ridiculous), I don't think it was too weird. o:)
  • michable
    michable Posts: 312 Member
    @5BeautifulDays Congrats on your HM! So glad your son is ok. I hope he is ok with needles!

    @Elise4270 Yay for just tendinitis!(?) Better than a stress fracture, I guess.

    @moyer566 congrats for signing up for a HM!

    @cbro70 Congrats on your awesome run!

    @ceciliaslater Rocking the moonboot!
    whatang wrote: »
    Not got round to checking in for a few days. Properly over the cold that wiped out 10 days earlier this month, it's great to be back in the swing of things. Did a very slow 5 miles on Wednesday, and a quicker 7 miles tonight. Won't get anywhere near my goal for the month, I'm at 46 out of a target of 76, will probably end up about 55ish. But, pretty happy with that considering the 2 dead weeks in the middle of the month.

    It's been really interesting reading all the debate about training and long runs, and it's started me thinking in unfamiliar directions... I'm considering signing up for a half marathon in May. I haven't done any organised races at all before, other than 5k parkruns, but I'm running about 18-20 miles a week, usually with a long run of about 7 miles. My longest run has been 10 miles, which was challenging but not horrific. Thoughts? Could I be ready for a half in about 12 weeks?

    @whatang Yes! Definitely. Go for it!

    I did 22.5km this morning at 7:49min/km. Still humid, but not as hot this morning (only 23.9C) and overcast, so a bit more comfortable than last week's long run. Legs were a bit dead this morning. I think this is my biggest week for a while... actually probably my biggest week ever! This takes me past my February running goal!

    1 Feb 6.18 km
    2 Feb sick
    3 Feb sick
    4 Feb Rest
    5 Feb 11.13 km
    6 Feb 6.62 km
    7 Feb 19.00 km (long run)
    8 Feb Rest
    9 Feb 6.28 km
    10 Feb 10.46 km
    11 Feb 6.28 km
    12 Feb Rest
    13 Feb 15.41 km
    14 Feb Iron Strength workout
    15 Feb 6.29 km
    16 Feb Rest
    17 Feb 11.52 km
    18 Feb 6.85 km
    19 Feb Rest
    20 Feb 22.78 km (long run)
    21 Feb Iron Strength workout
    22 Feb 6.55 km
    23 Feb 11.86 km
    24 Feb Rest
    25 Feb 6.71 km
    26 Feb 7.03 km
    27 Feb 22.58 km

    Total: 183.53 km / 165 km

    Races:
    5 June Rocky River Run 21km
    3 July Gold Coast Marathon



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  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited February 2016
    @whatang I agree with everyone else that's responded. You can do 13. I think my longest "run" before my first HM was 9 miles. It was ugly. But I felt I did very well on the HM. Don't forget your antichafe stick- I did, it wasn't pretty.

    @Becky_44 I agree with you. It is so easy to compare and feel like your efforts do not compare. I still feel that way. I have the "how much is enough" talk with myself often. (Like when I've overdone it). Everyone faster and/or logging more miles has been where you and I are. If we run smart, we'll get there..


    @5BeautifulDays congratulations on the HM! Hoping the diabetes with your son becomes managable in the short term. Save some time for yourself. Running will help with the stress.