Half Marathon Club (and training)

I'm about three weeks into my training for my September race and did 8 miles today! It went great and I felt like I could have kept going at that pace (just about 11 min miles) which means if I can keep that pace on race day I'll finish under 2:30 which is my hope! It's my first, which I know I should just aim for finishing, but it still would be nice to have a good finishing time!

Good weather does really make a difference. Last week it was way too hot, but today was amazing! I went earlier and I think that's going to be key this summer, especially on my long runs. Let's rock these 1/2's!!!!

Yay i can join this club now! I ran my first half marathon yesterday! What an experience. Running is such a challenging sport and it takes alot to keep going. During the race the crowd really kept me going. And if I appeared to be struggling someone from the sidelines would say something encouraging or just scream and it helped me to push through. I wish I had my own personal cheer squad I could hire for every training run! I was under-prepared, and wasn't as strict as I should have been during training. But I pushed my body to it's LIMIT and finished in 2:42, which is about a 5mph pace. And now I am pumped to do a second half marathon this November (The Seattle Half Marathon Nov 27th). My goal for that one is to be under 2:30, and I know I can do it now!

It is such an emotional high and I feel so proud for having kept going and pushed through when it hurt so bad - miles 8-13 were tough! I have so much respect for all of you that are training and have completed half marathon's (or full!) It is not something everyone is mentally capable of. Props to all of you who are training. Even if you miss certain days, or take a few extra days off, just stick with it and you can do it! Even if you have to walk part or all of it, it is still a huge accomplishment.

I finally have found three Half Marathons in the fall. I just need to figure out if I want to just one or two or maybe all three. I think they might be too close to eachother though to do all three

It looks like Sept and Oct is where it is at though. Still working slowly toward the 15k in 2 weeks!!

I'm loving my training schedule by Runner's World Smartcoach. It's a taper week for me... three easy runs of 4-5 miles... this is something that actually feels easy now!!!! Wow, who knew. Next week it's back to the tough stuff, but I'm not even worried!!!! I'm so glad I finally took up running. Wish I would have done this years ago!!!!

I guess I didn't say what the Physical Therapist said..

He believes it may just be an overuse injury. Possibly some tendonitis since I haven't had any relief yet. Also, we realized today that my left leg is 2cm longer so he made an insert for my right shoe to help put me back in balance.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Found this thread and have a few questions...

I ran my first half marathon on May 1st (Flying Pig in Cincy) and have injured my left hip flexor. I haven't been for a decent run since. I just started PT without seeing a physician first.

I guess my questions are:

Have any of you had hip flexor injuries??
If so, how long did it take to heal and what did you do to encourage that process?

I have been biking (road and mountain) and doing 30DS video to keep semi in shape. I have another half scheduled in October and Ragnar Relay in November. I HAVE to start running again soon or I am in trouble...

I had not had that injury, but one of my running partners swears by the CWX tights for relief. They are expensive, but supposedly she will "never" go back to regular shorts they have worked so well.

I am so off my training schedule! I went to Nashville for a conference this week. I took my workout clothes with every intention of hitting the fitness room/treadmill. Didn't happen! We went downtown in the evenings and wandered the honkeytonks, so I was too tired/lazy to get up and go in the mornings. Too old for 1:00 or later nights :noway: In the afternoons, our sessions ended at 5:00 and then we met at 6:00 for a group supper to de-brief so I didn't go then. Soooo....haven't run since Saturday.


What do you do when you miss runs like that? Make the week up the next week and go a week behind? Just start where you left off? I'm thinking of doing that. I was supposed to run 3 Monday, 5 yesterday, and two today, and off tomorrow. I might do 5 today and three tomorrow. Then do my long run as scheduled this weekend.

Also, a cool side note, I met an MFP friend on Monday! She lives in Nashville so she drove to our hotel and met me between our last session and dinner meeting.

I finally have found three Half Marathons in the fall. I just need to figure out if I want to just one or two or maybe all three. I think they might be too close to eachother though to do all three

It looks like Sept and Oct is where it is at though. Still working slowly toward the 15k in 2 weeks!!

Are you running the Traverse City 15K. My daughter is on her way to MI with family friends who own a cabin up there. The mother, my good friend, is going to run that!

YES!! That is so exciting! Is your daughter running any of the races?

I finally have found three Half Marathons in the fall. I just need to figure out if I want to just one or two or maybe all three. I think they might be too close to eachother though to do all three

It looks like Sept and Oct is where it is at though. Still working slowly toward the 15k in 2 weeks!!

Are you running the Traverse City 15K. My daughter is on her way to MI with family friends who own a cabin up there. The mother, my good friend, is going to run that!

YES!! That is so exciting! Is your daughter running any of the races?

I wish she would! My daughter has a really nice stride, but she does not enjoy running! My other daughther (11 years), on the other hand, might some day. She loves to run! And she can smoke a 5k!

Have a great run! It sounds like it is beautiful up there!

I am so off my training schedule! I went to Nashville for a conference this week. I took my workout clothes with every intention of hitting the fitness room/treadmill. Didn't happen! We went downtown in the evenings and wandered the honkeytonks, so I was too tired/lazy to get up and go in the mornings. Too old for 1:00 or later nights :noway: In the afternoons, our sessions ended at 5:00 and then we met at 6:00 for a group supper to de-brief so I didn't go then. Soooo....haven't run since Saturday.


What do you do when you miss runs like that? Make the week up the next week and go a week behind? Just start where you left off? I'm thinking of doing that. I was supposed to run 3 Monday, 5 yesterday, and two today, and off tomorrow. I might do 5 today and three tomorrow. Then do my long run as scheduled this weekend.

Also, a cool side note, I met an MFP friend on Monday! She lives in Nashville so she drove to our hotel and met me between our last session and dinner meeting.

When I did team in training (for a triathlon) the coaches told us that if we missed training due to sickness, just to continue and not make up the days/distance missed. So maybe that would apply here. If it was me, I would ignore the week missed and continue on with the training for the weekday runs. For the long run, I would see how I felt, if I could go the distance for that week, I would. If towards the end I started to get too tired, I would cut back to the distance for the week missed.

I am trainging for my first HM in September on a flat trail. I have done 10K before and am also training for a fitness competition in early October. Does anyone have any cross training suggestions that are fun? I last 20 minutes MAX doing cardio in the gym and I can't ride a bike. I'm running 6 days a week and lifting 5 days a week right now. Thanks!

BUMP

in case I get brave and start training for a half marathon...just did my first 10k last week at a snail's pace, doing a 5k this weekend and next weekend for charity events...will see how much I can run and how much I have to walk... have 2 HM events in mind but kinda scared to commit to them...

Glad I'm not the only one scared to commit!

Does anyone know of a good marathon in January?

Houston, Disney, RnR AZ, Carlsbad

some indoor and really cold stuff as well

Does any one use compression socks or tights? I have been looking into buying some because of my knee surgery from last year and was wondering if they do any good? Do you notice any difference when running with them? What is a good brand?

I wear compression socks- and noticed help within a couple of runs, within a few months I didn't have to wear them any more. Now I just wear them if I expect to do something that triggers my injury. I don't have knee issues- I do have a friend who said the compression tights (CWX) were life savers for her knee- no pain or problem as long as she wears them. CWX is the preferred brand among those I run with- the consensus is to get them tight, squirm in and you'll never want to run with out them again...

I agree--it's best not to worry about the lost week. Actually, sometimes when you are building up mileage it's good to cut way back your weekly mileage every so often and let the body rest up before pushing on. If you aren't sure about the long run, you might want to consider Galloway's walk/run program. Basically you run one mile and walk one minute (no more than one minute). I did that for a couple of marathons and actually had PR's with that.