Leigh, I am 57 years old. I am a slow runner, but I run. in late October, 2010, I ran my first half (2:43). I ran this two weeks after my oldest son and his fiance were killed by a drunk driver on 10/10/10. I had trained for months, and decided to go ahead with the run after they were killed. Since then, I've run a little, not run, run a little, etc. I've done a couple of 10Ks, but not a half since 2010. I'm also about 40 pounds overweight. Having said all of that, I started running again about 3 weeks ago, with the idea that the running really helps with depression symptoms, and I want to do another half, and possibly a full some time. I am back up to 2 mile/day runs - 3 days soon to be 4 days a week. My long day (Sat) will gradually climb back up to where it was. I plan on just adding miles and strength through the end of the year. Then, in Januaryish, I plan to do a 16 week plan to run a half again in May, 2018. My goal is 2:30. I prefer to train myself using a heart rate based training program. By this, I run within a range of heart rate, and when the HR gets too high, I slow down and/or walk a little, then run again. This method works very well for me. I have also used a run/walk method like run 4 minutes/walk 1 minute. That works for me too, but not as well as HR training. Before I really stopped running, I could run 8 miles without walking, while keeping my HR in desired zone. I'm in Kansas City.

Maybe too much information, but I'm looking for running buddies too!

I would be happy to be an online running/training buddy. Best wishes to you in your training!

Steve

I'm training for a half on October 22nd. It will be my 4th HM. I don't race very often -just one marathon and one HM each year, with an occasional 10k or 5k. I'd really like a PR. My last two HMs were not good. The first I ended up with a bathroom stop that took way too long, then I tried to make up time and ran too fast, so crashed and burned at the end. I came in 3rd in my AG, which was good, but the last few miles were a struggle. Last year I had a horrible time with my training. Couldn't figure out why I had no energy and no speed. Turned out I was anemic. I went into the race with the intention of just finishing and not worrying about pace at all. That worked, but I hated having to walk the hills. I just didn't have the energy. This year I'm feeling good. My training has been a bit erratic, but my average for the year so far is 38 mpw, so I should have decent endurance. I'm just not sure I have the stamina to maintain a faster pace.

I do speed work every Wednesday and I just PR'd my HM this past Sunday (at age 48). Since I only started getting serious about racing a few years ago, I believe I can PR every year for at least the next 3-4. Prior to this I only did 5k's and took several years off.

Earlier this year I trained for a mile race for the first time ever. That consisted of some serious speed work twice a week. It was the kind of running where you swear your lungs are going to explode from your chest. I'm convinced it not only helped me run the mile but it is helping my distance races as well. I will be doing it again next year (no matter how much I complain about it ).

Good luck with the training and the race. Us kids still have something left in the tank.

Feel free to add me, too. I started running in the Spring of 2016, and have slowly worked my way up from there. I mainly have done 10 and 5ks, but also completed one marathon and one half marathon (a distance that I've found to be a great balance of being challenging but not leaving me too beat up). I've got a season of more 10 and 5ks coming up in my city, so working on speed right now, but also trying to maintain the HM fitness by keeping some of my long runs a bit longer than typical 10k training