Half-Marathon

StephFolz wrote: »

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

StephFolz wrote: »

Hey! I have just started training for my first half marathon! Anybody have any tips or things I should know? I’m starting early, race is in 8 months

Key questions for a meaningful and are how much you run now, and what's your race experience so far?

I’m at about 3 miles now, that’s my base. I do that in about 30 minutes. I’ve done some 5k’s but that’s about it. I’m not in it to win, I just want to cross the finish line.

That's a good goal for your first HM.

How often do you run?

It took me 7 months to build from 5 km to 21.1 km. I ran 3-4 times a week, gradually increasing my weekly long run.

Cross train on non running days, swim or bike or even yoga. Strength training in my opinion is really important as well.

And as others have said. Have fun!

Hey Girl! I'm in training now for a HM in December. The key is to have a schedule and stick to it - if not now, then no less than 12 weeks out. Hal Higdon has a good beginner HM schedule that can even be modified easily to suit any runner.

Other than that, my advise is:

1. Good sneakers that fit (go to a store and get fitted)
2. rest on rest days
3. stretch before and after each run
4. Don't focus too much on form/speed just building your base
5. run for you

Good luck!

I did my first half marathon last May. I'd entered it about a year before but during that period had switched from running back to cycling as my main fitness activity so did virtually no running until just a few weeks before. When I entered I was running a fair amount - typically one 10K and a couple of 5K's each week, with the occasional longer run up to 10 miles or so. I suspect if I'd actually just went straight into the half-marathon there I'd have done ok as it wasn't much of a step up. In reality and with about a month to go (with perhaps me doing one or two 5K's a month at that point) I decided I better do some training so did a couple of 5K's which were ok, then a couple of 10K's that were also ok. I then stepped up to a 10 miler and injured my foot, took a week or so out then did another 10 miler which was just about ok. I did then make it round the half (although the last few miles were hard work as it was warmer than I'd expected), although not at the best of pace and probably 20 minutes slower than I should have done if I'd trained properly for it!

So pretty much don't do it the way I did! I've you're running up to 3 miles now at about 30 minute pace then you'd got work to do but 8 months is plenty of time. Finding and sticking to a training plan will work but so will also just gradually increasing the distances you run (both in individual runs and overall each week). If you're mainly interested in finishing rather than a time then I'd probably recommend something like doing a couple of 5K's during each week, with a longer run at the weekend with the distance of that progressively increasing until you get to 10 miles - at which point you should be able to complete the half-marathon without too much trouble. Distance/duration is more important than pace so finding a comfortable endurance pace is probably the most important thing.