Half Marathons in 2012

JennBennett410
JennBennett410 Posts: 229
edited October 5 in Fitness and Exercise
I am signed up for my second half in January and third in May (Disney and Long Island). Thinking of doing one in October too. How many "bigger" races do you do in one year? Wondering if three is too much? Hoping to do at least 5 5k's next year...
Anyone else addicted to racing?

Replies

  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    I enjoy it a lot. Got sidelined for a bit this year thanks to a foot injury, but I'm back training now.

    I have a half scheduled for April 2012 with some 10K races thrown in here and there. I'm not sure if I want to be a regular on the half marathon circuit or if I want to train for a full marathon in October. Depends a lot on how I'm feeling after the half in April. Only bad thing about half / full marathons is that it becomes a pricy hobby.
  • Jones4177
    Jones4177 Posts: 136
    I plan on doing 1 a year. I normally do our Indy 500 Mini Marathon in May. I live in Indianapolis.
  • LoveLiveLift
    LoveLiveLift Posts: 459 Member
    I'm training for my first half marathon in February. So far I've been doing 5ks and 10ks regularly throughout the year. I definitely feel like I'm addicted to racing. It keeps me motivated.

    I don't really have an answer for you on how many bigger races you can do a year. I think that depends a lot on the person. It does sound like you have them spaced out nicely to allow some time for rest.
  • emmaleigh47
    emmaleigh47 Posts: 1,670 Member
    Beyond addicted to racing is this girl ... you can run more, but I would advise you to have a few that you are going to really give your all out effort and a few that you are going to run for fun. Obviously you are always "trying" but some runs the goal is PR while others is to finish... for example

    April 2011 ran a half as a training run because my plan called for 14 that day anyways...
    May 2011 was the race that was supposed to be the all out, for a PR (didnt happen because there was 35 mph winds hehe)

    Aug 2011 was a PR run ... all out and left it all out there, but Sept 2011, and both of the October runs were for fun
    Savannah in November was for fun ...

    In hindsight of my injury problem ... new rule is no more than 1 half per month! :)
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    In the summer of '10 I did 5 half marathons in 15 days. This past summer I did 8 in seven weeks.

    I can do them 'thar marathons .... just takes me two days to get 'em done! :laugh:

    I'm doing three in January - 1/7 (MS), 1/14 (FL), and 1/15 (LA). I'm doing one in every state. I gotta do them when I can get there and have the time. I have OK, AR, and VA penciled in for February and March. I want to do KS the same weekend I'm doing SD in June. Hopefully I'll find a half to do. CT is also scheduled for June and NJ in August. I can't find any state in July that I haven't already done ....... at this point anyway. I'll keep looking!

    I teach so that opens up my summer for more travels.
  • sunleigh
    sunleigh Posts: 84 Member
    I am so excited to do my first half marathon in DC around all the monuments on St Patty's Day...can you ask for more!! In training now, I started running this past May and feel I will be ready enough...i hope:)
    I plan on running a second rock n roll in september in Philly along with a handful of 5ks, 10ks and maybe a warrior dash...this running thing is amazing and addicting!
  • HRBush
    HRBush Posts: 72 Member
    I did one last year and may do 2 in 2012. I have signed up for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon in May. My friend wants me to do another one with her 2 weeks later in Geist. I want to but I don't know if that is too much too fast.
  • getsveltEagain
    getsveltEagain Posts: 1,063 Member
    I do two half marathons in a year... one in May and one in October. I try to do a 5K/4 or 5 miler each month if I can afford it. It also helps keep up the training ;)
  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
    I'm going to do a half in February, a marathon in May, then probably a few 10k's and/or half's after summer.
  • mimaduck83
    mimaduck83 Posts: 175 Member
    Oh my!! Loving this thread! I have signed up for 3 1/2 marathons next year (Leeds in May, Plymouth in June and Birmingham in October) plus a load of 10k and 5k races as part of a 100 mile challenge. Cannot wait. Even if I end up dying in all the races!
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    My running club is putting on our first annual Long John Jaunt half marathon in Feb. Already signed up. I also signed up for a leg of a relay. I haven't selected my legs yet, but they are typically 15-22km (HM is 21.1k for those who run in miles). Not sure if I will do anymore. Triathlon is my sport so after that I will be training for that season. Maybe I will do a fall one.


    Oh wait, I just remembered I rolled over a registration for a half marathon last year in May, so I have to use it this May or I lose my money. Guess I am running in May too.
  • dixiech1ck
    dixiech1ck Posts: 769 Member
    I'm signing up for the Disney Wine and Dine half-marathon in Sept 2012. I'm psyched and scared poop-less (MA! Get me my Depends!!) that I'm not going to finish and that's my goal -- just to finish. I'm scared scared scared, but who thought ten years ago I'd even have the nerve to run a 5k!!
  • Lemetriab
    Lemetriab Posts: 14 Member
    I am so excited to do my first half marathon in DC around all the monuments on St Patty's Day...can you ask for more!! In training now, I started running this past May and feel I will be ready enough...i hope:)

    I am a newbie to this 5k 10k marathon business and would like to know how you guys train for this. Do you just start running or is there a science to it all. A little history, I tried track in high school for 3 weeks and failed at it miserably , so I quit. I want to try this running thing again, but I don't want to fail.
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    As far as "too many" it really is up to you and your body. How fast can you recover from each. The ones you mention leave you with more than enough time to recover inbetween each race.

    Just keep your training consistent and make sure to take some down time to recover properly and you should be good to go.
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member

    I am a newbie to this 5k 10k marathon business and would like to know how you guys train for this. Do you just start running or is there a science to it all. A little history, I tried track in high school for 3 weeks and failed at it miserably , so I quit. I want to try this running thing again, but I don't want to fail.

    Do a Google search for Hal Higdon. He has many plans for half marathons. Novice to experienced runners. And, pfffft ..... if I can do 'em ....... ANYONE can! I type truth.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I've already got 2 big triathlons scheduled (on consecutive weekends too!)... will probably do a couple of smaller ones as well.
  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member

    I am a newbie to this 5k 10k marathon business and would like to know how you guys train for this. Do you just start running or is there a science to it all. A little history, I tried track in high school for 3 weeks and failed at it miserably , so I quit. I want to try this running thing again, but I don't want to fail.

    Do a Google search for Hal Higdon. He has many plans for half marathons. Novice to experienced runners. And, pfffft ..... if I can do 'em ....... ANYONE can! I type truth.

    Hal Higdon is the DUDE!
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    I am so excited to do my first half marathon in DC around all the monuments on St Patty's Day...can you ask for more!! In training now, I started running this past May and feel I will be ready enough...i hope:)

    I am a newbie to this 5k 10k marathon business and would like to know how you guys train for this. Do you just start running or is there a science to it all. A little history, I tried track in high school for 3 weeks and failed at it miserably , so I quit. I want to try this running thing again, but I don't want to fail.

    What have you been doing so far? Depending on what your current ability is I would probably start with C25K. It is an interval training program aimed to get you to be able to run your first 5k.

    Once you can do that, there is another program aimed to take you to your first 10k. Once you can run that consistently and build a solid base then you can move on from there into one of Hal's plans that are perfect for a beginner.
  • shydaisi
    shydaisi Posts: 788 Member
    I plan on doing my first half marathon this year. I am still working my way through the C25K program, so we will see!
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    I found some links to some other great running programs. Sift through them and you can find something that fits you, your time and your running base.

    Pfitzinger - http://pfitzinger.com/

    JeffGalloway - http://www.jeffgalloway.com/store/

    JackDaniels - http://www.amazon.com/Daniels-Running-Formula-Jack/dp/0880117354 - http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/

    Higdon- http://www.halhigdon.com/
  • BackwoodsMom
    BackwoodsMom Posts: 227 Member
    There's a group for those working on marathons - Marathon Runners - past, present & future - that you may want to join on MFP. Lots of good input from long distance runners.
  • Lemetriab
    Lemetriab Posts: 14 Member
    I am completely a novice. I workout infrequently but increasing my workouts to be more regular.
  • LaraeTX
    LaraeTX Posts: 674 Member
    I'm also addicted to racing. I like racing more than i like training for them. I did 2 half marathons this year, my first ever was in Feb, and my 2nd one was a couple weeks ago. I don't see anything wrong with doing as many as your body can handle, as long as you give yourself plenty of recovery time and time for training for the next one. I have another one scheduled in Feb, so that will make 3 halfs in 1 year, and plan on another 1 or 2 halfs in 2012. I try to do at least 1 5k every month also.
  • kelrun
    kelrun Posts: 12
    I ran my first 1/2 in Disney last September. I used Jeff Galloway's planning to get me there. He is awesome for first timers. I am hoping to run one maybe two next year.
  • RedRage00
    RedRage00 Posts: 26 Member
    I've completed 4 half marathons in the past. I live in TX and would like to run in every major Texas city. So far I have done Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and a smaller one in Irving, Tx.

    I'm signed up for the Austin 1/2 in February 2012. I was sidelined for a bit, but I just recently started training again last month.
  • RedRage00
    RedRage00 Posts: 26 Member
    For people wanting some kind of running plan Runners World has an app on the iphone called "Smart Coach"

    You can enter all your information and it will spit out a running plan for you. It's pretty cool.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    I've got a marathon in May, I'll run at least one half during training. Then I may find a few more to run over the summer & fall.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories