How do you train for a 1/2 marathon?!

[Charmless man]

One of those things you agree to then regret but I'll give it my best shot.

I'm booked into the Reading half marathon on March the 20th. I'm pretty unfit, I play 5 a side once a week though I don't suppose that will help me much!

Any tips on what distances I should be running to start with and how to build up to the 13.1 miles, would be gratefully received.

[RichB]

Humm... try to commit to getting out 2 x midweek and once over the weekend. Start off trying to get to 3 miles withjout stopping then 5. By late January it would be good if you can do 8 miles at the weekend and aim for a 10 mile run in late February. That should get you round.

[gjf764]

Probably not helpfull but I did the Birmingham half last week with no training other than rugby training twice a week and playing on Saturdays. Proper advice would be to have a look at the various race websites, the Birmingham half had 12 week training plans on it.
Oh, and get yourself to a proper runnig shop and get you running style analysed for some proper trainers.
Good luck

[RichB]

gjf764 said:

Oh, and get yourself to a proper running shop and get you running style analysed for some proper trainers.

I think there's a lot of hype around this built up by the running shops, obviously get some running shoes and don't do it squash shoes but to be honest something general like a Nike Air Pegasus should do fine, and buy last years model and you won't pay more than 50 quid.

[Charmless man]

Wow, thank you all for the prompt replies and useful info. I really appreciate it.

I just need to work out if I’m Pre or Anti-natal (I can google what that bit means!).

Thanks again, off to read the link given.

[RichB]

Buggles said:

Charmless man said:

Wow, thank you all for the prompt replies and useful info. I really appreciate it.

I just need to work out if I’m Pre or Anti-natal (I can google what that bit means!).

Thanks again, off to read the link given.

You are welcome. There are some properly fking serious runners in the Sports forum, in the aptly named 'The Running Thread' who would, I am sure be willing to offer even more advice.

True, I thought I was pretty good with 3 x London Marathons until some chap said he does sub 2:30s or some such. Anyway it was an astonishing pace!

[Charmless man]

Buggles said:

Charmless man said:

Wow, thank you all for the prompt replies and useful info. I really appreciate it.

I just need to work out if I’m Pre or Anti-natal (I can google what that bit means!).

Thanks again, off to read the link given.

You are welcome. There are some properly fking serious runners in the Sports forum, in the aptly named 'The Running Thread' who would, I am sure be willing to offer even more advice.

Maybe that would've been a good place to start! Should've checked further as to where to start the thread. Cheers for the helpful advice though.

[RichB]

Charmless man said:

Buggles said:

Charmless man said:

Wow, thank you all for the prompt replies and useful info. I really appreciate it.

I just need to work out if I’m Pre or Anti-natal (I can google what that bit means!).

Thanks again, off to read the link given.

You are welcome. There are some properly fking serious runners in the Sports forum, in the aptly named 'The Running Thread' who would, I am sure be willing to offer even more advice.

Maybe that would've been a good place to start! Should've checked further as to where to start the thread. Cheers for the helpful advice though.

It's scary in there

[Parsnip]

I wouldn't do any more than a 12 week dedicated build, as you will get really burnt out with it - going for a run is fine, don't get into the mentality of doing anything too structured this far out though.

One thing I would suggest is to find a 10k race maybe 6 weeks out from the half marathon - gives you something else to focus on and helps break up the "Sunday long run syndrome" that you get.

Get on Google and find a training plan - plenty of sites will gear them towards how many runs you want to do a week etc.

[davido140]

I'm doing the reading half,

Follow this..

http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/index.htm (choose the novice one)

Got me from being unable to run a mile or do more than 10 minutes in the gym without throwing up to completing the coventry half marathon earlier this year.

(admitedly a crap time, but I still did it, I'm blaming the heat anyway, it was 30 degrees!)

Looking for sub 2 hours for the reading half.

ETA also if you're near london go here http://www.profeet.co.uk/ they solved all my footwear problems, I had been for a gait analysis at a local shop but found I was still having knee problems, got some new shoes and custom insoles (around £200 including the analysis) and I've not looked back, done 100's of miles without any problems at all.

Edited by davido140 on Tuesday 2nd November 22:37

[RichB]

Buggles, I would say anything sub 1:30 for a 1/2 is a respectable club runner standard. You should be pleased with that Age also counts (or so I tell myself ) I only started running when I was in my late 30s and my PB was 1:35 which was aiming for 7:15 min/miles but I quickly realised that to get below 1:30 meant shaving off almost 03 sec's / mile something my legs wouldn't let me do! I was pleased with 3:50 for my first marathon at 39 though... In my mid-50s now and I'll tell you, it gets harder

Edited by RichB on Tuesday 2nd November 22:38

[davido140]

Still boggles my mind these tiny little times that get chucked around, 1:30 half marathon? that's 7 minute
miles all the way around.. I can barely run that fast... let alone for that long!

Obviously the professional athletes are going to be VERY fast, but for an amateur who has a proper job etc. to get the training in to get that good...

I tip my cap...

Edited by davido140 on Tuesday 2nd November 22:44

[goldblum]

Do you simply want to finish the distance,or is there a time-goal in mind?

Depending on your answer there are two possible training schedules.

[Carfolio]

On one leg, obviously.

[Charmless man]

goldblum said:

Do you simply want to finish the distance,or is there a time-goal in mind?

Depending on your answer there are two possible training schedules.

Being stupidly ambitious I would like to get below 2 hours. In reality as long as I’m under the 3.5 hour limit I’ll be round before they close the course, that’s how confident I am, I checked!

Eventually I would like to be able to do a full marathon. Only so it’s something I can tick off the to do list. I’ll see how I get on with this I suppose.

[goldblum]

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...

Jeff Galloways basic 1/2 marathon training schedules.One to finish and one time goal.Have fun.

Edited by goldblum on Wednesday 3rd November 01:06

[Charmless man]

Well I did it!

I started the new year training hard, roughly following one of the training guides posted. If anything I think I pushed the distances too much for my weekend runs. I picked up a couple of little niggles in the form of a groin strain and a spazzed knee. Nothing really to worry about but it did slow my training up a bit.

In the end I managed a fairly unremarkable 2h 10mins. Not great but I take some comfort in the fact that after realigning my expectations, I originally hoped to do under 2 hours, I set out to do 10 minute miles throughout which I plodded on and got done.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, well I enjoyed and still enjoy the achievement of getting it done. I raised a few hundred for Macmillan and managed to get a bit fitter in the process. I'm still running now and hope to keep it up through the summer. I will definitely be entering next year. I have a 'need' to get under that 2 hour mark!

Thank you for all the help and guidance given. From a new running convert!

[goldblum]

Ha well done.2hrs 10 is NOT slow.

Yes,if you push too hard it leads to injuries but if you are clever about your training you should see your runs getting much quicker.

[RobM77]

Follow one of the training programmes online. When I started one, I could genuinely not run 1 mile without stopping, yet within 3 months I was recording around 90 minutes over the half marathon distance.

[Charmless man]

Thanks Goldblum, I guess as a time it just felt a bit average. I'm pleased with getting through it though and I would really like to improve on that time.

Rob, that's mighty impressive, I have a lot of new found respect for anyone who can get into that kind of time band. I think I'll have to pick a 1h 45m program next year and stick to it. I think perhaps I focused on the distance too much and ended up with a steady pace. I could chug along all day long but had no way of upping it without running out of puff. If that makes sense?