New runner and half marathon questions (food&training)
Discussion
Hello
I'm doing the Great North Run in September. I've NEVER run before and started on the C25k app on January, although struggling I'm getting out to do 3 runs a week, am up to 7 miles so far and trying to push it 0.5-1 mile a week. I'll do a long run, a 15 minute benchmark loop and a quick(ish) short run.
My question is regarding food pre run - only last week I've had a small bowl of oats a couple of hours before running, and this seems to sit ok with me, I also run with a camelback and sup water little and often, but is there anything else I should look into? My wife (who has done a few half marathons) suggests gels on runs over 3 miles but looking into it there are loads, and tonnes of alternatives, can anyone shed some light on if I could benefit from them, or what else to try?
Also any pointers with my training would be great!
I'm doing the Great North Run in September. I've NEVER run before and started on the C25k app on January, although struggling I'm getting out to do 3 runs a week, am up to 7 miles so far and trying to push it 0.5-1 mile a week. I'll do a long run, a 15 minute benchmark loop and a quick(ish) short run.
My question is regarding food pre run - only last week I've had a small bowl of oats a couple of hours before running, and this seems to sit ok with me, I also run with a camelback and sup water little and often, but is there anything else I should look into? My wife (who has done a few half marathons) suggests gels on runs over 3 miles but looking into it there are loads, and tonnes of alternatives, can anyone shed some light on if I could benefit from them, or what else to try?
Also any pointers with my training would be great!
cookie118 said:
Sounds like you have made a good start, C25K is great to get into it.
First question would be-what is your aim? Do you have a time in mind or just want to finish?
And what sort of pace are you doing your runs at?
Oats 2 hrs beforehand sounds good, and if that is doing well so far I wouldn't change it too much. Maybe look more at what you want to take on during the run, and if you need to (are you hungry at the end of 7 miles?).
You might need to take on more food, but make sure you do the same on race day, and if you want to take on energy drinks etc on the way make sure you take and get used to the same ones that will be en route. Nothing new on race day!!
Ideally I'd like to do sub 2 hours! I started this journey at 6ft1 and 17stone 10 (I think!) and have dropped just short of 3 stone, so I'm no athlete, and if I'm brutally honest I'll be chuffed to finish!First question would be-what is your aim? Do you have a time in mind or just want to finish?
And what sort of pace are you doing your runs at?
Oats 2 hrs beforehand sounds good, and if that is doing well so far I wouldn't change it too much. Maybe look more at what you want to take on during the run, and if you need to (are you hungry at the end of 7 miles?).
You might need to take on more food, but make sure you do the same on race day, and if you want to take on energy drinks etc on the way make sure you take and get used to the same ones that will be en route. Nothing new on race day!!
Currently I've 10k in 57 minutes 23 seconds, but feel properly pooped after 7 miles and hungry, which, with the half marathon looming is what I need to address.
Thank you!
Thank you very much for your help and guidance! I'll let you know how I get on...
I've started doing some off-road and beach running to mix it all up a bit as I find road running a tad boring! But I'll try and mix up a bit of speed with everything too.
Gel wise I'll have a look and experiment to see if anything helps...
I've started doing some off-road and beach running to mix it all up a bit as I find road running a tad boring! But I'll try and mix up a bit of speed with everything too.
Gel wise I'll have a look and experiment to see if anything helps...
I think I put myself down for 2.15 or 2.30 so it should all be OK.
Due to a few hiccups and setbacks I'm not too bothered about the time, just that I complete it! I'm doing it to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. CF is a condition that is in my family. Donation wise we're doing OK on our bid to raise £2k! If you would like to sponsor me though that would be fab (I'll put a link in my bio) haha!
I made this thread to see if/what I should be doing aside from just going out and running distances - this morning I did a smaller, faster run - squeezed in 2 miles at 7.40 and it hurt, but was good. Next run I aim to go out for longer, say 4-5 miles and alternate pace to see how I get on with that...
Thanks!
Due to a few hiccups and setbacks I'm not too bothered about the time, just that I complete it! I'm doing it to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. CF is a condition that is in my family. Donation wise we're doing OK on our bid to raise £2k! If you would like to sponsor me though that would be fab (I'll put a link in my bio) haha!
I made this thread to see if/what I should be doing aside from just going out and running distances - this morning I did a smaller, faster run - squeezed in 2 miles at 7.40 and it hurt, but was good. Next run I aim to go out for longer, say 4-5 miles and alternate pace to see how I get on with that...
Thanks!
I thought I should update this thread!
It's been a real mental battle to break the 10 mile barrier. It's taken me the last 3 weeks, having done a comfortable 8.5 mile run 4 weeks ago, but today I did it! I managed 10.52 miles which im pretty happy with. I could have done more, but at mile 7 the flash flooding of Scarborough occurred, and guess where I live? I plodded on regardless however! Did a 55minute 10k too which I'm quite happy with.
Ive been experimenting with gels, I take one with me and have one before which is probably a placebo, but I'll stick with it. The biggest thing I've noticed is getting another gate analysis and getting some support shoes, they've taken my minute miles down about 10-20 seconds!
Not long now, but despite having a few niggles I'm confident!
It's been a real mental battle to break the 10 mile barrier. It's taken me the last 3 weeks, having done a comfortable 8.5 mile run 4 weeks ago, but today I did it! I managed 10.52 miles which im pretty happy with. I could have done more, but at mile 7 the flash flooding of Scarborough occurred, and guess where I live? I plodded on regardless however! Did a 55minute 10k too which I'm quite happy with.
Ive been experimenting with gels, I take one with me and have one before which is probably a placebo, but I'll stick with it. The biggest thing I've noticed is getting another gate analysis and getting some support shoes, they've taken my minute miles down about 10-20 seconds!
Not long now, but despite having a few niggles I'm confident!
The 55min 10k was on my 10.5 mile run, which I averaged 9.39 minute miles.
This was my pace:
7 miles on was when I was running in this, not being able to suss out what was under my feet!
So I'm intrigued what could have been if the weather held up! Glad I carried on though, I've never run that distance before and "only" started in January. I've lost about 2 stone in the process too although at 6ft1 and 15.5st I'm still no Gazelle!
This was my pace:
7 miles on was when I was running in this, not being able to suss out what was under my feet!
So I'm intrigued what could have been if the weather held up! Glad I carried on though, I've never run that distance before and "only" started in January. I've lost about 2 stone in the process too although at 6ft1 and 15.5st I'm still no Gazelle!
Well I did it! I finished 22443rd out of a reported 57000 which is cool - I did it in a shade under 2 hours 17.
I think I did myself an injustice by starting at the back (the start was 10:40, I was that far back I went through at 11:25!) so I spent a LOT of time being held up by walkers or running around people, but you live an learn! When I signed up in January I had no clue how quickly I could do it so ticked the slowest box, ahh well!
My team and I raised £2,500 and counting which I'm dead chuffed about.
I couldn't believe how congested it was for the whole way, it was bonkers. I managed to do it without stopping too which was nice...
Despite yesterday saying never again I'm now thinking one more time, but a less congested run and aim to do sub 2 hours, I think I've got it in me!
I think I did myself an injustice by starting at the back (the start was 10:40, I was that far back I went through at 11:25!) so I spent a LOT of time being held up by walkers or running around people, but you live an learn! When I signed up in January I had no clue how quickly I could do it so ticked the slowest box, ahh well!
My team and I raised £2,500 and counting which I'm dead chuffed about.
I couldn't believe how congested it was for the whole way, it was bonkers. I managed to do it without stopping too which was nice...
Despite yesterday saying never again I'm now thinking one more time, but a less congested run and aim to do sub 2 hours, I think I've got it in me!
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