Half Marathon

[evo801]

Hi All,

I am running a half-marathon on the 5th October-run to the beat

Due to a lot of business circumstances i have been unable to put in the amount of fitness etc that i was planning.

My health is very good-what would any regular marathon goers recommend in the next coming weeks prior to the run.

I have the focus and concentration just wondered how people train?i get so bored running

Many thanks

[Timmy35]

That's a nice distance, so long as you can run 8 miles aready.....then the full distance should be fine.

Usual stuff, eat pasta the night before, have good shoes and some blister plasters, use the water stops! You'll be fine.

On the boredom front all I can recommend is an Ipod shuffle and think of time as 15min blocks.....soon goes that way!

Have fun.

[Simpo Two]

I suppose bicycles aren't allowed?

[ewenm]

Have a look through The Running Thread for lots of useful advice.

[Tuna]

What distance are you running right now, and how often?

All you can do is build your stamina from current levels, so don't do anything rash, keep a steady regime, eat sensibly and look after yourself. Regular sensible runs will also shake out any problems with your shoes etc. which would otherwise wreck the main event.

[outlaw biker]

Half a marathon? Let me be the first to wish you half the luck.

[evo801]

Ha, thank you.

I am a regular runner, but i'd say i do an average of 4 miles each time i run.

On the day my strategy is to find someone running with a similar pace and just stick with them the whole way.

if i slack i know that i am slacking and so on...

[ewenm]

I'd suggest at least one run by a week before the race at your target race pace for at least 8 miles (preferably 10). Of course working out an appropriate target pace isn't easy...

I run and race a lot and have pacemade a couple of times

[grumbledoak]

If you regularly run 4 miles, you'll find the full 'half' quite hard but you should be able to do it. Try to follow a pair of young ladies around; it can take your mind off the pain you'll be feeling.

Good luck.

[dave_s13]

if your max to date is 4 miles you will do it, but slowly. Don't even think about anything other than a plod or by mile 10 you'll be crying for your mum. Like i was last week at my 1st half marathon. :-)

I did 2hr4m by the way. 1.40 next time or i'll eat my asics.

[evo801]

Great reassurance.

I am good at endurance i just get bored running, i guess the atmosphere on the day will hype me up big time

[AndrewW-G]

Find a woman with a fantastic backside who's running a similar pace and just run along behind her for the whole run

[xxplod]

I'd also recommend the iPod shuffle - brilliant.

You need to build distance but don't make your next run 8 miles. Not sure how long you've got to go, but make your next run perhaps 6 miles, then build up to about 9 miles. If you feel reasonable on 9 - the 13.1 should be fine.

Also, as you build up the miles, get your eating in shape and watch hydration carefully. Suck eggs stuff I know but it's surprising how many people don't.

[grumbledoak]

evo801 said:

i guess the atmosphere on the day will hype me up big time

Worth about 50% more distance than you are used to. Just after that, you hit "The Wall". It's kind of like some invisible man has had a good go at you with a shovel; have a google for Jasper Carrot's sketch on it- he's far funnier than me!

[shirazjiwa]

When running a half it's the first 4-5 miles that'll be the hardest. Distance here isn't the issue (seriuously), it's about settling down to your natural rhythym and pace - aim for a pace and stick to it (eg 9-10minute miles?) Anything beyond 6-8miles you'll need to hydrate so make sure you take some water with you.

Carbo load the week prior and keep those jelly babies spare! Good luck!

[carerra g tea]

Week 1
5-6 miles every other day (twice, if possible, on a treadmill, with intervals)

Week 2
6-7 miles every other day (once, if possible, on a treadmill, with intervals)

Week 3
Mon 8 miles
Wed 10 miles
Fri 6 miles (if possible, on a treadmill, with intervals)
Sun 8 miles

Week 4
Tue 10 miles (if possible, on a treadmill, with intervals)
Thu 12 miles
Sat 10 miles (break it into two five mile runs at a quicker pace)

[captainzep]

If boredom is a problem, there are a few things you can do.

Have you got a heart rate monitor? If you're a bit nerdy about these kinds of things buy a GPS one (Garmin Forerunner has been good for me) and you can download all your runs onto your computer, map your run, look at your pace, heartrate, speed, etc etc. See how you're improving. -Gets you more involved in your own fitness.

Try varying the route, running through areas you don't know well, or get in the car and drive to the coast, a forest, nice spot etc and have a run there.

Try varying the running. Constant easy paced runs to build endurance are important for 1/2 mara but can be a bit dull. I enjoy doing the Cooper test every now and then. Time yourself for 12 minutes and see how far you can run. Simple as that. See here for an assessment of your fitness: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/gentest.htm
I did 2740 meters last December, but am fat and slow now...

Ultimately though, the best way of getting confidence for an event is to run that distance (or close to it) beforehand so you know you can do it.

[Timmy35]

grumbledoak said:

If you regularly run 4 miles, you'll find the full 'half' quite hard but you should be able to do it. Try to follow a pair of young ladies around; it can take your mind off the pain you'll be feeling.

Good luck.

I don't know if you're joking.....but quite seriously this is what I do.....get in position behind a suitably fit ( in every sense ) female and use her backside as a pace car for the duration of the race.....works a treat.

[anonymous-user]

If you want to get around & be in reasonable condition at the end! you need to be running at least 30 miles a week including at least 1 longer run, 10 miles+. But like most things, the more you put in, the more you get out of it.
Ideally you should have been doing this for at least 6 months before the event with a taper close to the run. Putting in extra miles in the week or 2 before the race will do more harm than good.

If you enjoy the occasion, and fancy doing another, there are some good free training schedules here:- halhigdon.com

I've been running half & full marathons for the last 30 years & not bored with it yet! ( Half PB 1.24 2 years ago, full marathon PB 3.10 the same year )
About 5 mins slower this year, must be geting past it!

[Tuna]

thegavster said:

I'd suggest you go out tonight and do 8 miles, whilst you've still got a couple of weeks until the event you need to try and get some decent miles in, not too close to the event.

Going from 4 to 8 miles might be a bit of a shock to your system and wreck your training for the next week or two, which you really can't afford. Time to build slowly - and avoid pushing yourself too hard at all costs, or you could suffer a set back that will be tough to recover from this close to the main event.