Half marathon training

[samwood]

How far do you run at the moment? The Hal higdon programmes are good x

to be honest i dont run much i go to bootcamp which is more crosstraining, pad work. I actually hate getting up and going but once there and after i feel great. i will be stopping that and doing training for this with other exercise when the plan calls for it.

i am under no illusions that this is going to be easy. But a family member laughed at me and said i could never do a half marathon when i said i wanted to do this, so i am determined to show them.

 

[coachnomad]

Good on you for showing them you CAN do this. I would suggest a walk/run programme if you're not doing much in the way of running at the moment. As Welshtigger said, Hal Higdon is very good.

 

[rachaeld82]

Sam - is the Edinburgh half on 26 May? I am doing the full Edinburgh marathon that day, and I think they are on the same route.

When I started running I was over 16st, and could only run for a few minutes then had to stop and walk. I went from that to completing a half marathon in about 8 months. I think its so rude of your relative to laugh - that would spur me on even more to do it! You have 5 months, and I'd say as long as you put in the training its perfectly achievable, especially if you follow a good plan. I've heard good things about the Hal Higdon plans, and have chosen to use one for my marathon training.

 

[samwood]

Sam - is the Edinburgh half on 26 May? I am doing the full Edinburgh marathon that day, and I think they are on the same route..

Yes same day but starts earlier. Thanks for the advice ladies

 

[Lucylu79]

Well day 1 has begun, ok it's not running but I did my first cross train on our new spin bike, ouch!

 

[gina_b]

to be honest i dont run much i go to bootcamp which is more crosstraining, pad work. I actually hate getting up and going but once there and after i feel great. i will be stopping that and doing training for this with other exercise when the plan calls for it.

i am under no illusions that this is going to be easy. But a family member laughed at me and said i could never do a half marathon when i said i wanted to do this, so i am determined to show them.

i got that when i said i was doing a half marathon.
well guess what..... did it. yes i wasnt the fastest, and i never will be.... but i did it!

 

[rachaeld82]

Lucy - how are you finding the spinning bike? Have you got any DVDs or anything to do?

 

[Lucylu79]

Just been watching vids on you tube but I want to go to a few classes when my bum recovers! Owweeeeeee

 

[Jenny809]

How is everyone's running going? We've had really deep snow for a week so not been brave enough! Missing it now

Sent from my HTC Desire S using MiniMins

 

[gina_b]

the running is suffering, the snow has gone but its left black ice on the pavements.
loads of it in the carpark at work and i couldnt see it at all, nearly went over on it. i dread to run on that, its not safe on the pavments near me.

i will try a run tommorow, but if i have to im resorting to running on the grass in the park.

 

[Lucylu79]

After some advice please ladies... Im struggling with headaches after runs but im going to the docs tomorrow, hopefully its just a coincidence as I don't want or need anything else hindering my training (or lack of!) What i'm really after is advice about my knees.... Some of you may remember that I struggle with them a bit but the other day I ran 10k on the dreadmill and at mile 5 they just went, I couldn't put weight on them and had to walk the last mile - Torture as I was doing ok up until then!! I'm not a fast runner - it took me 80mins to do 10k in the end but I really worried about my knees and have only done a 2miler since. Do you think I should 'start again' and train like abeginner and see if it helps rather than trying tooo hard too quickly?? Ive had a month off from running, not a natural runner and perhaps expecting 10k is too much? Whats your thoughts?? Should probably mention that I had no knee pain the day after, just whilst running. xx

 

[coachnomad]

Hi Lucy, firstly your headaches. I used to get this and tried all sorts until I realised I was tensing my neck and shoulders while running. Try and keep them loose, every mile or so just let your arms drop allowing your shoulders to relax and see if that helps.

Regarding your knees, have you been for a gait analysis and got proper shoes for your gait? If not then this could make all the difference.

Hope some of that helps

 

[Lucylu79]

Hi Lucy, firstly your headaches. I used to get this and tried all sorts until I realised I was tensing my neck and shoulders while running. Try and keep them loose, every mile or so just let your arms drop allowing your shoulders to relax and see if that helps.

Regarding your knees, have you been for a gait analysis and got proper shoes for your gait? If not then this could make all the difference.

Hope some of that helps

Hi coach, I am waiting for the painkillers to kick in and then going to attempt a small run this afternoon on the dreadmill. I will try your advise!
Yes I have had a gait but the trainers they sold me gave me terrible shin splints so they took them back, they looked at my trainers and thought they were fine, perhaps a bit over supportive but nothing major so I've been to a health place who strapped up my knees and I ran and ad no pain.
I have got some k tape but it came off, must try to use it again as it wasn't cheap!

 

[coachnomad]

Good luck this afternoon.

The other thing to try for your knees is strengthening exercises as your muscles might not be strong enough to cope with the strain. The fact the strapping helps makes this quite likely.

 

[Lucylu79]

Good luck this afternoon.

The other thing to try for your knees is strengthening exercises as your muscles might not be strong enough to cope with the strain. The fact the strapping helps makes this quite likely.

So I wanted to do 5k to set a time to beat but at 2.9 miles my right knee said no more. Walked the rest and finished in 36 mins, not too bad.

What's a strengthening exercise then? Pilates or something?

Thanks for your help!

 

[coachnomad]

The strengthening exercises I was given was to sit on the floor with my legs straight out in front and lift each leg ten times keeping it straight. Also to stand with my back against a wall, feet shoulder width apart and slightly in front of you, then slide down the wall to a sitting position (or part way if you can't go all the way) and repeat ten times. I think there was another one but can't remember it for now.

 

[gina_b]

couldnt go for a run on the streets or treadmill today.

the path outside my house and around it was so slippy i had to hold onto the hedge to even stand up on it, let alone cross the street to catch te bus to the gym- not walking it like normal with this ice but the road was just as bad.

rains washed it away mostly, but its patchy. going to have to get a lift to the gym tommorow, not risking walking in this weather.

 

[coachnomad]

Wise move Gina.

I've signed up to a local 10k race so have ten weeks to get my butt in gear and start running again

 

[Lucylu79]

Will you be following any programme coach?

 

[coachnomad]

Yes I'm going to follow the Hal Higdon 10k plan