Ooooh this looks interesting...

[jules50]

A few familiar names here I see!!

As I'm now officially in training for a hm after my 10K in September, I will be interested in any tips/training plans that other people have found useful!

[Steve_L Graduate10]

I followed a Garmin 16 week training plan that seemed to work well for me - I ran my first HM last Sunday, As well as getting fitter and developing your aerobic metabolism, the buil up to longer runs is important. I didn't run the full distance until race day (I went as far as 18.5K) but that didn't seem to be a problem.

When you do it, don't make my mistake - rest properly afterwards and build your running up again afterwards slowly!

[jules50 Graduate10 in reply to Steve_L]

Thanks for that Steve, I'm going to be doing most of my training with my brother who has a few marathons under his belt, at the mo hes telling me just to get the miles on my legs and not to worry too much about pace and time and I must admit I went out with that mindset on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed my run, managing roughly 9k in just over an hour. Ive got a good length of time as my hm isn't until January, but not looking forward to all that winter running!!

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to jules50]

You won't do it if you don't put the training in so you have to just suck it up. Don't think about it just get out there, do the miles and get ready for the next one. You soon get into the habit of it. We are not into the depths of winter yet and there are some lovely autumnal days to come so it's not all bad. It was beautiful out there today. I was out walking the dog and it was lovely and warm in the sun. Accentuate the positive! Ha ha

Have fun !

[jules50 Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Haha thanks mw! Yes at the moment I'm loving getting out there and running, but because I only started this running malarky in February this year, I haven't really experienced a whole winter so even though I know I've got to keep going, I'm a little apprehensive of the unknown, although I did get some really smart running gloves from Aldi a few days ago so I'm sure they will come in handy!!

[Sharonb9999]

I'm entered to do a HM but not until May of next year. I've done two 10km races and I've got another one in January. I did an asics plan for the 10km. I was already up to 10km in distant and the plan helped me get my pace up a bit. I'm thinking of using the same thing again for the HM. It sounds a bit geeky but I like recording the runs on the chart thing that is part of the online plan. I agree that it's all about get the miles done during the training. At the moment I'm well up for the challenge - that could change on a freezing cold January morning at stupidly early o'clock and I've got a long run scheduled!!

[jules50 Graduate10]

Unfortunately I don't have time for long runs first thing because of work so that won't be an issue but thanks for all your advice I enjoy a challenge now more than ever since starting running and can't wait to do a half marathon just feel bit daunted by all the training between now and then!! 😕

[IannodaTruffe Graduate10]

I have not yet done a Half Marathon, with my longest run being 18k, but I would say that getting miles on your legs, as your brother suggests, is the most important thing. Many times people have got stressed by the pressures of structured training plans and have written to the forums wondering what to do. I believe that while the training plans may maximise your effort they can be too pushy. Being relaxed in your running and enjoying it are far more important and will, long term, deliver more consistent results.

[jules50 Graduate10]

I totally agree with you, when I decided to enter a 10k in September, I started a 10k training plan, I got so hung up with it I stopped enjoying running and became really stressed about the whole thing, once I ditched the plan and just concentrated on relaxing and enjoying it, everything else seemed to slot into place thankfully and come race day I totally enjoyed the whole experience, lets face it, thats what its all about