I have just done a very risky thing. Having enjoyed a couple of sherbets, I have just signed up for the Royal Parks half-marathon in London in October.
I have a 10K charity race on Sunday morning, and I plan to do a 10-miler in the summer as a "bridging" event. Does anyone else have any tips on how to make the jump from 10K to 21K?
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Katie204
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Very exciting! I was so tempted to enter the ballot but decided to wait and see how I get on in the Bath HM in March first! You have plenty of time to build up the distance. I ran a 10 mile race last October. There are lots of training plans out there but I have cobbled together one of my own based on some I've looked at and what works for me. I am still running 3 times a week as I like two rest days after a very long run! Have increased my shorter runs a little and then work on a longer one at the weekend. Have currently built up to 18k and plan to do the full 21.1k before race day as I think I will be more confident on the day if I know I have done the distance. Refuelling is also something you will need to think about. I am a power flapjack girl but there are many options of course. Good luck with all your training!☺
Hi Sandra - I am also planning to do at least one 21.1K before the actual HM, to make sure I can cover the distance as well. If I can actually walk or run the course beforehand I will be even happier.
First things first, though - I have a 10K charity run tomorrow morning (the Winter Run through the City of London), so I want to see how I do in that before I plan my next steps.
Best of luck to you for the Bath HM. Thanks also for the tips about distances and refuelling. I think I'm going to have to take this running lark a bit more seriously if I'm going for longer distances now.
Hi, I'm doing my first HM in 4 weeks....😱, I am currently fluctuating between, excitement, terror and wanting to cry....😂, however....I have followed a 'my asics' plan, they're free and adapt to what you want to do - I highly recommend them, as I followed one for my first 10 milers in Oct and Nov last year....
I run twice a week - now up to 9-10 miles each and cross train one other day, you can put in the plan how often you want to run each week and if you want it easy, moderate or hard - always go for easy! Oh and I'm experimenting with the fuelling at the mo, going with 5k sections then take on water/fuel - I'm trying gels and jelly babies......
It won't be pretty, and it certainly won't be fast, but I'm now begining to look forward to it .........I think?😬
I never thought for one second I would be doing this........but isn't it great 😄
Good luck with it, from my own experience my advice would be - make sure you do the taper, it seems weird and messes with your head right near the 'race' , but it works.
Very best of luck with your HM, Madge. I will certainly give the Asics plans a go. If you're doing 10-mile runs then I think you should be fine for the HM. I'd be very keen to see how you get on!
Thanks very much Katie, that extra 3.1 miles seems an awful long way at the moment, but I'm aiming to get to 12 miles, just got to keep doing the work 😬
I often wonder if distance can be achieved in two runs a week as this is what I prefer to fit in, unless I fit in a parkrun for a third run. Nice to hear you have managed this. Tapering always sounds counterproductive, why is it done?
Hi there, from what I've read it gets you into tip top condition for the race, so that you're not tired etc. , you do your longest run 10 to 14 days before the race, then cut back and on the plans I've followed so far, you do an 'easy' run of about 5k two days before.
Other advice I've seen includes upping your hydration and nutrition a couple of days before too.
I found the 10 miler surprisingly 'comfortable' after tapering, it was strange, as when I did my longest run before I thought my legs were going to fall off, they were sore, my legs felt like I was at the begining of C25K again!
Oh and just to say, during C25K I found 3 runs too much, I kept getting so far and got overuse injuries, as soon as I cut back to two runs a week I progressed with no real issues. I progressed to 10k slowly, mind you.
Because I want to feel strong enough for the HM I've added in a bit of cross training and weights/core/upper body work on one non run day, but that's just me 😄
I only started running in the first place as a complete accident. I'd signed up to a 10K Race for Life, but didn't read the information properly so thought it was a Walk for Life. Once I'd realised my mistake I was too embarrassed to cancel, so I got training, and now here I am...
Fantastic! I am sure you'll be ready for the hm in October! I am following my own homemade programme where I running two short and one long run every week. All three are growing longer.
Love this post as I'm in the same boat! Just getting ready for Winter 10K right now 😬 And also signed up for the Royal Parks Ballot. Are you doing the Richmond 10mile in June or a different one? If I get a place in the HM I'll probably sign up to that one.
Hi everyone - I've done it! I got round in 1:14:29, which is a whole half a minute quicker than the Race for Life I did in June. I also ran the whole way - no walk breaks at all!
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