Half marathon - too risky?

[fed68]

Hi all.

I'm currently following the 5-10k plan (I'll run 7k this Sunday). I feel I'd like to set myself a goal this year, and I was wondering about signing up for the the Royal Parks Half Marathon, which takes place in October. I'd have to buy a charity place as the ballot has closed and the places have been allocated. Given that it would be a charity place, I'd feel much more responsible for actually completing it.

I've run 3 times a week since early January, and completed the C25k with no setbacks. I'm really enjoying the new programme, and my running goals have always been distance over speed.

Is it realistic to enter a half marathon given where I'm currently at with my running? I wouldn't want to squander a charity place, or be on the hook for cash I don't have!

Thanks,

Lydia

[Deals1 Graduate10]

Hi. sorry im not experienced enough to answer...... but I'm interested to find out too.

Sounds like a great plan tho!! good luck

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Distance not speed.. great... Finish the 10K plan and then slowly build up....regular 10Ks and beyond.. take a look at roseabi 's great plan on the Marathon Forum..it got me there..

This is the first linked post.. the others follow on..

This one started in December.. 3rd... the HM was at the end of March.. 24th.

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

[roseabi in reply to Oldfloss]

That post is a bit of a chore to wade through 😊

Most recent version of the plan is here:

docs.google.com/spreadsheet...

Although I am working on my follow up post for the plan, so there may yet be more amendments... 😄

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to roseabi]

Thank you..wasn't sure which link to pin..xx

[fed68 Graduate10 in reply to roseabi]

This is so helpful, thank you! I'll pick this up once I'm at 10k.

[Hidden]

Yes, of course you can. It's great to set yourself a goal like that, 5 months should be enough time, if not you'll be very close... Plus, you don't HAVE to run the entire distance, you'll see plenty of people of walking, just enjoy the day.. You're also raising money for charity, which is the main reason these runs exist, you're doing the important part... Go for it.

[Runningfit Graduate10]

Could you walk /run the distance? Yes. Then yes go for it.

[Shelley2310]

I must be mad too....I’m running/walking it for Alzheimer’s Society!! Good luck...WE CAN DO THIS

[fed68 Graduate10 in reply to Shelley2310]

Good luck! Yeah, we can definitely do this.

[Shelley2310 in reply to fed68]

I signed up on a whim at 6.30 this morning after my run....😱😱

[fed68 Graduate10]

Thanks for the advice, everybody! I signed up to run for Bloodwise, who fund research into blood cancers. As I had non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2016/17, I thought this would be the best possible motivation to get this done. Fingers crossed!

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to fed68]

You should be fine to do the HM - just increase your distance slowly. Good luck!

[Katiepops Graduate10]

I don’t know! I’d love to know the answer as well, I chickened out of doing an organised half this year (I completed 10k in January), but I have signed up for the Great South Run - I thought 10 miles was a good compromise! I don’t think entries have closed on it yet. It’s in October. Good luck.