Half marathon goal!! 😬

[Skiddle1]

Hi all, I haven't posted on here for a while but I completed c25K in 2021, reached my first 10k the same year, personal best distance around 13K last year. I've taken part in the vitality running world Cup twice and loved it.

Since then I've been casually keeping up my running a couple times a week with the odd week off here an there for illness or just life. Mostly around 7k runs.

I need a new goal peeps! So, I'm thinking maybe a half marathon. Any tips from anyone on how to get that motivation and training going? Especially on a fairly busy schedule.

😊

[nowster Graduate10]

If you can work your way up to 10km, you can do a HM just by extending your longest run each week. Are you aware of the HU HM challenge which will happen in mid May?

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

[Skiddle1 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

No I don't know about this.. have you got some more details please? Thank you. 😊

[Skiddle1 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I just looked into this and joined the list. Thanks Nowster. 😊

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Skiddle1]

Good to hear you've signed up  Skiddle1 . As I said to  nowster my post on here about the events had dropped down the page. It's now been pinned, thanks Bridge team, so should be easier to find!

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thanks nowster for mentioning the HU virtual events. I posted about them on this forum a few days ago but the post has dropped down. Perhaps one of the forum admins would be kind enough to pin it? healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

(Tagging Instructor57 , MissUnderstanding , Mummycav , Oldfloss )

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Done! 📌

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks MissUnderstanding , that was ultra-quick! 😄

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

It was good timing! Just happened to be having a quick browse with my morning coffee when your post popped up! ☕️

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

+ damienair

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Sorry damienair , didn't mean to leave you out! Pinning is now sorted, anyway!

[damienair Administrator in reply to Cmoi]

Thank goodness as I would not have known what to do 😂

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

🤣🤣🤣

[Woollyweaver Graduate10]

The Nike Run Club HM plan is good - it is very flexible and you can adapt it to suit your own running schedule. You don't need to do all of the runs, or you can choose to stretch the plan out - as an example, I took roughly 3 weeks to complete every 2 weeks of the plan. The coaches on the guided runs are great and the plan also includes little motivational videos and tips each week to help keep you on track.

[Skiddle1 Graduate10 in reply to Woollyweaver]

This sounds good. I had the Nike running app on my old phone so I'll download it again. Good advise. 👍

[OldManRunning Graduate10 in reply to Woollyweaver]

I got confused when reading the info for the NRC plan as it said there were 5 runs a week in the schedule then said you run 3 runs. Can someone explain how it works? I ask as with 5 runs in a week you're not having a rest day after each run which at my stage is still essential. 😁👍

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to OldManRunning]

You can do 3 of the 5 runs , Just make sure you do one of each type of run .

Ie a recovery run , a quick run and a long run .

At first I used to do all 5 but took longer than a week so as to maintain rest days

[OldManRunning Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks Instructor57, I did wonder but now it is clear 😁

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to OldManRunning]

I originally had the same confusion 😁

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to OldManRunning]

I did the same as Instructor57-to start with a week took longer than a week and then when my event date got closer and I needed to follow the schedule, I just picked three runs. Always the long run. Always a recovery run. Mostly a speed run but sometimes another recovery run if I was tired! I think the ideal situation is one of each but it worked well for me not doing a speed run every week.

It’s a great programme and very adaptable. I’m using it for the second time at the moment. This time round, I’m following the basic pattern but substituting other similar runs if I fancy a change.

Good luck to you!

[OldManRunning Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank you MissUnderstanding. Applying common sense and not going to hard at it seems to win through every time 😁

[Woollyweaver Graduate10 in reply to OldManRunning]

As Instructor57 said, you don't need to do all of the runs, unless you are like me and enjoy ticking off every run on the list 😅. And the guided runs are so great that I didn't want to miss any. I never ran more than 3x a week, just took a lot longer to complete each 'week' as defined by the plan. But then I ended up finishing the plan early - as soon as I saw the 20km run I thought, well that's it, I'm ready for my HM now 💪. And of course I was 😁. I will definitely follow the plan again when I'm off the IC 😢.

Enjoy!

[OldManRunning Graduate10 in reply to Woollyweaver]

Thank you Woolyweaver that's very helpful. I'm thinking of an autumn half but haven't done my 10k yet 😁

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Another vote for the NRC HM plan. It’s really good-very adaptable to fit with what time you have. I found the biggest change going from 10k to HM was what to eat for energy on the run and carrying water. That’s still a bit of a work in progress!

Exciting times ahead for you! The marathon running and race support forum is a great place for support too… definitely worth a browse around there. Helpful pinned posts and very friendly chat too!

healthunlocked.com/marathon...