Honest responses (both positive and negative) required - Is it possible to do a half-marathon within a year of starting the couch to 5K?

[unfitmum]

Started Couch to 5K in April and completed it in July. Have been running since then (albeit not quite as religiously as every other day). Today I went for a run and covered 8 km (in a slow time of 55minutes). There is a half-marathon happening in March that I have my eye on ...

Would love to hear from anyone who has tried to work up to a HM from being a complete non-runner (which was me in April). How long has it taken you? What kind of speed would I need to be running at to make it feasible? Did you manage it?

It is just a thought at the moment but would like to set myself a challenge ... I guess I need to know whether it is an unrealistic challenge.

[suzybenj Graduate]

yes!! It is all about picking the right training programme. completely doable

[ju-ju- Graduate]

...I hope so...I started C25k in February and I am planning a HM in October....You know, I will 'train' as in go for lots of lovely runs, but if I have to walk some of it...so what. Its about the taking part and also yes about training and having a focus and drive in life. We all need that. So my advice would be 'GO FOR IT"...good luck!!

[Beads Graduate]

I reckon it's possible, as Suzy says do a proper training plan. When I started I had no idea what I wanted to do post C25K, I played around the 5k mark for a few months, when I finally cracked the 6k mark and excitedly told everyone here it was mentioned that I was well on my way to 10k, my reply was that I didn't think I would go that far, but since then the distance challenge bug has bitten me. A couple of weeks before my first anniversary of starting running I ran to parkrun, round parkrun and home again the long way, clocking up 17+k. That's only a few k short of of a HM, no training plan or anything, so yes give it a go, you'll probably make it.

[alcopop Graduate]

There is a good HM training plan on Run keeper, it allows you to set your own goal for completion. There are other plans out there but I liked that one. So yes it is achievable and you should go for it. Good luck.

[unfitmum]

mmmm ... these are not necessarily the responses I was looking for!!! Beginning to think that I have no excuse but to go for it!!!!!

Just out of interest - what kind of time do people look to do (I'm a 41 yr old mum). Any ideas?

[Honorsmum]

I'd say you could get round in 2 and a quarter hours, at a rough guess. Definitely do-able - you just have to believe you can do it and follow a steady plan, building up your distance slowly to avoid injury.

Good luck!

[unfitmum]

Right ... something to think about over the coming days ...

[Burstcouch Graduate]

I would say so, depends I think on your age and level of fitness before you started C25k.

[unfitmum in reply to Burstcouch]

I am 41, Was an active teenager. Have had 2 children and have been carrying a little bit of extra weight since then (who doesn't?!?!?) but I am still classed as being of normal weight. I walk lots and swim a bit, but was aware that I wasn't very fit (slightly out of breath when I went up two flights of steps at work!!) which is why I have taken up the C25K challenge (felt I needed to do something before my 2 young boys started to overtake me in how far they could run/cycle!!!). Have lost just under a stone since starting running (If I lost another 1/2stone I would be the lightest I have been for a very long time) ... so I guess I would say that I certainly wasn't very fit before starting running, but I wasn't overweight.

I guess due to busy life (work, 2 boys etc) I am just wondering whether I have the time to be able to run any more than I already am.