First half marathon - advice please

[Fentaz42]

Hello!

I've managed to get myself a place in this years Great North Run! I'm overwhelmed at this news - I've lived in South Shirlds for all of my 43 years and never dreamed that I would ever be apart of this smazing event! And here I am now, thanks to C25k getting ready for this massive event! Huzzah!!

Now, my training is intermittent due to work schedules and babysitting but I've managed to stick to getting one long run in a week and I'm up to 7 miles. Shall I continue with this training? Trying to add one mile per week with a little run in between? I've also heard that as long as I can so 9 miles that that should be enough as on the day the extra shouldn't be too much to ask? I'm not sure, I think I should get to as close as possible, baring in mind the run is at the beginning of September and I don't have much time left!

Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated

Thanks all! X

[carole01 Graduate]

Hi I'm doing one in November!! Yikes! I do think one long run a week increasing your distance will be great preparation for you. It is the only way we know how it feels!. I'm no expert but to prepare, I am doing one long Mondays- increasing my distance each time. I do a speed run from the podcast and then finish this with a 5k and my last run of the week is a 10 or a 15k stamina run. It is very hot out there at the minute and I feel only achievable very early or very late. Nearer the time I shall try to row on my rest days too but I have longer than you to prepare. Good luck with the training and let us know how your get on - your experiences are really important to for us all! x

[Fentaz42 Graduate in reply to carole01]

Thanks carole01! Your training sounds great, really organised, unlike mine! I'm off on holiday tomorrow for a week, but I'm taking my running gear with me

[carole01 Graduate in reply to Fentaz42]

I'm off too!! and never thought I would ever say I'm looking forward to the holiday gyms!! But a nice air con treadmill run is definitely more appealing at the mo!! Have a great holiday!

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

Increasing your long run sounds fine, but I would have a look at a few training plans and see where you should be for this amount of time before your event, you can find some good plans at my.asics.co.uk/ or on runnersworld.co.uk

Have a lovely holiday and good luck with the training

[Fentaz42 Graduate in reply to Mummysaurus]

Thanks, I'll check that out

[Nerdio Graduate]

I too am thinking about doing a HM< and have not quite got round to booking myself in. Hmm, might do it now actually.

Anyway I asked a very similar question in this blog (healthunlocked.com/couchto5.... misswobble recommended using MyAsics to plan my training. And it seems to have planned something I can do quite easily. Mind you I have 30 weeks! Not sure how it copes with your shorter notice.

[Fentaz42 Graduate in reply to Nerdio]

Thanks Nerdio, I'll look into it. I know, 6 weeks is cutting it fine! Wish me luck!

[lolb Graduate]

I did the Great North Run last year and am doing it again this year. Based on my experience last year I would say get as close to the full distance in training as you can to be confident that you can do the distance. My longest run was 10 miles and I did finish but the last 3 miles was hard as I was never sure I could do it. That said I wouldn't recommend increasing your long run any more per week than you are doing and you must allow a couple of weeks before the run to reduce your training in order to avoid exhausting yourself. So I suppose what I'm saying is work up to the longest run you have time for but don't overdo it. As long as you take it easy on the day you will finish but most of all enjoy it - it's a fantastic event! Good luck!

[Fentaz42 Graduate]

Thanks for that lolb. I think I'll try and increase my distance by a mile a week as I'm doing, it's working at the minute and I'll loosely follow the asics training plan. I suppose it boils down to having confidence, and in your ability to read your own body and not over do it!